Booking.com Rental Scam Leaves L.A. Woman's Home Flooded with Strangers

Homeowner Targeted by Fake Rental Listing

• 🏠 A homeowner in Rosemead, California, is experiencing a nightmare scenario after strangers repeatedly show up at her door, believing they had booked a vacation rental.
• 🚫 The homeowner, Alexis Cabbabe, states her house was listed on Booking.com without her knowledge or consent, and she does not have an account with the platform.
• ⚠️ Within 24 hours, two sets of strangers arrived with confirmations of their bookings, causing distress for the homeowner and her family.

Booking.com's Alleged Inaction

• 💸 The fake listing advertised the home for nearly $400 a night, and the homeowner is frustrated that Booking.com has allegedly done nothing to resolve the issue.
• 🔍 She questions why the platform does not require owners to prove property ownership before allowing listings to be monetized.

Understanding Short-Term Rental Scams

• 🚨 Consumer specialist David Lazarus notes that these short-term rental scams are increasingly sophisticated and common on sites like Airbnb and Booking.com.
• 💻 Scammers may automate listings, and platforms might not be adequately vetting addresses or property owners.

Tips to Avoid Rental Scams

• 🔒 Stay on the platform for all communications and payments; be wary if asked to pay via Zelle, Venmo, or cryptocurrency.
• 🗺️ Verify property details by cross-referencing listing images with what appears on Google Maps to ensure the address and property match.
• 📞 Booking.com was reached out to for a statement but had not yet responded at the time of reporting.