Verifying who you are.....

[Margaret]

One of the main listings sites recently sent out an owners newsletter specifically advising not to respond to requests for utility bills, saying that such requests were normally for identity theft purposes. Putting a profile on your site, with photos and links to anything else you do should help a lot.

[Partridge]

GG/Margaret, thanks for that tip it would never have occurred to me that a utility slip could be used for such purposes

[Martha]

I don't think I'd want to send a utility bill out for the identity fraud worry. I put our names onto the "book with confidence" page - I think you're right about this, Margaret, it's important.

[Musetta]

I'm with www.rentalseal.com I faxed over all the info. (I think a utility bill and tax statement - can't recall exactly now) directly to them and then they act as the verification for the guest - I agree...would not want to be giving out utilities info., etc. to strangers.

[Big Sis..]

viewtopic.php?p=140776#140776

PCs just posted this timely warning.....thanks PC

[Moliere]

Blimey
Ive just googled 'Ros Torrevieja' and Im third for my twitterings on Twitter
thats one above my 4th for Lay my hat
Just my name on its own gets me the whole Ist page.
That should prove I exist surely

You must be well famous, Ros, Google has never heard of me (in my cunning disguise as Moliere) though there's a stonking load of references to some playright or another of that name.

Mols

[Partridge]

You must be well famous, Ros, Google has never heard of me (in my cunning disguise as Moliere) though there's a stonking load of references to some playright or another of that name.

Mols

More like infamous

[Mountain Goat]

Mols, don't fret, you're page 1 Google for Moliere, Surrey.

Maybe the other one didn't visit?

MG

[Big Sis..]

though there's a stonking load of references to some playright or another of that name.

and there was me thinking it was jus a famous 'orse...Ow we did have a larf tho didnt we...........

More like infamous

Too Twue

[Moliere]

Mols, don't fret, you're page 1 Google for Moliere, Surrey. MG

Ah oui, mais ca, ce n'est pas moi! C'est encore ce vieux dramatiste! Merde alors, qu'est-ce je dois faire pour gagner moi meme, la feuille premiere chez Google? Poof! Zut!

Moliere (le cheval brave et sage et tout-a-fait du monde)

[greenbarn]

I was in a bank the other day and they asked if I could identify myself.

No problem. I got out a mirror, looked in it and said "that's definitely me."

(anon, c1843)

[Partridge]

[Giddy Goat]

The old ones are the best. Off to share .... Thanks GB!

[Clauss]

Hi all,

You might want to have a look at a post we created yesterday. We wrote it because we during the past week saw a few cases of identity scam against homeowners.

http://www.spain-holiday.com/blog/passp ... owners.php

If you let your renters pay with a credit/debit card via Paypal or similar, they are secured by the card issuer which should remove some concerns. That way they have no reason to ask you for proof of identify.

[Mountain Goat]

Claus, this is being discussed at some length on another LMH thread - see here.

What is the point of teaching these crooks new scams? Armed with your detailed tutorial all a scammer needs is an owner who hasn't absorbed one simple fact: Don't release your ID or passport details. And scammers using this method already will learn how to refine their technique.

You will also find other threads on this forum dealing with possible insecurity for the owner with credit cards and PayPal, especially with short-notice bookings. Chargebacks in favour of the 'guest' with PayPal are a sore point.

MG