Protecting your vacation booking Vacation rental scams targeting NJ Shore guests are on the rise — and they're getting more sophisticated. At Shore Summer Rentals, protecting both our hosts and our renter community has been a top priority since we launched in 2004. This page walks you through the latest scams circulating in the vacation rental industry, how to spot them before it's too late, and exactly what to do if you're targeted. When in doubt, trust your instincts — and trust a platform that has verified every owner for 22+ years.
⚠ Security Alert
Renter Fraud Alert
Important scam warnings for vacation rental guests booking at the NJ Shore. Please read in full — knowing what to look for could protect your money and personal information.
- 1 You contact a host through the rental platform's website. The platform forwards your inquiry to the host's personal email.
- 2 A hacker who has access to the host's personal email intercepts the message and responds from a completely different address — for example, bookings2005@hotmail.com — claiming to be the host.
- 3 Red Flag The scammer explains they use "a different email for bookings" and pressures you to communicate and pay outside the platform.
- 4 They request a bank transfer or wire for a deposit — money that goes directly to the scammer, not the real owner.
Their goal: Collect your deposit and rental payment before you realize the owner never received it — and the property was never actually booked.
⚠ Actual email sent by scammer
---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Info Bookings <bookings2005@hotmail.com> Date: Wed, Jan 10, 2024 at 7:31 AM Subject: Inquiry from GUEST NAME: Jul 13, 2024 – Jul 20, 2024 To: GUEST EMAIL Not sure if my previous email was sent so I'm resending it: Good morning GUEST NAME After a talk with the owner the property is available for your requested dates and we can give you a discount. The total price for your booking is $3,000.00 (instead of $3,200.00) + $500.00 as fully refundable damage deposit. To secure the booking, you have the following options: - 50% from the total booking price after signing the contract, plus the damage deposit - 50% no later than 2 weeks prior to check-in For early bookings, the owner offers a 20% discount, but payment is required in full, by bank transfer, after signing the contract. New total: $2,400.00 + $500.00 damage deposit. [They signed the real host's name — it was NOT from her.]
- 1 You receive an email that looks like it comes from a rental platform, property owner, or manager — but it isn't.
- 2 The email asks you to click a link to "fix a problem," "verify your booking," or "confirm your account."
- 3 Red Flag Once you click, the site steals your password or other sensitive information and can be used for identity theft or to access financial accounts.
Remember: SSRNJ.com will never ask you to click a link to verify information. Go directly to the platform website instead of clicking links in any email.
? Use a password manager. A password manager is an easy way to protect your online accounts. Your passwords, profiles, and credit cards are encrypted and harder for scammers to steal.
- 1 A scammer posts a rental listing on Facebook (often at a suspiciously low price) or responds to your public post asking for rental recommendations.
- 2 They claim to be the property owner and seem knowledgeable — they've looked up the real owner's name from public tax records and are impersonating them.
- 3 Red Flag They ask you to pay a deposit via Zelle, Venmo, wire, or cash app — outside of any verified rental platform.
- 4 You arrive at the Shore to find the property is occupied, was never for rent, or the "owner" has disappeared entirely.
Facebook does NOT verify property ownership — we do. Our owners go through a strict verification process before being approved on our website. Don't assume that looking someone up on tax records is enough protection — criminals do the same thing to impersonate real owners.
- ✓ Only correspond using contact info provided by the rental platform. If an email address or phone number doesn't match what's on the listing, stop communicating and contact the platform directly.
- ✓ Never send money via wire transfer, Western Union, MoneyGram, Zelle, or cash apps based on an unsolicited email or social media message. Legitimate hosts do not require wire transfers.
- ✓ Never click links in high-pressure emails. Go directly to the platform website and check for messages there instead.
- ✓ Never give out financial information — bank account numbers, social security numbers, PayPal credentials, or credit card details — to anyone you haven't independently verified through the platform.
- ✓ Book only through reputable, verified platforms. ShoreSummerRentals.com verifies every owner before their listing goes live — something Facebook and Craigslist do not do.
- ✓ If something feels off, it probably is. High-pressure tactics, discounts contingent on paying immediately, or requests to communicate outside the platform are all serious warning signs.
- ✓ Contact us before any money is exchanged if a rental seems suspicious. We investigate reports and can help you confirm whether a listing or owner is legitimate.
NEVER WIRE FUNDS via Western Union, MoneyGram, or any wire service. Most likely, anyone who asks you to do so is a scammer.
NEVER GIVE OUT FINANCIAL INFORMATION — bank account number, social security number, eBay/PayPal info, or similar credentials.
TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE. If a rental seems suspicious or the offer seems unusually low, please
contact us for us to investigate before any money is exchanged.
SHORESUMMERRENTALS.COM IS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY TRANSACTION. We do not handle payments, guarantee transactions, provide escrow services, or offer "buyer protection" or "seller certification." It is the renter's responsibility to use good judgment and rent at your own risk.
Report fraud or scam attempts
If you believe you've been targeted, contact your local law enforcement and report online to one of the agencies below.