Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission from eligible bookings through partner links, at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability change; the booking provider confirms the final total and terms.
Reviewed October 26, 2026. A convincing listing or reservation message does not prove that a payment request is legitimate. Pause and verify through a route you trust.
Check the property before booking
The FTC recommends researching the property address and owner or rental company. Compare independent sources, recent reviews and the property’s official details. Copied photos, conflicting addresses, unusually low prices and pressure to pay deserve investigation. Neither a map pin nor a high search ranking guarantees quality or availability.
Unexpected payment request? Verify independently
- Do not open the payment link in the message.
- Open the booking provider’s known app or website yourself.
- Compare the request with the payment schedule in your original confirmation.
- Contact support through that known route and ask it to verify the demand.
- Contact the property using independently checked details if needed.
A message that knows your stay dates still needs verification. Keep communications inside the booking platform where possible, but do not treat that location alone as proof that an unexpected request is safe. Do not share passwords, one-time codes or card details in ordinary email or chat.
Watch how they want payment
The FTC warns about pressure to make immediate decisions and demands for gift cards, cryptocurrency or wire transfers. Those payments can be very difficult to recover. Do not bypass verification because someone threatens cancellation.
Save these details before paying
| Record | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Full payable total | Includes mandatory fees |
| Payment schedule | Helps identify unusual demands |
| Refund deadline and time zone | Clarifies when flexibility expires |
| Provider and property contacts | Provides trusted support routes |
See our refund guide and hotel comparison tools, and read the actual provider terms.
If you already sent money
Contact your bank or payment provider promptly using its official app or verified phone number. Ask about protection and recovery options; repayment is not guaranteed. Preserve messages and receipts, report the listing to the platform, and report suspected U.S. fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Does an affiliate link guarantee a safe stay?
No. We may earn a commission on eligible partner bookings, but readers must still verify the property, total and terms. Commercial placement does not establish the best value. This checklist does not determine whether a specific booking or message is fraudulent.
Sources: FTC rental-listing guidance; FTC travel-scam guidance. Verification workflow is FareBandit editorial guidance.
