(Kate and Rob Foster Run The Dreamy Escapes Retreat… They Had No Idea What To Do When These Guests Turned Up To Their Front Door – NY Breaking News)
A couple who operates a vacation home in Hunchy, Sunshine Coast, faced a perplexing situation when strangers arrived claiming they had booked a reservation that didn’t exist.
Kate and Rob Foster, the owners of Dreamy Escapes, were taken aback when a group of tourists arrived at their property expecting accommodation they had allegedly booked through Booking.com. However, the Fosters had no record of any such reservation.
The tourists insisted on having booked the Wunya Tiny House, a romantic two-bedroom cottage for couples, through the online platform. Surprised and confused, the Fosters turned away the unexpected guests, as the property was already booked by other travelers.
It soon came to light that scammers had created fake advertisements for the vacation home, making false bookings and causing distress to unsuspecting tourists who lost their money without having a place to stay.
This unfortunate incident was not an isolated one for Kate and Rob, as their business has been targeted multiple times before. In July alone, four separate fraudulent ads were reported by the couple.
The scammers borrowed the company’s branding, including logos and property photos, possibly from previous Airbnb listings. Despite Dreamy Escapes having removed the property from their website over a year ago, the fraudsters created misleading ads claiming different addresses along the same road as the actual property.
Dreamy Escapes, known for offering luxurious and serene retreats for rest and rejuvenation, is owned by Kate and Rob Foster, who are yoga instructors and therapists in family constellation. The couple also hosts wellness workshops for visitors on the Sunshine Coast.
Online accommodation platforms worldwide are increasingly vulnerable to scams and hacking, with scammers exploiting vulnerabilities to execute their fraudulent schemes. Booking.com’s Chief Information Officer reported a significant surge in scams affecting the platform, with a marked rise in fake bookings and monetary losses.
According to experts, scammers target online accommodation services due to their widespread usage and the challenge of monitoring every property listed daily. Despite the efforts of platforms to combat fraudulent activities, offenders continue to find ways to deceive unsuspecting travelers and property owners.
Kate and Rob Foster found themselves in a difficult position, unable to prevent fake bookings or protect their guests from disruptions caused by the deceptive acts. While the scammers’ ads were eventually removed after a week, the Fosters encountered challenges in verifying the actions taken by Booking.com to address the issue.
In response to the incident, Dreamy Escapes reported the fraudulent listings to the ACCC and contacted Booking.com multiple times, emphasizing the need for enhanced security measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
As the battle against online scams persists, it is essential for travelers and property owners to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to authorities and relevant platforms promptly. The experience of Kate and Rob Foster serves as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding against fraudulent practices in the digital age.
