Worldwide Guide
Accommodation Scams to Avoid — Worldwide Warning Guide
Accommodation Scams are documented across 501 destinations worldwide in our database, with 610 verified reports. Fake listings, bait-and-switch hotels, ghost rentals, and check-in fraud. The majority of documented accommodation scams scams are low to moderate severity, though 72 high-severity incidents are recorded where financial loss was significant. Europe has the highest concentration of documented accommodation scams scams (164 incidents across 143 destinations), followed by North America (131 incidents). Phoenix leads with 3 documented accommodation scams scams — the highest of any single destination.
Scams Documented
610
Destinations Affected
501
High Severity
72
Regions Affected
13
How Accommodation Scams Work — Fake Listings and Arrival Fraud
Accommodation fraud has evolved significantly with the growth of short-term rental platforms. The most damaging version — the ghost listing — involves a property that either does not exist at all or does not match the photos and description. Tourists arrive after a long journey to find a locked door, a completely different property, or a host who claims the reservation was cancelled. This is documented most frequently in beach destinations and high-demand cities during peak season, when housing inventory is scarce and tourists are less willing to search for alternatives.
The bait-and-switch variant is more subtle. The listing exists, but differs materially from what was shown — a smaller room, a different floor, no sea view, a neighborhood far from the one advertised. In cities where short-term rental supply is competitive, some operators maintain a single high-quality listing and systematically move guests into inferior units. The transaction is complete; the tourist has few options on arrival.
Hotel-adjacent fraud targets tourists who book directly. A fake website mimics a legitimate hotel, collects payment, and issues a confirmation. The real hotel has no record of the booking. This scam targets popular properties in high-traffic destinations — Santorini, Bali, Cancun — where tourist demand is high enough to make fake bookings financially worthwhile. The tell is always the payment method: legitimate hotels do not require wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or third-party payment apps.
Check-in fraud at legitimate properties takes a different form. Additional charges appear on arrival that were not disclosed at booking — resort fees, city taxes, cleaning charges — inflated beyond the legally required level or invented entirely. In some cases, staff demand cash payments "for the room safe" or other invented ancillary services.
Always book through a platform with a formal dispute process and buyer protection. Screenshot the listing before arrival — property descriptions are sometimes altered after booking. For direct hotel bookings, verify the hotel's website URL independently rather than clicking through from a search result, which may show sponsored lookalike sites.
How serious are accommodation scams scams?
Accommodation Scams Worldwide
The most frequently reported accommodation scams scams across all destinations, ranked by severity and frequency score.
Scammers create cloned Facebook pages and websites that impersonate well-known District 1 hotels such as the Majestic Saigon on Dong Khoi Street or the Rex Hotel on Nguyen Hue Boulevard, using stolen photos and near-identical names. They advertise heavily discounted rooms and request a 30–50% deposit transferred to a personal bank account. Once payment is made, the booking confirmation is fake and the hotel has no record of the reservation.
How to avoid it
Book exclusively through the hotel's official website or established platforms such as Booking.com or Agoda. Never transfer a deposit to a personal account — legitimate hotels accept payment at check-in or through secure payment gateways. Cross-check the page's creation date and follower history before trusting it.
Scammers create fraudulent villa listings on Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp using stolen photos from legitimate Bali properties. Victims transfer large deposits to personal bank accounts or via cryptocurrency, only to find the villa does not exist or is unavailable on arrival. Bali's Villa Rental Managers Association recorded over 101 victims in 2025, with losses reaching hundreds of millions of rupiah. The scam is most prevalent during peak season when genuine availability is tight.
How to avoid it
Only book through platforms with buyer protection such as Airbnb, Booking.com, or Agoda. Never transfer money directly to a private account, Western Union, or crypto wallet. Do a reverse Google Image search on villa photos to check if they are stolen from another property.
Fraudulent Facebook pages impersonate legitimate Cebu resorts with thousands of followers and market-rate pricing, collecting e-wallet payments before disappearing. Victims discover the fraud only on arrival.
How to avoid it
Book only through official resort websites, Agoda, Booking.com, or DOT-accredited agencies. Never pay via personal e-wallet transfers to individuals.
