https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 26 May 2026 08:20:23 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-this-a-fraud/page/2#post-1351705 Thu, 16 Jan 2014 01:49:22 +0000 SugarplumsMom 1351705@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm glad you went with your gut. I would have passed on it too. I live in the Europe and no one around here uses checks, but if I had a home for rent in the US, I'd setup a Paypal or some other way in order for my customers to feel safe. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-this-a-fraud/page/2#post-1351629 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 23:19:40 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 1351629@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Freckles: ENOUGH SAID. *Shudder* Thank you. </p> <p>Thanks everyone! I am just going to go with my gut on this one! It's a no-go! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-this-a-fraud/page/2#post-1351619 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 23:07:12 +0000 Freckles 1351619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CupQuakeWalk: I agree with @Mrs. Blue!! My old roommate and i came across Craiglist scams when looking for a place. They would say that once i put money into their account they would fedex the key. They had pictures of the place and it was a legitimate condo/apartment but they just took pictures off the internet (from an MLS posting). </p> <p>Also, a quick google search of "scams on homeaway.com" produced this: <a href="https://community.homeaway.com/thread/3124" rel="nofollow">https://community.homeaway.com/thread/3124</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-this-a-fraud/page/2#post-1351531 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 22:20:01 +0000 Mrs. Blue 1351531@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CupQuakeWalk: I would be very wary unless there are previous reviews that say everything went fine. That's waaaayy too close to the Craig's list rental scams for my comfort level. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-this-a-fraud/page/2#post-1351484 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 21:55:36 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 1351484@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@woodentulip: how did you end up paying? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-this-a-fraud/page/2#post-1351482 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 21:55:00 +0000 mlm2934 1351482@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.Someone: @CupQuakeWalk: that's what I was going ask, if there were reviews. I feel much more comfortable renting vacation homes that have a lot of reviews with details about the stay and rental process. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-this-a-fraud/page/2#post-1351476 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 21:52:19 +0000 woodentulip 1351476@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CupQuakeWalk: Hope that it all works out! We just rented a place for a week in March (it is right in the same area--Anna Maria Island!), but through an agency. Even booking that way, and the agency not accept a Visa card really put me off! There is a level of comfort that comes with CCs! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-this-a-fraud/page/2#post-1351433 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 21:33:43 +0000 Ree723 1351433@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CupQuakeWalk: Of course you can! Anytime my friend, any time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-this-a-fraud/page/2#post-1351409 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 21:23:31 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 1351409@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ree723: can we just come stay with you is AU? That's the ultimate goal ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-this-a-fraud/page/2#post-1351366 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 21:13:57 +0000 Ree723 1351366@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CupQuakeWalk: As others have said, direct transfers to bank accounts is extremely common in Europe and the rest of the world. All the years I've lived abroad in the UK and Australia and I've never even seen a check in either of these countries. We transfer money to people's bank accounts for everything and it's no big deal. Everything else has sounded legit so if you like it, and the website has fraud protection insurance, I'd totally book it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-this-a-fraud#post-1351328 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 20:58:00 +0000 SleepyMonkey 1351328@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CupQuakeWalk: i think if you are comfortable with him being the owner of the home and it gets good reviews, then it should be ok. if you want to be safe, ask to speak to a couple of the previous renters so you can make sure. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-this-a-fraud#post-1351293 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 20:44:27 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 1351293@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SleepyMonkey: I did speak with him and he answered all of my questions. My problem is not the home being his (because I check on that), it is just that I will receive a key and get to use it for the price I paid because I am not going through an agency. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-this-a-fraud#post-1351286 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 20:38:13 +0000 danda 1351286@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've rented before and paid a deposit by check when I had good confidence it was legit. One thign you can do is ask if they can give you contact info for previous renters that you can talk to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-this-a-fraud#post-1351284 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 20:36:54 +0000 bisous 1351284@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would just find another house, unless your heart was really set on the one in Sarasota! Not worth the trouble and the worries! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-this-a-fraud#post-1351283 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 20:36:39 +0000 sunny 1351283@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That sounds risky, even if it is legit! :-( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-this-a-fraud#post-1351270 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 20:31:04 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1351270@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CupQuakeWalk: you should be able to look the property up in the county property appraiser website. I would check to see who the real property owner is. If you know the county you can look it up by address. </p> <p>Just because the place exists on google earth doesn't mean much. I've heard of people "renting" houses before that really are for sale or rent (aka a real vacant property) but they aren't the real owners. