Authorities have issued a warning after a new tourist rental scam left victims out of pocket, following an investigation by the Guardia Civil in Malaga.
Two individuals – a father and son living in the province – are being investigated for allegedly advertising a holiday property that did not exist in Sierra Nevada.
According to investigators, the suspects posted adverts on rental websites featuring attractive photos and descriptions of properties that were never real.
In one case, a woman from Barbate, Cadiz, booked what she believed was a ski holiday apartment for her family.
The property was advertised as being in a prime location and at a particularly low price, in a combination designed to quickly attract interest.
Once initial contact was made through a platform, the conversation was moved elsewhere, where the alleged scammers requested a deposit to secure the booking.
Victims asked to pay outside platforms
The suspects typically asked for payments of less than €400, encouraging victims to transfer money directly or use peer-to-peer payment systems to ‘avoid platform fees’.
After receiving the money, communication would stop, leaving victims to realise they had been scammed.
Police believe there could be more victims across Spain, as the same method may have been used in other high-demand tourist destinations.
How to avoid falling victim
The Guardia Civil has urged travellers to remain vigilant when booking accommodation online.
Key advice includes:
- Be wary of deals that seem unusually cheap
- Never make payments outside of official booking platforms
- Verify that the property exists through independent searches
- Avoid sending money via direct transfers to private individuals
With demand for holiday rentals continuing to surge, especially in popular destinations like Sierra Nevada, authorities warn that scams like this are becoming increasingly common.
Travellers are urged to double-check every booking, especially when a deal looks too good to be true.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