The Coachella Valley's vacation rental market—particularly in Palm Springs neighborhoods like Little Tuscany, Old Las Palmas, and the Movie Colony—has a documented problem with listings that misrepresent pool condition, home size, and proximity to downtown. Photos use wide-angle lenses to distort room size, pools are shown before-season without disclosing year-round heating costs, and some listings are outright fraudulent, collecting deposits for properties the lister doesn't control. Festival-period demand spikes drive rental prices 5–10× normal rates, and deposits are non-refundable.
How to avoid it
Book Palm Springs vacation rentals only through Airbnb or VRBO with verified host status and multiple reviews from festival-period guests. Reverse image search the property photos. Confirm the exact address matches Riverside County records before paying any deposit. Use a credit card for the deposit so you can dispute fraudulent charges.
Fake vacation rental listings targeting spring break crowds in Panama City Beach use photos of legitimate gulf-front condos but collect payment then disappear before arrival. The scam peaks during March when demand far exceeds supply and visitors are desperate for any available unit. Losses typically run 00–,500 for a week-long booking.
How to avoid it
Use only official Airbnb or VRBO platforms with their built-in payment protections. Never respond to listings found on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace for Panama City Beach during spring break season. Confirm the host has reviews from prior springs.
Fraudulent Facebook pages impersonating well-known Bantayan Island resorts such as Anika Island Resort and Kota Beach Resort use stolen official photos and publish at market-rate pricing, making them hard to detect as fake. Victims pay via GCash or Maya e-wallets directly to a personal account, only to discover no booking exists on arrival. Tourism authorities in Central Visayas recorded over PHP 1 million in losses from more than 200 cases between late 2025 and early 2026.
How to avoid it
Book only through a resort's verified website or platforms like Agoda and Booking.com. Never pay via personal e-wallet (GCash or Maya to an individual account) regardless of how professional the Facebook page appears. Call the resort directly using a number from its official website to confirm before any payment.
Scammers post convincing listings for Phuket apartments and villas on Facebook Marketplace and Telegram using real property photos stolen from legitimate agencies. Prospective renters are asked to pay a deposit or first month rent by bank transfer before visiting in person. After payment the listing vanishes and the landlord is unreachable. Victims most often encounter this when searching for longer-stay accommodation in Rawai, Chalong, or Nai Harn.
How to avoid it
Never transfer money for accommodation you have not physically visited. Use only established rental agencies or well-reviewed platforms like Agoda or Airbnb. Insist on meeting the landlord at the property and reviewing the title deed before any payment.
Fraudulent short-term rental listings advertised near Hollywood and West Hollywood show professional photos of properties that either do not exist or look nothing like the actual space. Scammers collect payment through unofficial channels and then become unresponsive on check-in day. Victims arrive to find the property occupied or nonexistent, scrambling for last-minute hotel rooms at elevated prices.
How to avoid it
Book only through verified platforms and never pay outside the app. Cross-check the listing address on Google Street View before booking. Confirm the host has multiple verified reviews and contact them through the official platform messaging system only.
Where accommodation scams scams concentrate
Regions ranked by total documented accommodation scams incidents. Higher counts typically reflect higher tourist volume.
Europe
143 destinations · 18 high severity
164
incidents
North America
97 destinations · 27 high severity
131
incidents
Southeast Asia
54 destinations · 9 high severity
64
incidents
South America
39 destinations · 1 high severity
47
incidents
East Asia
27 destinations ·
35
incidents
Caribbean
22 destinations · 5 high severity
30
incidents
Middle East
25 destinations · 2 high severity
29
incidents
South Asia
24 destinations · 2 high severity
28
incidents
Sub-Saharan Africa
25 destinations · 5 high severity
26
incidents
Oceania
14 destinations · 1 high severity
21
incidents
North Africa
18 destinations · 2 high severity
19
incidents
Central America
7 destinations ·
8
incidents
Central Asia
6 destinations ·
8
incidents
Common red flags for accommodation scams scams
These warning signs appear across multiple destinations and scam variants in this category. Recognising any of these should trigger caution.
price significantly below comparable listings
price significantly below market rate
no verifiable reviews
host requests payment outside the platform
host requests off-platform payment
no verified reviews
host profile created recently
listing has few or no reviews
Where Accommodation Scams Occur
Accommodation Scams have been reported in 501 destinations. Click any to see the full scam list.
