Scammers taking bookings for holiday homes they don’t own

Scammers are advertising and booking holiday homes in Cyprus which they pretend to own, police warned, citing complaints.

Several people have complained to the police about online fraud concerning the booking of rental houses like villas and other tourist accommodations.

Perpetrators publish fake advertisements for rentals of various tourist accommodation on several websites accompanied by photos.

In the event an interested party contacts the alleged tenant, then they set up a meeting to see the place, but scammers claim they cannot attend, giving different excuses.

Interested parties then are asked to check out the residences without going inside and proceed with a reservation by transferring a sum of money to a provided bank account.

Following the complaints, police urged the public to submit payments though a relevant website where the property is offered rather than through a personal arrangement with the owner. For independent listings, booking should be made in person, police said, within the property offered for rent.