All of the following may indicate that someone is trying to take advantage of you. Be aware of the most common types of scams and protect yourself. If more than one of these signs are in a single inquiry, be very wary. Be suspicious if you experience any of the following:

1. If someone offers to overpay.

Almost all scams are some version of the "overpayment" scam. So, if you're aware of it, you'll avoid many problems. A scammer may offer to pay much more than your asking price. The scammer will ask you to send him (or someone else) the extra money.

The payment appears authentic, so you deposit it and send the extra money to the renter or third party.

A few days later, your bank tells you the payment was fake and demands you pay the entire amount back.

The payment was never really authorized by any bank. You've now lost the money you've sent to the scammer and owe the bank money to cover for the bad payment.

2. If someone offers to pay with a money order or cashier's check:

See above. They may be trying to scam you. The "overpayment scam" is usually perpetrated with cashier's checks or money orders, because they take longer to clear a bank than regular checks or credit cards.

3. If someone wants to use a third party to pay you, such as a courier or travel agent.

Once again, this will probably be a version of the "overpayment" scam. The renter will say they need to include additional funds in order to pay the third party. You'll cash the fraudulent check or money order, send the additional funds to the "third party" and then owe your bank for the fraud.

4. Someone is renting your property for a friend, family member or anyone other than themselves (soldier serving overseas, parents, newly married grandchildren, etc.)

Again, this is a variation on the overpayment scam, although they usually won't mention the overpayment in the initial inquiry. This comes in later e-mails.

5. The renter is in a rush to rent your property- they need it the day after tomorrow, for instance.

Once again, the scammer is trying to get you emotional so you're not thinking clearly. If you feel rushed, you may not realize you're beings scammed. They may be trying the "overpayment" scam, too. They'll say they need to pay more than necessary and, because of the time crunch, they need the extra money as soon as possible. You'll send it to them before their payment actually clears the bank.

6. The request states that the renter wants to stay longer than normal.

Scammers prey on your emotions and they know that if you think you're going to make a lot of money from them, you'll let your guard down. A prospective renter who asks to stay for two months during your off-season should be regarded with skepticism.

7. The inquiry just doesn't make sense.

If an inquiry says that "I'm coming with my wife and another couple" and then mentions "There will be five of us" that should be a red flag. An American doctor can usually spell and speak English. If someone says they're renting your property for a honeymooning couple and then says there'll be five people staying at your place, that should be a red flag. If they request a honeymoon for "any date available" that should be a warning, too. Often, scammers are copying and pasting scams from one e-mail to another and when they put them together, they don't make sense.

8. They want to wire money directly into your bank account.

Don't ever give anyone any information about your bank account. Period. Tell them you'll take a credit card instead. You can always use the GVRL Total Reservations System to accept credit card payments through PayPal.

The Old Advice is Good Advice
Trust your instincts. If you think you're being scammed, try to stay calm and keep your wits about you. Sometimes, we're most vulnerable when we get emotional. Be skeptical and remember the old saying, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." If things don't make sense, don't reply. You have the right to ignore any inquiries that come your way.

If you're afraid you'll be turning away good business, a good piece of advice is to let prospective renters know that you will not allow them to stay at your property until their payment has CLEARED your bank. Even if your bank deposits money into your account, this doesn't mean the payment has actually cleared. Check with your bank to find out if a payment has actually cleared with them. Cashier's checks and money orders take a while to clear, so wait and communicate with your bank.

A Final Word
Please remember that GVRL does not control the information provided by people who use this service. You may find other people's advertising or postings to be offensive, harmful, inaccurate or deceptive. There are risks of dealing with underage persons or people acting under false pretense. Additionally, there may also be risks dealing with international transactions and foreign nationals. By using the services we provide, you agree to accept such risks and GVRL is not responsible for the acts or omissions of users of our services.