Phoenix
USA
3 scams
Orlando
USA
3 scams
Palm Springs
USA
3 scams
New York
USA
3 scams
Hvar
Croatia
3 scams
Kelowna
Canada
3 scams
Uyuni
Bolivia
3 scams
Wellington
New Zealand
3 scams
Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam
2 scams
Jackson Hole
USA
2 scams
Bali
Indonesia
2 scams
Cebu
Philippines
2 scams
Mombasa
Kenya
2 scams
Panama City Beach
USA
2 scams
Cologne
Germany
2 scams
Phuket
Thailand
2 scams
Bávaro
Dominican Republic
2 scams
Charleston
USA
2 scams
Cannes
France
2 scams
Cairo
Egypt
2 scams
La Paz
Bolivia
2 scams
Mumbai
India
2 scams
Oaxaca
Mexico
2 scams
Scottsdale
USA
2 scams
Destin
USA
2 scams
Adelaide
Australia
2 scams
Santiago de Cuba
Cuba
2 scams
Naxos
Greece
2 scams
Austin
USA
2 scams
Mexico City
Mexico
2 scams
Florianópolis
Brazil
2 scams
Pattaya
Thailand
2 scams
Split
Croatia
2 scams
Kona
USA
2 scams
Boston
USA
2 scams
Novi Sad
Serbia
2 scams
Dallas
USA
2 scams
Copenhagen
Denmark
2 scams
Tulum
Mexico
2 scams
Belgrade
Serbia
2 scams
Colombo
Sri Lanka
2 scams
Easter Island
Chile
2 scams
Asheville
USA
2 scams
Fuerteventura
Spain
2 scams
Isfahan
Iran
2 scams
Whistler
Canada
2 scams
Lahore
Pakistan
2 scams
Udaipur
India
2 scams
Branson
USA
2 scams
San Diego
USA
2 scams
Prague
Czech Republic
2 scams
Vang Vieng
Laos
2 scams
Paros
Greece
2 scams
San Juan del Sur
Nicaragua
2 scams
Cairns
Australia
2 scams
Sedona
USA
2 scams
Bora Bora
French Polynesia
2 scams
Trinidad
Cuba
2 scams
Antalya
Turkey
2 scams
Ohrid
North Macedonia
2 scams
Santiago de Compostela
Spain
2 scams
Ocho Rios
Jamaica
2 scams
Gyeongju
South Korea
2 scams
Puerto Plata
Dominican Republic
2 scams
Bishkek
Kyrgyzstan
2 scams
Astana
Kazakhstan
2 scams
Minneapolis
USA
2 scams
Negril
Jamaica
2 scams
Varadero
Cuba
2 scams
Brisbane
Australia
2 scams
Tokyo
Japan
2 scams
Natal
Brazil
2 scams
Koh Chang
Thailand
2 scams
Nadi
Fiji
2 scams
Plovdiv
Bulgaria
2 scams
Utila
Honduras
2 scams
Palawan
Philippines
2 scams
London
United Kingdom
2 scams
Nashville
USA
2 scams
Shenzhen
China
2 scams
St. Louis
USA
2 scams
Eilat
Israel
2 scams
Reykjavik
Iceland
2 scams
Cali
Colombia
2 scams
San Antonio
USA
2 scams
Lombok
Indonesia
2 scams
Salzburg
Austria
2 scams
Riyadh
Saudi Arabia
2 scams
Kanazawa
Japan
2 scams
Quebec City
Canada
2 scams
Ios
Greece
2 scams
Puno
Peru
2 scams
Santa Fe
USA
2 scams
Kobe
Japan
2 scams
Hiroshima
Japan
2 scams
Anchorage
USA
2 scams
Hong Kong
China
2 scams
Helsinki
Finland
2 scams
Bruges
Belgium
2 scams
Penang
Malaysia
2 scams
Fukuoka
Japan
2 scams
Las Vegas
USA
1 scam
Kauai
USA
1 scam
Boracay
Philippines
1 scam
Aswan
Egypt
1 scam
Jaipur
India
1 scam
Paris