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-this-a-fraud#post-1351254 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 20:26:01 +0000 SleepyMonkey 1351254@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CupQuakeWalk: have you talked directly to the owner and asked him specific questions about the house? i was talking over email to what i thought was an owner of a homeaway.com rental home, but it turned out the true owner's' email got hacked. Someone was responding thru the true owners email and asked for a full deposit up front by wire transfer. when i called the # listed on the website (the true owner), they had no idea what i was talking about. </p> <p>my advice would be to call and ask specifics about it...how many bedrooms, what sized beds, where are the bathrooms, how many cars fit in the driveway, where is the nearest grocery store, tell me about the closest town...a fake will not be able to easily answer these questions and will stumble through them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-this-a-fraud#post-1351194 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 20:09:50 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 1351194@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: @purrpletulips: So, I just got off the phone with Homeaway and apparently they say bank transfer are EXTREMELY common? and nothing to be afraid of because for $19 I can buy up to $1,500 insurance (from homeaway for purchases made bank to bank) for situations like fraudulence . So, I am warming up to the idea...also...</p> <p>The owners sent us the address and it is there on google earth. So, the place does exist at least?</p> <p>@purrpletulips: there actually are 29 reviews but none of them mention the bank transfer</p> <p>I am warming up to the idea but i'll need to sleep on it some in order to make a final decision. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-this-a-fraud#post-1349834 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 13:10:12 +0000 LindsayInNY 1349834@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I rented with HomeAway last summer to avoid the fees from AirBNB. I didn't encounter a situation like yours though... I would pay with a method that offers some sort of protection (PayPal or something else?) if you go through with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-this-a-fraud#post-1349805 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 13:01:03 +0000 Shutterbug 1349805@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CupQuakeWalk: try doing a reverse lookup on their phone number they called from. I'd ask if they can do it via Paypal or I'd look for another place. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-this-a-fraud#post-1349793 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 12:56:37 +0000 Mrs.Someone 1349793@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't rent any vacation home without seeing reviews. This helps make sure it is legit, and that people have had a good experience staying there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-this-a-fraud#post-1349767 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 12:50:07 +0000 purrpletulips 1349767@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd look for another house, I wouldn't be comfortable transferring money into someone I didn't know bank account even if they were in the US so definitely not international. We used vrbo.com when we went to SLC last year and found a great house; the owner used both paypal and personal check for payment. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-this-a-fraud#post-1349407 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 11:42:00 +0000 snowjewelz 1349407@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I rented a vacation home w/ homeaway before... Usually owners use their payment systems so you can receipts/confirmations, etc. I definitely would look for another home instead tho, with an owner that you feel comfortable with! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-this-a-fraud#post-1349331 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 11:30:49 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 1349331@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: either directly in Tampa or within about 30 miles. This home is in Sarasota. Nothing in Orlando. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-this-a-fraud#post-1349275 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 11:21:51 +0000 Arden 1349275@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Where in FL are you looking? I might be able to help? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-this-a-fraud#post-1349190 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 11:05:22 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 1349190@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Dandelion: it doesn't give you the exact address for any of the homes on that site but I will email right now and ask him! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-this-a-fraud#post-1349186 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 11:04:19 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 1349186@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: I was just concerned with the extra fees involved. I talked to the guy about that. He said they don't do that because of the fees that'd accumulate. The house is 1,000/w so....I'd rather not pay fees. I'd almost rather find an entirely new house (if possible!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-this-a-fraud#post-1349181 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 11:03:12 +0000 Dandelion 1349181@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds fishy to me! Google the address and find out who the owners are. You can use the GIS in the county to find out the info. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-this-a-fraud#post-1349168 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 11:01:15 +0000 pui 1349168@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>They could be completely legit, but it doesn't matter because I wouldn't trust it lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-this-a-fraud#post-1349167 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 11:01:08 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1349167@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CupQuakeWalk: Can you pay to their account via like pay pal? I think they can set it up for it to go through paypal but straight from your bank to their bank. </p>