Report to Vrbo
Last updated September 19, 2026
The short answer
Report Vrbo scams through Contact Us, and mark a bad inquiry as spam
Vrbo scams run both ways. Travellers get pushed off the platform to pay by transfer. Owners get a booking inquiry that overpays and asks for the difference back, which is a cheque that later bounces.
What they handle
- Fake listings and owners who do not control the property
- Requests to pay outside the Vrbo payment system
- Fake Vrbo emails about a reservation
- Booking inquiries that overpay and ask for a refund
How to file a report
- 1
Use Contact Us to report it
Vrbo asks you to select Contact Us at the bottom of its help articles to report any kind of scam.
- 2
Mark a suspicious inquiry as spam
A suspicious booking inquiry can be reported as spam from your Vrbo dashboard.
- 3
Pay only through the site
Requests to communicate off the platform, or to pay by cheque or wire transfer, are the warning signs Vrbo names. Only accept payments online.
- 4
Never refund an overpayment
Vrbo is direct about this. Never accept more than the amount due and never send a refund for an overpayment. That is the whole scam.
What you'll need
- The listing or inquiry reference
- The full message thread
- The payment method and amount, if money moved
What to expect
Vrbo's trust and safety team validates listings and acts on reports. A payment made off the platform is outside its protection and is recovered through your bank.
Frequently asked questions
A guest sent too much and asked me to refund the difference. What is happening?
Their payment will reverse and yours will not. Vrbo says never to accept more than the amount due and never to refund an overpayment.
Company guide
Vrbo scams
Knowing which scam you were hit by makes the report better. This is how scams impersonating Vrbo actually work, what the company will never ask you for, and the warning signs to recognise next time.
Read the guide →