France
1 scam
San Miguel de Allende
Mexico
1 scam
Jeddah
Saudi Arabia
1 scam
Gatlinburg
USA
1 scam
Doha
Qatar
1 scam
Los Angeles
USA
1 scam
Guangzhou
China
1 scam
Naples
Italy
1 scam
Wadi Rum
Jordan
1 scam
Munich
Germany
1 scam
New Orleans
USA
1 scam
Dublin
Ireland
1 scam
Maui
USA
1 scam
Miami
USA
1 scam
Chennai
India
1 scam
Havana
Cuba
1 scam
Agra
India
1 scam
Cancun
Mexico
1 scam
Malaga
Spain
1 scam
Nice
France
1 scam
Luang Prabang
Laos
1 scam
Luxor
Egypt
1 scam
Varanasi
India
1 scam
Jodhpur
India
1 scam
Granada
Spain
1 scam
Tunis
Tunisia
1 scam
Montevideo
Uruguay
1 scam
Guadalajara
Mexico
1 scam
Nara
Japan
1 scam
Lake Tahoe
USA
1 scam
Mazatlan
Mexico
1 scam
Montego Bay
Jamaica
1 scam
Hanoi
Vietnam
1 scam
Beirut
Lebanon
1 scam
Myrtle Beach
USA
1 scam
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
1 scam
Halifax
Canada
1 scam
Tenerife
Spain
1 scam
Milan
Italy
1 scam
New Delhi
India
1 scam
Cabo San Lucas
Mexico
1 scam
Napa
USA
1 scam
Charlotte
USA
1 scam
Siem Reap
Cambodia
1 scam
Washington DC
USA
1 scam
Chiang Rai
Thailand
1 scam
Vancouver
Canada
1 scam
Memphis
USA
1 scam
Amsterdam
Netherlands
1 scam
Bogotá
Colombia
1 scam
Nha Trang
Vietnam
1 scam
Accra
Ghana
1 scam
Kochi
India
1 scam
Jerusalem
Israel
1 scam
Papeete
French Polynesia
1 scam
Salt Lake City
USA
1 scam
Lima
Peru
1 scam
Corfu Town
Greece
1 scam
Amman
Jordan
1 scam
Jasper
Canada
1 scam
Blackpool
United Kingdom
1 scam
Cape Town
South Africa
1 scam
Cape Cod
USA
1 scam
Zanzibar
Tanzania
1 scam
Lagos
Nigeria
1 scam
Batam
Indonesia
1 scam
Puerto Vallarta
Mexico
1 scam
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
1 scam
Batumi
Georgia
1 scam
Louisville
USA
1 scam
Palma de Mallorca
Spain
1 scam
Macao
China
1 scam
Ljubljana
Slovenia
1 scam
Koh Phangan
Thailand
1 scam
Tamarindo
Costa Rica
1 scam
Zakynthos
Greece
1 scam
Hampi
India
1 scam
Dar es Salaam
Tanzania
1 scam
Kathmandu
Nepal
1 scam
Seattle
USA
1 scam
Calgary
Canada
1 scam
Aspen
USA
1 scam
Arusha
Tanzania
1 scam
Lake Como
Italy
1 scam
Honolulu
USA
1 scam
Virginia Beach
USA
1 scam
Petra
Jordan
1 scam
Alanya
Turkey
1 scam
Niagara Falls
Canada
1 scam
Acapulco
Mexico
1 scam
Punta del Este
Uruguay
1 scam
Tampa
USA
1 scam
Tel Aviv
Israel
1 scam
Fort Lauderdale
USA
1 scam
Siargao
Philippines
1 scam
Venice
Italy
1 scam
Machu Picchu
Peru
1 scam
Tangier
Morocco
1 scam
Busan
South Korea
1 scam
Bocas del Toro
Panama
1 scam
Brussels
Belgium
1 scam
Playa del Carmen
Mexico
1 scam
Amalfi Coast
Italy
1 scam
Rome
Italy
1 scam
Skiathos
Greece
1 scam
Bangkok
Thailand
1 scam
Agadir
Morocco
1 scam
Maldives
Maldives
1 scam
Erbil
Iraq
1 scam
