Individuals booking accommodations are urged to be on high alert.
A resident of Durban – KZN contacted Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) after she was scammed by a person advertising accommodation for short-term rentals on Facebook Marketplace.
The female informed Reaction Officers that she contacted the advertiser on Facebook Messenger before they exchanged contact details and continued communicating on WhatsApp. The woman reserved two different weekends during December 2022 on the KZN South Coast. She paid R6100 into a Standard Bank account and received confirmation that a four-bedroom/10-sleeper unit was booked in her name for the dates requested.
Last weekend, her family drove to the destination but were unable to locate the holiday apartment. They contacted the advertiser telephonically who provided directions to her husband. After driving around and still being unable to locate the premises, they requested that the advertiser meet and escort them to the location. The man then allegedly ridiculed the female and informed her that they had been scammed. The family had then sought alternate accommodation at a further cost.
The public is requested to avoid utilising the services of unverified advertisers on social media platforms as scams of this nature are on the increase.