The summer season is in full swing and that means a significant number of people seeking Fort Lauderdale real estate to use as a vacation rentals.  Since so much is done online these days, there are increased numbers of less than savory individuals looking to scam people from out of the state or even out of the country.

The process is quite simple.   A scammer takes a picture of something like Fort Lauderdale condos, places it within an ad on a website like Craigslist and adds descriptive details.  A person sees the property and may end up putting down a significant deposit or the full amount only to find that the scammer has disappeared with their money after it’s too late and with no property to show for it.

Before you rent any vacation property you should strongly consider contacting a Fort Lauderdale realtor as he or she can assist in determining the legitimacy of an ad.  You can also search property records online and find out whether the person renting the home actually owns it.  Alternatively, choosing a vacation renal company with a national reputation might be a wise, albeit costlier option.