Kavos
Greece
1 scam
Monaco
Monaco
1 scam
Santorini
Greece
1 scam
Koh Samui
Thailand
1 scam
Istanbul
Turkey
1 scam
Denver
USA
1 scam
Houston
USA
1 scam
Da Nang
Vietnam
1 scam
Toronto
Canada
1 scam
El Nido
Philippines
1 scam
Gran Canaria
Spain
1 scam
Puerto Princesa
Philippines
1 scam
Montañita
Ecuador
1 scam
Mykonos
Greece
1 scam
Mostar
Bosnia and Herzegovina
1 scam
Athens
Greece
1 scam
Almaty
Kazakhstan
1 scam
Nairobi
Kenya
1 scam
Winnipeg
Canada
1 scam
Sihanoukville
Cambodia
1 scam
Langkawi
Malaysia
1 scam
Chefchaouen
Morocco
1 scam
Belize City
Belize
1 scam
Sarajevo
Bosnia and Herzegovina
1 scam
Cappadocia
Turkey
1 scam
Amritsar
India
1 scam
Jakarta
Indonesia
1 scam
Máncora
Peru
1 scam
Dhaka
Bangladesh
1 scam
Gili Islands
Indonesia
1 scam
Córdoba
Argentina
1 scam
Essaouira
Morocco
1 scam
Kandy
Sri Lanka
1 scam
Santa Marta
Colombia
1 scam
Dresden
Germany
1 scam
Palermo
Italy
1 scam
Varna
Bulgaria
1 scam
Kingston
Jamaica
1 scam
Byblos
Lebanon
1 scam
Stockholm
Sweden
1 scam
Surabaya
Indonesia
1 scam
Merida
Mexico
1 scam
Phu Quoc
Vietnam
1 scam
Hoi An
Vietnam
1 scam
Kansas City
USA
1 scam
Seville
Spain
1 scam
Anaheim
USA
1 scam
Tirana
Albania
1 scam
Baku
Azerbaijan
1 scam
Dakar
Senegal
1 scam
Sapporo
Japan
1 scam
Krabi
Thailand
1 scam
Kolkata
India
1 scam
Sofia
Bulgaria
1 scam
Yogyakarta
Indonesia
1 scam
Barcelona
Spain
1 scam
Marrakech
Morocco
1 scam
Chengdu
China
1 scam
Atlanta
USA
1 scam
St. John's
Canada
1 scam
Medellín
Colombia
1 scam
Kyoto
Japan
1 scam
Koh Tao
Thailand
1 scam
Charlottetown
Canada
1 scam
Pokhara
Nepal
1 scam
Portland
USA
1 scam
Kampot
Cambodia
1 scam
Dahab
Egypt
1 scam
Flores
Indonesia
1 scam
Rishikesh
India
1 scam
Galle
Sri Lanka
1 scam
Abidjan
Côte d'Ivoire
1 scam
Sapa
Vietnam
1 scam
Lamu
Kenya
1 scam
Edmonton
Canada
1 scam
Antigua Guatemala
Guatemala
1 scam
San Pedro
Belize
1 scam
Rotorua
New Zealand
1 scam
Guayaquil
Ecuador
1 scam
Liverpool
United Kingdom
1 scam
Valencia
Spain
1 scam
Hammamet
Tunisia
1 scam
Albufeira
Portugal
1 scam
Okinawa
Japan
1 scam
Rovinj
Croatia
1 scam
San Francisco
USA
1 scam
Budva
Montenegro
1 scam
Pai
Thailand
1 scam
Zadar
Croatia
1 scam
Torremolinos
Spain
1 scam
Frankfurt
Germany
1 scam
Lefkada
Greece
1 scam
Diani Beach
Kenya
1 scam
La Fortuna
Costa Rica
1 scam
Nosy Be
Madagascar
1 scam
Kigali
Rwanda
1 scam
Makarska
Croatia
1 scam
Porto Seguro
Brazil
1 scam
Koh Lanta
Thailand
1 scam
Guilin
China
1 scam
Puerto Escondido
Mexico
1 scam
Johannesburg
South Africa
1 scam
Rio de Janeiro
Brazil
1 scam
Chamonix
France
1 scam
Providenciales
Turks and Caicos
1 scam
Kyiv
Ukraine
1 scam
Montreal
Canada
