With the 2010 Winter Games only weeks away, the British Columbia Government and Better Business Bureau are reminding visitors to be careful and do their homework before booking vacation rentals.
The use of the internet has made it much easier for people to find things like home rentals through online classified advertisements. These listings are prone to scams because they are not regulated or vetted. Anyone looking for accommodations should be cautious if:
- The owner requires a large deposit before showing the home or giving you the keys.
- The owner asks the renter to wire money through wire transfer services such as MoneyGram or Western Union.
- The owner is located elsewhere and wishes to communicate via email. A scammer might say they just moved out of the country. Do not believe them.
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