Legal information

How can you identify and avoid fraudulent rental requests?

Owners of furnished holiday accommodation need to be on their guard against attempted scams! Fraudulent requests are often automated and sent en masse by robots. Here are a few best practices for spotting them and protecting yourself.

1. Identify a suspicious request

• Lack of precision: generic message, with no details about your property or the rental conditions
• Suspicious means of payment: payment via unknown platforms or offer of a voluntary overpayment
• Suspicious email address: non-professional addresses or addresses containing random strings of numbers
• Urgent requests: insistence on a quick response or immediate payment without asking any questions

2. Precautionary measures

• Check the identity of the person making the request: do an online search using their name and email address to detect any possible reports
• Analyse the request: a message containing syntax errors or inconsistencies may be suspicious.
• Refuse suspicious payments or payments involving an overpayment (e.g. a higher amount with a request for reimbursement)
• Favour secure payments via recognised platforms or by SEPA bank transfer
• Never give your bank details to a stranger
• Avoid transactions outside traditional reservation systems

3. What should you do if you suspect fraud?

• Do not reply to suspicious e-mails or click on dubious links
• Report the scam to the referencing platform or the Terra Volcana Tourist Office
• File a report on Internet Signalement or with the DGCCRF.

By following these tips, you can protect your business and avoid attempted fraud.

Holiday vouchers are a way of boosting holidaymakers’ purchasing power… and a great opportunity for you!

These prepaid vouchers, issued by companies, works councils or local authorities, enable employees to finance their leisure activities and holidays – a bit like meal vouchers, but for holidays.

They are issued by theAgence Nationale pour les Chèques-Vacances (ANCV), which works to make holidays accessible to all.

💡 How does it work?

1. The ANCV distributes holiday vouchers to over 51,000 employer organisations, representing 4.5 million beneficiaries (and almost 11 million people with their families)
2. Beneficiaries use their vouchers to pay for holidays, activities or tourist services. If you have signed an agreement with the ANCV, they can spend them directly in your establishment.
3. You, as the tourist structure, are then reimbursed by the ANCV.
4. What’s more, the ANCV takes a solidarity-based approach: the surpluses generated are used to finance programmes to help people go on holiday.