Online Scams in Rome, Italy
Fraudulent booking sites, phishing, fake reviews, and digital cons targeting travelers. Below are the online scams scams reported in Rome — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Hamburg, Marseille, and Munich.
Last updated: April 7, 2026
1
Online Scams Scams
16
Total in Rome
How it works
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.
See all scams in Rome
16 total warnings across all categories