How do I know if a holiday rental is legit?
Scammers don't take holidays – they target people booking them. Fake or hijacked listings are getting harder to spot, especially on social media.
Imagine driving all the way from Limpopo to a Durban beachfront flat you’ve booked online, only to find another family living there who’s never heard of the rental. The listing was real. The photos were real. The scammer just swapped the banking details.
How rental scams work
- Some create listings from scratch and use fake booking sites that mimic legitimate booking sites.
- Others clone real properties and use the same photos, description, address and just swap in their own contact or bank account details, often putting pressure on you to book directly with them to save fees.
- Then there are those who take your deposit over WhatsApp or Facebook Marketplace and disappear. Unregulated channels are the most scam-prone, so it’s important to insist on verifiable references.
6 Red flags that should always make you pause
These are the moments to stop and ask questions:
- The price looks too good for the area
Do your research before booking. Scammers know people are always on the hunt for a deal, so they lure you in with five-star photos at bed-and-breakfast prices. If the rate feels suspiciously low for the area, it probably is. - There are no verifiable reviews
Check that real people have actually stayed there. Fake reviewers tend to have no profile photo and generic usernames. Their reviews will share vague praise with no specific details, and their posting histories only ever praise the same host.
And while you’re there, check what people are saying about the property itself. If the listing promises a sea view, make sure no previous guest has mentioned you'll need binoculars to find it. - Someone is pushing you to decide right now
FOMO is a powerful feeling and fraudsters know exactly how to use it. That deadline, that "someone else is about to book", that "this deal won't last the hour" – all designed to make you panic. If you feel rushed, walk away. - They want an EFT to a private account
If the only way to pay is an EFT to a private account, that’s your sign to find another listing. Legitimate websites always offer a secure payment option. - The website looks real, but isn't
Copied logos, professional images, glowing reviews ... a fake site can be hard to spot at first glance. Check the URL carefully for small misspellings and make sure there’s a padlock icon in your browser, or that the URL starts with https. Then search for a physical address and paste it into Google Maps. A residential house, an empty lot or no address at all is a red flag. Still unsure? Search for the company's contact number independently and call them.
And never download a travel app from a link someone sends you – always go through an official app store. That link could install malware on your phone or steal your personal details before you realise what's happened. - The deal came to you – you didn't go looking for it
Legitimate travel companies don't need to chase you with unsolicited bargains. If you didn't search for it, don't click on it. Head directly to the booking platform's official website instead.
Scams evolve, but these red flags don’t. Check the Standard Bank Security Centre for the latest scams to watch out for.
How to protect yourself from rental scams
Book through verified platforms
Use verified platforms like Booking.com, LekkeSlaap or Airbnb, and pay through their built-in payment systems. If someone asks you to book via WhatsApp or email – even if they’re dangling a discount for booking direct – remember, that’s a red flag.
Pay by credit card, not EFT
This is the single most important thing you can do to protect yourself. When you EFT money to a scammer, it’s gone, and nobody can get it back. A credit card is different. If something goes wrong, you can dispute the charge, and your bank can step in to help.
It's also worth using your Virtual Credit Card for online bookings specifically. You control everything through your Banking App. Your card details stay private, the CVV changes with every transaction, and, if anything goes wrong, you're covered by 100%* fraud protection.
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Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax or investment advice. Readers are strongly encouraged to seek financial or legal advice before making any decisions based on the content.
Standard Bank, its subsidiaries or holding company, any subsidiary of the holding company and all of its subsidiaries, make no warranties or representations (implied or expressed) as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of the content of this article. The use of the article and any reliance on the content is at the reader’s risk.
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