Accommodation Scams in Sydney

Fake Short-Term Rental Listings

Fraudulent holiday rental listings for Sydney properties — particularly apartments near the CBD, Bondi Beach, and Manly — are advertised on social media and copied onto legitimate platforms with stolen photos and fabricated reviews. Victims pay a deposit or full payment via bank transfer, arrive to find the property does not exist or is occupied by the real tenants, and have no recourse. Australian consumer watchdog Scamwatch consistently lists holiday accommodation as one of the top fraud categories for Australian travellers.