Witness describes events observed at a vacation residence
In the picturesque Bavarian town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, authorities are actively combating a growing issue of online accommodation scams. The scammers, no longer limited to fake websites, are now placing fraudulent ads on well-known platforms like Booking.com, TripAdvisor, Airbnb, Check24, and others.
Recently, a family with two children found themselves victims of such a scam while planning a vacation in Grainau, Zugspitzdorf. The vacation apartment they booked on Booking.com turned out to be non-existent.
If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably isn't a serious offer. Other signs of potential scams include accommodations that cannot be found on Google Maps, are located in industrial areas or parks, or have always the same monotonous phrase or no critical voice among top ratings.
Communication and payment should always be handled through the portal itself, not via external channels like WhatsApp. Consumer protectionists are more familiar with such scams involving "fake" vacation apartments or luxury villas in large vacation destinations like Paris, Mallorca, or the Canary Islands.
The problem lies in the fact that platforms are not obligated to review offers in advance, so vigilance is key when booking. Reviews can be easily faked, so it's important to examine them closely for any suspicious patterns.
Police spokesman Paul Klette confirmed another case that occurred at the end of July in Grainau, where nine guests found the door locked after booking on TripAdvisor.de. In Berchtesgaden, the tourist office can confirm if an online offer is real if it is listed in the local registration system.
In Grainau this year, the neighbour reported 25 such cases to the police. Fake offers in Bavaria are not common but do occur from time to time. Five vacationers have driven to the non-existent apartment's address in Grainau this week alone, all victims of scammers.
Julia Zeller from the Consumer Center Bavaria advises checking if the accommodation can be found via its address on Google Maps. If not, it might be a sign of a scam. If a large sum of money is lost in the event of a dispute, there is usually no claim for damages as the platforms only mediate between the guest and the host.
Consumer protectionists urge travellers to be cautious and vigilant when booking accommodations online, especially during peak travel seasons. It's better to be safe than sorry.
