RCMP – Vacation Rental Scams

On behalf of our partners at the RCMP, we are sharing the following.

Chestermere, Alta.– The Chestermere RCMP is reminding the public to be cautious when booking vacation properties through online rental platforms such as Airbnb, Vrbo, or local classified ads.

While most vacation rentals are legitimate, there has been a rise in online rental scams across Canada, where fraudsters post fake listings, steal photos from real properties, or request deposits through unsecure payment methods—only for renters to discover the property doesn’t exist or wasn’t available.

Tips to avoid vacation rental scams:

• Use reputable platforms like Airbnb or Vrbo that offer verified reviews and secure payment options.
• Be wary of listings with prices that seem too good to be true—they usually are.
• Avoid paying via wire transfer, e-transfer, or cryptocurrency unless you’re using a trusted platform. These forms of payment are hard to trace or recover.
• Communicate through the booking platform only. If someone tries to take the conversation offline (e.g. via text or personal email), that’s a red flag.
• Confirm the address and property details independently—use Google Street View or reverse image searches to verify it’s real.
• Read the reviews carefully. A lack of reviews or only recent five-star ones could be a sign of a fake listing.

Safety tips once you arrive:

• Inspect the space upon arrival and report anything unsafe or unexpected to the platform immediately.
• Let a friend or family member know where you’re staying, especially if you’re travelling alone or to a remote area.
• Follow local laws and bylaws during your stay—including those related to noise, fire safety, and gatherings.

If you believe you’ve been the victim of a rental scam, report it to your local RCMP detachment and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca or 1-888-495-8501.

“These are a few steps you can take to help make renting a vacation home a pleasant experience”, says S/Sgt. Kathy Klassen.

Fore more safety tips, follow us on Facebook @RCMPinAlberta and on X @RCMPAlberta.

The Chestermere RCMP reminds residents that if you witness a crime in progress or see suspicious activity, call 9-1-1 immediately. For non-emergencies, you can:

• Call 310-RCMP (7267)
• To report online, download the Alberta RCMP app through Apple or Google Play. Alternatively, visit rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ab and select Online Crime Reporting under quick links.