1. A group of gullible people,
unwary travellers.
2. A group of cunning crooks.
3. And a group that is at its wits' end
It also includes airbeds
and a scam.
1____________(HOLY) 2___________(WARN) over Airbnb scam in Mallorca.
POLICE are warning people of a holiday rental scam using popular website Airbnb to reel people in.
The warning comes after one couple came forward to tell the story of how they were 3________(DUPE) into believing they were renting an apartment through the 4__________(CONVINCE) site, when in 5__________(REAL) they were being 6___________(SWINDLER) out of over €2,000.
This is a highly intelligent operation, with some 7___________(TRICK) 8___________(HIJACKER) the 9_________________(IDENTIFY) of 10__________(EXIST) Airbnb hosts in a bid to deceive guests.
11____________(INVESTIGATE) are calling for 12___________(PRUDENT) from users booking online, 13______________(PARTICLE) in the face of Semana Santa.
As well as using Airbnb, the con 14___________(ART) are flooding popular rental websites with beautiful photos of apartments at very 15______________(COMPETE) prices.
16____________(PUNT) are 17__________(LURE) in by the apparent 18__________(CREDIBLE) of the deals available on the websites. It is at this point that the 19____________(FRAUD) use false emails to trick the cash out of 20________________ (SUSPECT) users.
Police have tracked many of the criminals involved to countries in Eastern Europe and Africa, but some have learnt to cover their tracks, using servers which allow them to quickly delete all evidence.
Authorities are 21___________(COURAGE) people to check and double check every interaction when booking rental properties this year.
Try to talk directly to the 22_____________(AD), rather than 23__________(RELY) on email or WhatsApp. Credible owners will never ask you for copies of passports or driving licences, and Airbnb will never ask you to make 24_____________(PAY) outside of the website through the likes of Western Union or Moneygram.
KEY
racket: /ˈrækɪt/ a dishonest or illegal way of getting money a protection/extortion/drugs, etc. racket. Sp. chanchullo, fraude.
1. Holidaymakers
2. warned
reel in: to pull (eg a fish out of the water) by winding the line to which it is attached on to a reel (Sp. carrete). Sp. sacar del agua, fig. atraer. E.g. Once the fish is hooked, reel it in as quick as you can. The new neon sign in our window is really reeling in the customers.
3. duped
dupe: /djuːp/ to trick or cheat somebody E.g. dupe somebody They soon realized they had been duped. dupe somebody into doing something He was duped into giving them his credit card.
4. convincing
5. reality
6. swindled
swindle: to cheat somebody in order to get something, especially money, from them. E.g. swindle somebody (out of something) They swindled him out of hundreds of dollars. swindle something (out of somebody) They swindled hundreds of dollars out of him.
swindler: a person who cheats somebody in order to get something, especially money, from them. E.g. a bunch of thieves and swindlers.
7. tricksters
8. hijacking
9. identities
10. existing
11. Investigators
12. prudence
prudence: a sensible and careful attitude when you make judgements and decisions; behaviour that avoids unnecessary risks. E.g. Maybe you’ll exercise a little more financial prudence next time.
13. particularly
14. artists
con artist: a
person who deceives other people by making them believe something false
or making them give money away. E.g. They thought he was a Wall Street
genius but really he was no more than a con artist.
conman: (pl. conmen) a man who tricks others into giving him money, etc. E.g. The screenplay focuses on the friendship between a dim-witted stud and a petty conman.
dim.:not intelligent. E.g. He's very dim.
-witted (in adjectives) having the type of intelligence mentioned a quick-witted group of students.
stud: a man who has many sexual partners and who is thought to be sexually attractive. SP. semental.
15. competitive
16. Punters
2. a person who buys or uses a particular product or service. Customer. E.g.
It's important to keep the punters happy. Your average punter won’t notice the difference.
It's important to keep the punters happy. Your average punter won’t notice the difference.
punt: bet
17. lured
lure somebody (+ adv./prep.) (disapproving) to persuade or trick somebody to go somewhere or to do something by promising them a reward. E.g. The child was lured into a car but managed to escape. Young people are lured to the city by the prospect of a job and money.
18. credibility
19. fraudsters
20. unsuspecting
21. encouraging
22. advertiser
23. relying
24. payments
TEXT
Holidaymakers Warned over Airbnb Scam in Mallorca.
POLICE are warning people of a holiday rental scam using popular website Airbnb to reel people in.
The warning comes after one couple came forward to tell the story of how they were duped into believing they were renting an apartment through the credible site, when in reality they were being swindled out of over €2,000.
This is a highly intelligent operation, with some tricksters hijacking the identities of existing Airbnb hosts in a bid to deceive guests.
Investigators are calling for prudence from users booking online, particularly in the face of Semana Santa.
As well as using Airbnb, the con artists are flooding popular rental websites with beautiful photos of apartments at very competitive prices.
Punters are lured in by the apparent credibility of the deals available on the websites. It is at this point that the fraudsters use false emails to trick the cash out of unsuspecting users.
Police have tracked many of the criminals involved to countries in Eastern Europe and Africa, but some have learnt to cover their tracks, using servers which allow them to quickly delete all evidence.
Authorities are encouraging people to check and double check every interaction when booking rental properties this year.
Try to talk directly to the advertiser, rather than relying on email or WhatsApp. Credible owners will never ask you for copies of passports or driving licences, and Airbnb will never ask you to make payments outside of the website through the likes of Western Union or Moneygram.
POLICE are warning people of a holiday rental scam using popular website Airbnb to reel people in.
The warning comes after one couple came forward to tell the story of how they were duped into believing they were renting an apartment through the credible site, when in reality they were being swindled out of over €2,000.
This is a highly intelligent operation, with some tricksters hijacking the identities of existing Airbnb hosts in a bid to deceive guests.
Investigators are calling for prudence from users booking online, particularly in the face of Semana Santa.
As well as using Airbnb, the con artists are flooding popular rental websites with beautiful photos of apartments at very competitive prices.
Punters are lured in by the apparent credibility of the deals available on the websites. It is at this point that the fraudsters use false emails to trick the cash out of unsuspecting users.
Police have tracked many of the criminals involved to countries in Eastern Europe and Africa, but some have learnt to cover their tracks, using servers which allow them to quickly delete all evidence.
Authorities are encouraging people to check and double check every interaction when booking rental properties this year.
Try to talk directly to the advertiser, rather than relying on email or WhatsApp. Credible owners will never ask you for copies of passports or driving licences, and Airbnb will never ask you to make payments outside of the website through the likes of Western Union or Moneygram.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.