Owners direct hacking scam

[fifi]

http://www.andalucia.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=29425

[KWC]

  You have me worried now fifi, as we have paid an owner for the villa were going to 

I have passed all the owners details, onto the Owners Direct Company to see if they can confirm, and put my mind at ease.

In the meantime I will be biting my nails to the bone, till I hear from them.
I will of course let you all know how it went and what level of response I get, as I fear they may come back and say "due to cliet confidentiality we are unable to............"

Thanks for the heads up though, better to know now, before we get there and find someone is lying on your sunbed 

Kenny

[Voldermort]

That the downside of the internet, a scammer can work from anywhere in the world. Its even more frightening when the owners of the website, who are making their living enticing people to book holiday properties , then when it goes toys up just walk away with a cheery `nowt to do wiv me Guv`....Almost as bad as the scammers.

     Enough to make you go into your Travel Agent and book an AI................................whatamIsaying 

[fifi]

Perhaps we are all becoming too trusting on the internet. We believe what we read most of the time without doing any personal research and handing over our hard earned cash.

No harm in double checking Kenny, just to be on the safe side.

Believe it or not hacking is even taught in University. One of my sons can hack nearly anything....all learned in his computer forensics class.

[KWC]

Taught to hack at the college

Anyhow, lads and lasses. If and its a big if, my holiday booking has been scammed, I will need a plan B.

So who has an empty apartment/villa/house/tent/stone circle they can offer a couple of destitutes, for a free fortnight  in their spare habitat.

We will do the washing up, cut the grass, fix the leaks (im an engineer, trust me!!) and leave the salt and pepper for the next people, oh and your towels 

[fifi]

 

Any good at plastering walls Kenny?

I dont want to give you anything too strenuous to do....after all it is supposed to be a holiday.

[KWC]

Any good at plastering walls Kenny?

I dont want to give you anything too strenuous to do....after all it is supposed to be a holiday.

Good at getting plastered, never done the plastering bit fifi 

[fifi]

 

[fifi]

Interestingly enough Owners Direct have issued a warning about such scams.... http://help.ownerdirect.com/ViewDocument.aspx?id=5989

[fifi]

Digging on the internet here. It is not just happening with Owners Direct....other companies too are being hit.

http://www.sitejabber.com/reviews/www.homeaway.com "We were victims of a scam through a listings on HomeAway. Scammers are intercepting emails to the owners posted on the Homeaway site.2

"We have found that HomeAway is unresponsive and are concerned that others could suffer our same fate."

            ...........................

One of the methods used described in this link.................


http://www.capelinks.com/blog/vacation-rental-phishing-scams/

[KWC]

Digging on the internet here. It is not just happening with Owners Direct....other companies too are being hit.

http://www.sitejabber.com/reviews/www.homeaway.com "We were victims of a scam through a listings on HomeAway. Scammers are intercepting emails to the owners posted on the Homeaway site.2

"We have found that HomeAway is unresponsive and are concerned that others could suffer our same fate."

            ...........................

One of the methods used described in this link.................


http://www.capelinks.com/blog/vacation-rental-phishing-scams/

Why do so few, spoil it for so many,  Maybe better sticking with the likes of TC and Thomsons etc, then I supose thats not 100% safe either unless you go into a shop   

[niksternoo]

this is so disheartening.  Ive just provisionally booked two weeks for next year with an agency based there.  I have been in communication with her over the last week since we have been back and she manages the bookings for a number of apartments on FUE.  Surely this is safe? or am i just being very stupidly gullible    this makes me so very angry.....and sad as it could put so may off going to see the wonders of FUE 

[lynr]

I don't suppose it helps that at lot of owners who advertise on the likes of Owners Direct and Holiday Lettings now only include the minimum contact details as they are in fear of the authorities tracing them and then fining them for 'illegal letting'

At one time you would have the owner's name, location and a landline contact number shown on the advert, but more often that not now it's just a mobile number.  I've used both of these companies in the past without any problems but the owners who I dealt with were very professional and supplied their UK address etc without being asked to do so.

Will be extra cautious now though.

[isleswing]

Speaking to somebody on a Landline telephone is always said to be a good way of avoiding scams. Probably not infallible, but well worth doing.
If they will only communicate by email, then we take that as a warning.
Of course, there's only going to be a very small number of fake bookings, but tragic for those few victims.
Take nothing on face value.

[glenys]

I think most people renting with Owners Direct would take payment by cheque. I agree with the last posting speaking on the phone is always a good indication. I work at and Hotel and we people trying to make scam bookings.

[KWC]

You have me worried now fifi, as we have paid an owner for the villa were going to 

I have passed all the owners details, onto the Owners Direct Company to see if they can confirm, and put my mind at ease.

In the meantime I will be biting my nails to the bone, till I hear from them.
I will of course let you all know how it went and what level of response I get, as I fear they may come back and say "due to cliet confidentiality we are unable to............"

Thanks for the heads up though, better to know now, before we get there and find someone is lying on your sunbed 

Kenny

Well I did say I would let you all know how I got on with the feedback from Owners Direct and here is the reply I just received this morning - looks like I will be having a great holiday after all.

Quote: Dear Kenneth, Thank you for contacting us. We can confirm that the property has been listed with us since November 2011 and the owner lists several properties with us. We always advise that travelers contact the property owner via telephone before making any payment and to confirm the booking.  Please feel free to visit our Help page if you have any further questions: http://www.ownersdirect.co.uk/help-index.htm  Kind regards, Laurence Gregory Customer Support Representativewww.ownersdirect.co.uk

Lock up yer daughters and mothers im on my way, what am I saying, we are on our way, no need!!

[Florence]

The vast majority of properties on Owners Direct or Holiday Lettings are legitimate due to the various hoops the owners have to go through to put up a listing.  Hacking can happen in some cases and you can protect yourself by looking for the following:

Check to see how long the owner has been listed - the Owners Direct will take down the advert of any owner who does not meet their terms and conditions or who get regular complaints. 

Upon booking, the owner should send out a booking form which will give details of their address and landline number.

As a double check you can call the landline number and ask the owner about the property, area, etc.  A scammer would not have a clue about any of these details.

Check their email responses.  If English appears to be their second language and they mention God, or offer something that is too good to be true - beware.