Attorney General warns Floridians of vacation rental fraud and travel scams this summer

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Attorney General Ashley Moody is warning Floridians to watch out for travel scams this summer.

Moody says this year- vacation rental fraud is running high. Scammers will post fake offerings, take someone's money and leave travelers without accommodations.

Another scam involves fraudulent websites that sell fake entrance tickets to attractions and theme parks.

See also: Delray Beach woman falls victim to home improvement scam by repeat offender

Moody says it’s important to know who you’re doing business with and provided the following tips to avoid falling prey to scams:

• Know who you are dealing with. Independently confirm the seller's name and telephone number.
• Never provide payment for more than the purchase price, no matter how tempting. Never wire money to the seller or a third party at the seller's request. If the seller insists that you wire back funds, end the transaction immediately – legitimate sellers won't pressure you to send money.
• If possible, provide only cash.
• Request a check drawn on a local bank or a bank with a local branch, which allows you to make a personal visit to make sure the check is valid. If you cannot get a check from a local bank, call the bank where the check originated and ask if it is valid. Get the bank's phone number from directory assistance or an internet site you know and trust, not from the seller.
• Resist any pressure to "act now" If the seller's offer is good now, it should still be good after the check clears the issuing bank.

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Consumers can report summer travel scams to the attorney general’s office at 1-866-9-NO-SCAM (866-966-7226) or visit MyFloridaLegal.com.