July the 20th, 2024 – Scams are everywhere you look, and booking accommodation isn’t immune to them. Here’s what to keep an eye out for when it comes to Croatian private accommodation scams.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, elderly people are unfortunately very often the target of fraud and all kinds of scams, as statistics show. Back in 2023, a total of 635 persons over the age of 60 were recorded as having been scammed in some manner, while one year earlier there was a slightly higher number of 679 victims of fraud who were above the age of 60.
Fraudsters might seem obvious in some circumstances, but the ones who take themselves and their ”operations” more seriously can be very resourceful, and very convincing. Currently, as the summer tourist season is upon us once again and plenty of apartments by the sea are being rented out, Croatian private accommodation scams are commonplace. Mirovina.hr learned from the Ministry of the Interior (MUP) what exactly to watch out for in order to avoid fraud this summer.
stick to vetted accommodation websites, and check out the owners personally
Over the first five months of 2024, according to preliminary data, 884 criminal acts of fraud were recorded. These crimes didn’t discriminate by age. Croatian private accommodation scams are frustratingly recorded every summer.
to avoid croatian private accommodation scams, pay very close attention to the details
Fraudsters know they’re often monitored and caught out, and this only drives them to become more creative, develop their skills and grow more and more convincing. The online world and how much we rely on it allows for endless opportunities for fraud. Fake social media profiles, websites and malware are often used to fool, rob and trick unsuspecting individuals.
First of all, pay very close attention to which ads and websites you use to find and book accommodation. Although they aren’t immune to problems, it is best to stick to the likes of Airbnb and Booking.com. Make sure to double check if there are user reviews for a particular place that catches your eye.
It is also necessary to check whether the person renting the accommodation is the real person responsible for it.
The owner should be able to be found and confirmed to be “real” easily, and their personal and/or agency information should be on all of their promotional materials, including social media and the website through which they’re advertising their property.
if you suspect a scam or have yourself been scammed, don’t wait – report it straight away
“If they can, we advise people to carry out more detailed checks through competent institutions before paying any money to make sure that a certain property is really being rented and that the person or agency advertising the rental is really authorised to do so,” MUP stated.
They also added how important it is to react on time if you’re scammed or if a scam is strongly suspected. The police can be contacted and the crime can be reported by calling 192.
