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Cape Town - As the mid-year break approaches John Roberts, CEO of the Just Property Group, has warned holiday makers to watch out for fraudsters who scam people out of their hard-earned money.
The coastline offers a huge opportunity for unethical businesses which over-promise and under-deliver their holiday letting offerings, the firm cautioned.
“It never fails to amaze me how gullible some people are when it comes to money matters,” said Roberts.
At the beginning of the year, the media revealed how a number of people were duped when it came to their year-end holidays.
"These deals are mostly offered by agents you never meet, whose offices you have never visited and whose sole purpose is to lure you into paying a deposit on a property on which they have no mandate," Roberts said.
"It will also be the last you hear from them.”
These agents operate primarily by making use of false online advertising, often involving new developments, according to Just Property Group.
The scamsters also pressure clients into paying a deposit, saying that the property is in demand.
“We would suggest that you use a reputable letting company or a national brand to avoid being conned,” said Roberts.
He added that local tourist junction boards carry information about reputable companies.
“Also be sure to sign the lease before paying a deposit. If the letting agent asks you to deposit money into a bank account that is not a recognisable company bank account – don’t.
"Also ask the agency to provide you with proof that your deposit is kept in an interest-bearing account,” he said.
Danger signs
To avoid your dream holiday from turning into a nightmare, Roberts recommends looking out for these tell-tale signs that you are very likely dealing with a scamster:
- A deal that is too good to be true is often a scam.
- An advert that contains only a person’s name and cellphone number. All reputable companies have websites with landline numbers.
- A lease agreement and documentation presented on unbranded stationery. Also be wary if the bank account into which the deposit must be paid does not match the company's name.
- Being pressurised into paying a deposit by the agent should raise some red flags.
- Fin24
The coastline offers a huge opportunity for unethical businesses which over-promise and under-deliver their holiday letting offerings, the firm cautioned.
“It never fails to amaze me how gullible some people are when it comes to money matters,” said Roberts.
At the beginning of the year, the media revealed how a number of people were duped when it came to their year-end holidays.
"These deals are mostly offered by agents you never meet, whose offices you have never visited and whose sole purpose is to lure you into paying a deposit on a property on which they have no mandate," Roberts said.
"It will also be the last you hear from them.”
These agents operate primarily by making use of false online advertising, often involving new developments, according to Just Property Group.
The scamsters also pressure clients into paying a deposit, saying that the property is in demand.
“We would suggest that you use a reputable letting company or a national brand to avoid being conned,” said Roberts.
He added that local tourist junction boards carry information about reputable companies.
“Also be sure to sign the lease before paying a deposit. If the letting agent asks you to deposit money into a bank account that is not a recognisable company bank account – don’t.
"Also ask the agency to provide you with proof that your deposit is kept in an interest-bearing account,” he said.
Danger signs
To avoid your dream holiday from turning into a nightmare, Roberts recommends looking out for these tell-tale signs that you are very likely dealing with a scamster:
- A deal that is too good to be true is often a scam.
- An advert that contains only a person’s name and cellphone number. All reputable companies have websites with landline numbers.
- A lease agreement and documentation presented on unbranded stationery. Also be wary if the bank account into which the deposit must be paid does not match the company's name.
- Being pressurised into paying a deposit by the agent should raise some red flags.
- Fin24
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