Senigallia, vacation rental scam: a 61-year-old woman reported after defrauding a married couple.

The false announcement

In Senigallia, in the province of Ancona, the Carabinieri's investigative efforts have uncovered a scam involving vacation rentals. The investigation began with a complaint filed by a married couple living in a northern Italian province, who were looking for vacation accommodations in the Senigallia area. The victims were allegedly lured by a misleading advertisement for a week-long vacation rental in Senigallia.

The deposit of 550 euros

Convinced by the proposal, the couple were persuaded to pay a deposit of €550 via bank transfer to the alleged landlord's bank account. However, the property advertised for rent did not actually exist. Thanks to the rapid and meticulous investigations conducted by the police, it was possible to reconstruct the money flows and identify the alleged perpetrator of the scam: a 61-year-old woman, resident in another region and already known to the police, who was reported at large to the competent judicial authority for the crime of fraud.

Recommendations for online rentals

In light of this incident, the Carabinieri urge citizens to exercise extreme caution when booking tourist accommodations online. They recommend being wary of excessively low or off-market offers, verifying the actual existence of the property, including through multiple platforms and online maps, checking the accuracy of images, and carefully reading other users' reviews. They also reiterate the importance of using secure and traceable payment methods, avoiding top-ups on prepaid cards registered to unknown persons. In case of doubt or suspicious requests, citizens can call 112 or go to the nearest Carabinieri station to request information or file a complaint.