1 scam
Tashkent
Uzbekistan
1 scam
Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
1 scam
Goa
India
1 scam
Galapagos Islands
Ecuador
1 scam
Banff
Canada
1 scam
Queenstown
New Zealand
1 scam
Ghent
Belgium
1 scam
Hamburg
Germany
1 scam
Lucerne
Switzerland
1 scam
Interlaken
Switzerland
1 scam
Key West
USA
1 scam
Funchal
Portugal
1 scam
Dubai
UAE
1 scam
Sydney
Australia
1 scam
Bukhara
Uzbekistan
1 scam
Iquitos
Peru
1 scam
Aruba
Aruba
1 scam
York
United Kingdom
1 scam
Sharm El Sheikh
Egypt
1 scam
Pisa
Italy
1 scam
Marmaris
Turkey
1 scam
Yerevan
Armenia
1 scam
Ibiza
Spain
1 scam
Warsaw
Poland
1 scam
Phnom Penh
Cambodia
1 scam
Yangon
Myanmar
1 scam
Vilnius
Lithuania
1 scam
Hua Hin
Thailand
1 scam
Faliraki
Greece
1 scam
Cusco
Peru
1 scam
Riga
Latvia
1 scam
Lloret de Mar
Spain
1 scam
Ayia Napa
Cyprus
1 scam
Salou
Spain
1 scam
Cartagena
Colombia
1 scam
Savannah
USA
1 scam
Quito
Ecuador
1 scam
Philadelphia
USA
1 scam
Santiago
Chile
1 scam
São Paulo
Brazil
1 scam
Jesolo
Italy
1 scam
Golden Sands
Bulgaria
1 scam
Kos Town
Greece
1 scam
Puerto Morelos
Mexico
1 scam
Fortaleza
Brazil
1 scam
Atlantic City
USA
1 scam
Rimini
Italy
1 scam
Bagan
Myanmar
1 scam
Tahiti
French Polynesia
1 scam
San Juan
Puerto Rico
1 scam
Arequipa
Peru
1 scam
Valparaíso
Chile
1 scam
San Sebastian
Spain
1 scam
Victoria
Canada
1 scam
Granada
Nicaragua
1 scam
Turin
Italy
1 scam
St. Lucia
St. Lucia
1 scam
Roatan
Honduras
1 scam
Moscow
Russia
1 scam
Mendoza
Argentina
1 scam
Monterrey
Mexico
1 scam
Maputo
Mozambique
1 scam
Livingstone
Zambia
1 scam
Aqaba
Jordan
1 scam
Mahé
Seychelles
1 scam
Swakopmund
Namibia
1 scam
Durban
South Africa
1 scam
Izmir
Turkey
1 scam
Bodrum
Turkey
1 scam
Samarkand
Uzbekistan
1 scam
Kaohsiung
Taiwan
1 scam
Bengaluru
India
1 scam
Davao
Philippines
1 scam
Kota Kinabalu
Malaysia
1 scam
Algarve
Portugal
1 scam
Innsbruck
Austria
1 scam
Manchester
United Kingdom
1 scam
Lyon
France
1 scam
Glasgow
United Kingdom
1 scam
Bilbao
Spain
1 scam
Geneva
Switzerland
1 scam
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe
1 scam
Porto
Portugal
1 scam
Saskatoon
Canada
1 scam
Foz do Iguaçu
Brazil
1 scam
Muscat
Oman
1 scam
Mui Ne
Vietnam
1 scam
Abu Dhabi
UAE
1 scam
Viñales
Cuba
1 scam
St. John's
Antigua
1 scam
Fez
Morocco
1 scam
Berlin
Germany
1 scam
Bologna
Italy
1 scam
Iguazu Falls
Argentina
1 scam
Panama City
Panama
1 scam
Kefalonia
Greece
1 scam
Chicago
USA
1 scam
Valletta
Malta
1 scam
Melbourne
Australia
1 scam
Marseille
France
1 scam
Hangzhou
China
1 scam
Chisinau
Moldova
1 scam
Hue
Vietnam
1 scam
Corfu
Greece
1 scam
Pittsburgh
USA
1 scam
Kotor
Montenegro
1 scam
San José
