VRBO Fake Reviews Revealed

[Lisa in Ottawa]

While this did not happen in Europe I thought it was pertinent. Fake Reviews on VRBO. The article states that VRBO and parent company Home Away do not have the oversight of other listing sites such as Airbnb. I know there are many folks who rent from VRBO w/o a problem but nevertheless it's just a good reminder to be careful. I can't imagine wiring $10,000 into someone's account for a 1 week vacation! Or ever for that matter.
The article appeared on the website of our national broadcaster CBC.

 

[Pauline]

Over the years there have been scams on the HomeAway sites where someone sets up a listing, takes bookings and disappears. It is one of the reasons that I like local agencies, because you are dealing with a business.

 

[Kathy]

Please don't avoid VRBO/Homeaway because of this article. We have rented many great properties through VRBO and happen to rent our place in Provence through them too. (All our reviews are definitely legit.) I think you can tell whether reviews are genuine. Also, if you're unsure, don't do an automated booking... initiate a conversation with the owner or even telephone them. We decided not to do automated bookings because we want to have that interaction with the people who will stay in our home. (There's some risk on both sides.)

Or rent places that your friends recommend... that's another good approach.

Kathy

 

[Lisa in Ottawa]

I agree with you Kathy. However, as we have many new members I thought it important to post as a reminder to do your homework.

I think regular ST travelers can tell fake reviews but obviously some people get taken in and these scammers are getting more sophisticated.

I still can't imagine wiring $10,000 into an account sight unseen. I always wonder if there is something fishy about these reports. And it is always a beyond horrible story involving tons of $.

 

[Cameron]

I've run across ads on the local Craigslist looking for people to write, and be paid for, reviews! The ad didn't list where the reviews would be posted, but it raised my suspicions.

 

[Dave123]

As a long-standing user of Homelidays (which transferred to HomeAway ca May 2014), I am increasingly concerned about the attitude of the holiday-let/hotel advertising systems, e.g.,

Rent More Weeks - Who Reviews The Reviews? (August 01, 2014)
http://rentmoreweeks.com/2014/08/01/who-reviews-the-reviews/

Also, unflattering evidence has recently been published by the House of Lords Select Committee on the EU ('Online Platforms and the Digital Single Market', 20 April 2016):

"This submission illustrates the consumer detriment currently being created by Online Travel Agents (OTAs), amongst the largest and most profitable of all online platforms..."

Anonymous—Written evidence (OPL0086)
http://data.parliament.uk/writtenev...e-eu-digital-single-market/written/26642.html

Dave.

 

[Dave123]

Since Homelidays.co.uk was absorbed by HomeAway ca 2014, I have been using the latter, although I still receive mailings from the French branch of Homelidays (also belonging to HomeAway).

However, prompted by this thread, I have been exploring Camogli:

Article - 10 most romantic small towns in Italy, Feb 10, 2016
http://www.sloweurope.com/community/threads/article-10-most-romantic-small-towns-in-italy.1212/

The first port of call was HomeAway, which offered a handful of possibilities for the Camogli locality.

But mindful of the ongoing mailings from France, I subsequently found that the Italian counterpart, www.homelidays.it, generated *many* more rental opportunities.

Interesting ?

Dave.