BBB® Warns of Fake Vacation Rentals on Craigslist

Pensacola, Fla. (Jan. 15, 2015) – Better Business Bureau serving Northwest Florida is warning consumers to be on the lookout for fake vacation rental property listings located in the northwest Florida area.  

Your BBB was contacted by a consumer inquiring about a “business”, Oasis Eva Homes, advertising vacation rentals available in Florida. The consumer contacted the business via Craigslist requesting more information about the properties and the BBB Accredited Business logo displayed on their website. The business assured the consumer they were accredited with BBB with an A+ rating. Thankfully, the consumer reached out to your BBB when she could not find a BBB Business Review for Oasis Eva Homes.

BBB found Oasis Eva Homes’ website domain, oasisevahomes.com, originated in Lagos, Nigeria and was created in May of 2014. The Craigslist posts featured too-good-to-be-true ads offering to rent five and six bedroom homes in Destin and Pensacola Beach for $300 a week. The ad included photos “borrowed” from a legitimate ad from an owner renting the properties.

When searching for deals on Craigslist, keep the following in mind:  

• Try to deal with local buyers and sellers.
• Never wire funds.
• Use caution when using an escrow service – make sure it’s reputable by checking them out at bbb.org.
• Never give out your personal financial information.
• Home rentals should be thoroughly checked out and inspected in person before money is put down.
• Always check out the business first at bbb.org. BBB offers over 4 million free business reviews on businesses located in the United States and Canada.

The following are red flags, signs you’re likely dealing with someone using Craigslist to defraud people:

• The buyer, seller or property manager is from another country.
• The buyer, seller or property manager will not meet with you and will only communicate via e-mail.
• The buyer overpays and asks you to wire the extra funds back to him/her.

For more advice you can trust, start with bbb.org.

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