Costa Rica
1 scam
Bratislava
Slovakia
1 scam
Hurghada
Egypt
1 scam
Lhasa
China
1 scam
Port Louis
Mauritius
1 scam
Windhoek
Namibia
1 scam
Heraklion
Greece
1 scam
Algiers
Algeria
1 scam
Ninh Binh
Vietnam
1 scam
Valladolid
Mexico
1 scam
Da Lat
Vietnam
1 scam
San José
Costa Rica
1 scam
Thessaloniki
Greece
1 scam
Shanghai
China
1 scam
Sint Maarten / St. Martin
Sint Maarten / St. Martin
1 scam
Gdansk
Poland
1 scam
Limassol
Cyprus
1 scam
Xian
China
1 scam
Kuwait City
Kuwait
1 scam
Nuremberg
Germany
1 scam
Cinque Terre
Italy
1 scam
Maceió
Brazil
1 scam
Gold Coast
Australia
1 scam
Chiang Mai
Thailand
1 scam
Tallinn
Estonia
1 scam
Brighton
United Kingdom
1 scam
Florence
Italy
1 scam
Perth
Australia
1 scam
Lanzarote
Spain
1 scam
Oxford
United Kingdom
1 scam
Rhodes Town
Greece
1 scam
Crete
Greece
1 scam
Paphos
Cyprus
1 scam
Zagreb
Croatia
1 scam
Skopje
North Macedonia
1 scam
Las Terrenas
Dominican Republic
1 scam
Birmingham
United Kingdom
1 scam
Bath
United Kingdom
1 scam
Cambridge
United Kingdom
1 scam
Singapore
Singapore
1 scam
Islamabad
Pakistan
1 scam
Nassau
Bahamas
1 scam
Vientiane
Laos
1 scam
Rotterdam
Netherlands
1 scam
Monastir
Tunisia
1 scam
Bucharest
Romania
1 scam
Dubrovnik
Croatia
1 scam
Buenos Aires
Argentina
1 scam
Lisbon
Portugal
1 scam
Salvador
Brazil
1 scam
Casablanca
Morocco
1 scam
Sousse
Tunisia
1 scam
Bordeaux
France
1 scam
Bergen
Norway
1 scam
Tbilisi
Georgia
1 scam
Bandung
Indonesia
1 scam
Rhodes
Greece
1 scam
Taipei
Taiwan
1 scam
Wroclaw
Poland
1 scam
Osaka
Japan
1 scam
Recife
Brazil
1 scam
Grand Cayman
Cayman Islands
1 scam
Ottawa
Canada
1 scam
Oslo
Norway
1 scam
Manaus
Brazil
1 scam
Kampala
Uganda
1 scam
Seoul
South Korea
1 scam
Sintra
Portugal
1 scam
Asunción
Paraguay
1 scam
Barbados
Barbados
1 scam
Jeju Island
South Korea
1 scam
Zurich
Switzerland
1 scam
Nagasaki
Japan
1 scam
How to protect yourself from accommodation scams scams
Accommodation Scams are documented in 501 destinations — research the specific accommodation scams warnings for your destination before departure.
Common warning signs across all destinations: price significantly below comparable listings, price significantly below market rate, no verifiable reviews, host requests payment outside the platform. Train yourself to recognise these patterns.
The most commonly targeted groups: Budget travelers, Budget backpackers, backpackers. If you fit this profile, exercise extra caution in this category.
Report any accommodation scams scam to local police and your country's embassy. Even if recovery is unlikely, reports help maintain accurate travel advisory databases.
