Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Crime News

Nikki Fried, FTC Warn Floridians of Rental Car Scams

With rental car availability at an all-time low, prices are sky-high. If consumers suddenly find an available car at a cheap price, it may be a scammer looking to cash in on the rental shortage. Scammers are posing as rental car companies, setting up their own websites, and advertising fake customer service phone numbers, all to convince travelers they’re legit. Then, they’re asking people to pre-pay for the rental — with a gift card or prepaid debit card.

This week, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and Commissioner Nikki Fried joined the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to warn consumers of scammers posing as rental car companies to steal from unsuspecting customers.

“As vaccinations increase and the country is opening back up, Floridians are ramping up their travel plans but that also means shortages in available rental cars, higher prices, and scammers looking to take advantage,” said Fried. “If the rental car deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Contact us at the FDACS Division of Consumer Services with any concerns and we will look into all consumer complaints.”

With rental car availability at an all-time low, prices are sky-high. If consumers suddenly find an available car at a cheap price, it may be a scammer looking to cash in on the rental shortage. Scammers are posing as rental car companies, setting up their own websites, and advertising fake customer service phone numbers, all to convince travelers they’re legit. Then, they’re asking people to pre-pay for the rental — with a gift card or prepaid debit card.

Fried’s office offered the following tips for consumers to avoid summer rental car scams:

  • Research the rental car company by searching for the name of the company and words like “scam,” “complaint,” or “review” to check if other people have had a bad experience.
  • Verify deals with the company directly. If you need customer support, look for contact info on the company’s official website. Don’t use a search engine result. Scammers can pay to place sponsored ads in search results, so they show up at the top or in the sponsored ad section.
  • Pay with a credit card if possible, and never pay with a gift card or prepaid debit card. You can dispute credit card charges, but gift cards and prepaid debit cards can disappear like cash. Once you give the number and PIN to a scammer, the money is gone.
  • Report suspected fraud:  If you believe you have received a solicitation that is a scam, report it to FDACS immediately by filing a consumer complaint. All consumer complaints will be looked into. Call the FDACS  at 1-800-HELP-FLA or 1-800-FL-AYUDA for Spanish speakers, or file a complaint online at FloridaConsumerHelp.com.

Before you rush to book that miraculously available rental car, take a moment to read up about things you should consider when renting a car. If you spot a rental car scam, you may also contact the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

 

Author

  • Florida Daily offers news, insights and analysis as we cover the most important issues in the state, from education, to business and politics.

    View all posts

Archives

Related Stories

Governor Ron DeSantis

As Florida recovers from its second hurricane in the last four weeks, Democrats the state are criticizing Ron DeSantis’ management of recovery efforts.“He (DeSantis)...

Opinion

At a recent meeting, Florida Democratic Party leaders contemplated how a direct hit from a major hurricane could bankrupt the state-run property insurance company,...

Florida Government & Politics

The Florida Democratic Party (FDP) chairwoman praised President Joe Biden‘s recent executive action to limit border entries. Biden’s policy caps the number of migrants...