Unfortunately people occasionally use web marketing tools such as ours in order to make contact with businesses for fraudulent reasons. We do have measure in place to deter those attempting to benefit from online fraud and do take an active role in protecting our customers. As we become aware of fraudulent cases we provide information about them so that our customers can avoid any potential losses to their business.

What to look out for:

A property receives an enquiry for a long term stay-often a month or more. The enquirer requires a quote as it is a business stay or is connected with a church.

A property which replies to the enquiry receives an offer that sounds very appealing- they are to receive a cheque for three times the amount required and are then required to transfer the remainder to another account.

If you agree to this the money appears in your account so you go ahead and transfer out the agreed sum. Once you have done this all the original funds are removed from your account and you are unable to retrieve your own funds back. The scam is complete!

Our Advice:

If you are suspicious about any email enquiry the best thing to do is delete it. You can also forward the email to us. We can then warn all our customers about it and gather evidence for any possible prosecution

Examples

Below are two real life examples of scams. They follow the start of the pattern outlined above.

Enquiry From: alan_davies_05@yahoo.com

Hello, I am pastor Alan Davies, i will like you to know that i am interested in renting your room for 2weeks because i am coming for a business conference in set and i will like you to tell me how much it it will cost me torent the room and all the bill i have to pay when i get there .Get back to me asap. Thanks And God Blees You Date:10-aug-2006

Enquiry From: bill_milner707@yahoo.com

Dear Sir/ma I am Mr Bill Milner by name i got the placement of your apartment for rent and i am very interested in renting the apartment for 2 vweeks so i want you to get back to me with the cost of the rentage and all the bill i have to pay when i get there including the tax because i am coming over there for a church confrence in september and my arrival date is october1 till october 15 Thanks. Bill