$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
short-term rental scam
A listing for a short-term rental — often targeting business travelers — takes payment but the property does not exist or is not as described upon arrival.
“rental scam”
↑ 274%Key indicators
Usually targetsBusiness travelers
Often hitsTech workers and developers
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$1.2K
median reported loss
Typical range$240 – $6.0K
Recovery rate~10%
Annual reports43,000
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers create professional-looking listings for short-term furnished rentals.
2
They target business travelers who need housing quickly and may not verify thoroughly.
3
After payment, the address turns out to be a different property, under construction, or nonexistent.
What to do first
Book through established platforms that hold payment until check-in is verified.
Related terms
corporate housing scamextended stay scamfurnished rental fraudRental scamsWebsiteRisingBusiness travelersTravelersDigital nomadsTech workers and developersReal estate professionals and homebuyersTravelersUnited StatesUnited KingdomEuropean Unioncorporate housing scamextended stay scam
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
David, 35, a business travelers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate rental scams situation while using Website. Scammers create professional-looking listings for short-term furnished rentals.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: They target business travelers who need housing quickly and may not verify thoroughly.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: After payment, the address turns out to be a different property, under construction, or nonexistent.
The outcome
David realized something was wrong when listing appears only on unverified third-party sites rather than established platforms. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Book through established platforms that hold payment until check-in is verified. David's experience shows why listing appears only on unverified third-party sites rather than established platforms and host refuses a live video call or virtual tour are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Listing appears only on unverified third-party sites rather than established platforms
- Host refuses a live video call or virtual tour
- Payment is requested via wire or cryptocurrency instead of platform checkout
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Book through established platforms that hold payment until check-in is verified.
- ✓Cross-reference the property address on Google Street View and maps.
- ✓Request a live video walkthrough before sending any deposit.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- Business travel rental fraud has increased as remote work drives demand for short-term furnished housing.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Book through established platforms that hold payment until check-in is verified.
- ✓Cross-reference the property address on Google Street View and maps.
- ✓Request a live video walkthrough before sending any deposit.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
Business travel rental fraud has increased as remote work drives demand for short-term furnished housing.
BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Business travelers, Travelers, Digital nomads
Geographic concentration
United States, United Kingdom, European Union
Primary channel
Website — Rental scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Business travelers are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The growing number of reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- Business travel rental fraud has increased as remote work drives demand for short-term furnished housing.
Source notes
- BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about short-term rental scam
How does the short-term rental scam work?+
Scammers create professional-looking listings for short-term furnished rentals. They target business travelers who need housing quickly and may not verify thoroughly. After payment, the address turns out to be a different property, under construction, or nonexistent.
What are the warning signs of short-term rental scam?+
Listing appears only on unverified third-party sites rather than established platforms Host refuses a live video call or virtual tour Payment is requested via wire or cryptocurrency instead of platform checkout
What should I do if I encounter short-term rental scam?+
Book through established platforms that hold payment until check-in is verified. Cross-reference the property address on Google Street View and maps. Request a live video walkthrough before sending any deposit.
Who is most at risk for short-term rental scam?+
This scam primarily targets Business travelers, Travelers, Digital nomads. It is most commonly reported in United States, United Kingdom, European Union and typically appears on Website.
Is short-term rental scam on the rise?+
short-term rental scam is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US, UK, EU. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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What to do first
Keep all communication and payment inside the booking platform.
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What to do first
Use official device recovery channels and rotate credentials instead.
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What to do first
Use the airline app or official number from your itinerary.
Targets
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Seen in
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.