Is there a way to determine if this property is legit?
 

Hi guys, my family just booked what appears to be a 'too good to be true' villa in Menaggio, Lake Como through Home Away. I paid though the Home Away toll free number. The place is new, so no reviews. The calendar shows the same price each day of the year (odd), didn't take AMEX for payment, and when we tried to see it on google maps (it has a huge odd-shaped pool), we found nothing that looks like this property (perhaps the satellite image is old?). I've read about scams, and would like to make sure this is legit. We were charged 100% up front plus a large damage deposit. I asked the customer service person if the place had ever been rented and she said yes, but said she was not authorized to say when. I sent a message to the owner yesterday, but have not heard back yet. We won't be told the address for four more months. Everything else seems 'normal'. Any suggestions welcomed.

Mike Walsh.

Mike, this is one of the reasons we use airbnb, and we usually stay away from properties without reviews. Since HomeAway accepts AMEX through their online system (and provides a guarantee vs. fraud), I can only guess that somehow your credit card will be processed by the "homeowner", not HomeAway, much like a hotel that might receive your card info from certain booking sites. Be very careful with any outside contact with the "homeowner." HomeAway seems to disclaim responsibility for fraud unless THEIR payment system is used. And you know the old adage, "if it's too good to be true"............

thanks Whitehall, we typically do use airbnb, but this property was only listed on HomeAway/VRBO. It is odd that HomeAway doesn't guarantee against fraud when I used the HomeAway toll-free number to book and pay. What do you mean when you any be careful with any outside contact with the homeowner'? I'm hoping when he/she replies to my initial questions I could vet this property out a bit more. Right now, I have a property number and general area in Menaggio.

Mike

I would be wary of contacts like: "wire me the money, I'm having trouble with your credit card." If they are a scammer, they might be using a real estate for sale listing, for example, that might provide them a lot of info that they can feed you.

I do not know for sure that HomeAway does not provide a guarantee over the phone but they do emphasize that they do provide it if you use their online payment system. The fact that they could not take AMEX seems like the red flag to me. Has your card been charged? Did you get a confirmation from HomeAway? Do you have an online HomeAway account and can you see the property as an upcoming trip?

Is it definitely IN Menaggio? Some of the listings when you search for Menaggio are several miles away. Maybe if you link to the specific entry people can help more?

BTW not everyone takes Amex because they charge vendors more.

I'm in an online chat with HomeAway now, will report results shortly.

Is it this one in Mallorca? https://www.luxuryretreats.com/vacat...-aguila-122989

Since it is listed on Menaggio at a fraction of the cost, this one does not sound legit. Using photos from another listing?

here is the property link:
https://www.homeaway.com/search?chan...149869.5174193

The HomeAway chat rep sent me an email confirming that we did get their 'Book with Confidence' guarantee (I will read what that means) and he is emailing the owner (who has not replied to me yet) asking if he can get the address. I could vet from there, but don't want to spook the owner either.

That is the same one that I provided the link to in Mallorca. Sounds like the fake owner should be spooked.

Definitely looks like the one Whitehall has found. And the owner only registered with Homeaway this year.

That's a lot of money.

OMG, that is the exact one they are listing in Menaggio.

I found it by simply looking at Menaggio filtered with pool, no reviews and a weird shaped pool. Then too good to be true. I then took the best photo and put it into google images and presto the real house and real location.

I'm about to board a plane, but am sick over this. I paid over $10K and it appears this listing is bogus.

My daughter in law went skiing this fall in French/Swiss and Italian Alps. They found a too good to be true house. Contacted the owner, who asked to be paid outside of the system. Once she realized it was a scam, she went looking and found something like 10 scams and had them all pulled. Just be careful. Pay only via credit card; work within the systems provided. Even then, you might end up without a place to stay, so reviews are important too. I am sure this faker is trying to get contacts, so they can get a payment wired. These platforms need to do a better job of vetting. Glad you have a payment guarantee.

Mike: call your credit card company asap.

incredibly, HomeAway is telling me this property is legit and in fact is based in Italy!Hi Michael,

Thank you for contacting HomeAway Customer Support.

As I thoroughly check the listing there is no problem about it.Regarding your question about the location I can verify that this listing is base on Italy.

Besides you already fully paid for 5 night stay and we can tract it on our system and entitle to our book with confidence guarantee.

There are several ways you can learn more about a vacation rental owner or property manager:

Sincerely,

Chloe
HomeAway.com Customer Support



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There is an array of coffee table books on an upholstered ottoman in one room. One stack is "Yachts" and the top book in another stack is "Mallorca." I wouldn't expect to see either in a villa in Menaggio. But I would expect to see a view/glimpse of Lake Como from a luxury villa in the Menaggio area.

Please report back on what happens. You will have either a bargain or an adventure (or both), I suspect.

The style of building is also rather Spanish/Arabic which fit with Mallorca too.

I suppose it's *possible* that the wrong photos have been attached, but I would be very concerned if I were MW. Ask to speak to someone more senior at HomeAway.

Good catch, Jean!

The list of kitchen amenities also includes "Lobster Pot," not something you'd need in Menaggio.