Online Scams in Rome

Fake Vacation Rental Booking Fraud

Scammers list non-existent luxury apartments and hotels on booking platforms under convincing names — often referencing famous Rome landmarks like "Via della Vite" or "Spanish Steps." They redirect victims off the booking platform to pay via bank transfer or direct credit card, then disappear. Tourists arrive to find no accommodation exists. In 2025, the U.S. Secret Service and Italy's Polizia di Stato arrested 20 people in connection with this scheme, which defrauded more than 200 Americans alone.