'Strangers coming to the house': California woman looking for answers after finding out her home was used in a fake rental listing — how these scams work and what to know to protect yourself

Cavish says she doesn’t even have an account with the website. The address on the listing was hers, however, it included photos of another property, and was priced at nearly $400 per night. She’s had to turn away visitors looking to check in with booking confirmation emails in hand.

“Luckily, so far, the people have been really nice,” Cavish said. “But they’re strangers coming to the house where I have kids.”

She criticized Booking.com for publishing listings without any verification.

“I’m frustrated because the company is not doing its due diligence,” she said. “Why doesn’t the owner have to prove some ownership before charging people money to stay?”

A growing trend in online rental scams

According to KTLA 5 News consumer reporter David Lazarus, this type of fraud is becoming more frequent.

“It’s a common enough scam that there’s a name for it — short-term rental scams — and it’s most common on Airbnb and Booking.com,” Lazarus said in the report.

These scams can involve criminals creating fake listings using either stolen or generic photos and attaching them to real addresses. Some booking platforms rely on automated systems, which can allow fraudulent listings to go live without being flagged or verified.

The rise of digital platforms and third-party payment apps has made it easier for scammers to exploit homeowners and renters. In cases like Cavish’s, the fraud is a financial and safety concern.

How to protect yourself

Lazarus warned travelers to proceed cautiously when booking short-term stays online.