Cross-reference our warnings with recent traveler reports on forums like r/travel and TripAdvisor before your trip — conditions evolve and new variations emerge.
Safety Tips: Accommodation Scams
Practical guides to avoiding accommodation scams scams in specific destinations.
How to Avoid Fake Hotel and Rental Listing Scams While Traveling
Fake accommodation listings cost travelers hundreds of millions annually. Learn how to verify a listing is real before you pay — and what to do if you arrive and the property doesn't exist.
marrakech
Marrakech Accommodation Scams: Fake Riads and Misdirected Arrivals
Fake riad listings, misdirected guests, and aggressive porter setups are the main accommodation scams in Marrakech. Here is how to arrive without issues.
bali
Bali Villa and Short-Term Rental Scams: What to Check Before You Book
Bali's villa rental market has a significant number of fraudulent listings, especially on third-party booking sites. Learn the red flags and how to verify a property before paying.
Hostel Safety Tips: How to Protect Your Belongings and Stay Secure
Budget travel means shared dorms — which means shared risk. Learn the habits, gear, and booking choices that keep your valuables and personal safety intact in hostels worldwide.
Backpacker Hostel Scams That Are Not in the Guidebooks
Hostels are statistically safer than budget hotels but document specific scam patterns that mainstream guidebooks rarely cover. Here are the patterns and how to avoid them.
Accommodation Scams — answered
What are accommodation scams scams?
Fake listings, bait-and-switch hotels, ghost rentals, and check-in fraud. Our database documents 610 verified accommodation scams scam incidents across 501 destinations worldwide. 72 of these are rated high severity, indicating significant financial or safety risk. The most common variants and how they work are detailed above.
Where are accommodation scams scams most common?
Phoenix has the highest documented accommodation scams scam count with 3 incidents. Other high-activity destinations include Orlando (3), Palm Springs (3), New York (3). Regionally, Europe has the most documented activity with 164 reports.
How do I avoid accommodation scams scams?
The most effective defence against accommodation scams scams is pre-trip research — knowing what specific scams exist at your destination makes them far easier to spot. General precautions: verify services through official channels, agree on all costs in writing before committing, maintain situational awareness in tourist areas, and trust your instincts when something feels wrong. See the individual scam entries above for specific avoidance tactics.
Are accommodation scams scams dangerous?
Most accommodation scams scams result in financial loss rather than physical danger. However, 72 of 610 documented incidents are rated high severity, indicating significant financial impact or potential safety concerns. The primary risk is financial — overcharging, counterfeit goods, or services never delivered. Physical danger is rare but documented in isolated cases, particularly where victims confront scam operators.
What should I do if I fall victim to a accommodation scams scam?
If scammed: (1) Document everything — photos, receipts, descriptions, locations. (2) Report to local police and obtain a written report number (required for insurance claims). (3) Contact your embassy if the loss is significant or you feel threatened. (4) Notify your bank immediately if payment cards were compromised. (5) File a claim with your travel insurance provider. (6) Report to our database to help other travelers.
Which tourists are most targeted by accommodation scams scams?
Based on our documented reports, the most frequently targeted groups for accommodation scams scams are: Budget travelers, Budget backpackers, backpackers, budget travelers, solo travelers. This does not mean other travelers are immune — scam operators are opportunistic and will target anyone who appears unfamiliar with local norms.
Editorial note: Accommodation Scams scam data is compiled from government travel advisories (US State Dept, UK FCDO, Australian DFAT), verified news sources, and traveler reports. Read our methodology →
Other Scam Guides
Taxi & Transport
Taxi & Transport Scams for Tourists — Worldwide Warning Guide
Street Scams
Street Scams Tourists Fall For — Worldwide Warning Guide
Restaurant Scams
Restaurant Scams Tourists Fall For — Worldwide Warning Guide
Online Scams
Online Travel Scams to Avoid — Worldwide Warning Guide
Tour & Activities
Tour & Activity Scams for Tourists — Worldwide Warning Guide
Money & ATM Scams
Money & ATM Scams Targeting Tourists — Worldwide Warning Guide
Other Scams
Other Tourist Scams to Know About — Worldwide Warning Guide