If a student or guest overpays for accommodation, this is almost certainly an overpayment scam, also known as an advance-fee or refund scam. The scam works by making you feel obliged to return money that was never genuinely paid.
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1
They contact you from overseas and send polished, confidence-building messages while asking very few real questions about the room.
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2
They send a cheque or payment confirmation for more than the agreed rent and deposit.
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3
They send a fake email receipt that appears to come from a bank or payment service to make it look like the money has already arrived.
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4
They ask you to refund the overpaid amount by wire transfer, gift card, or another irreversible method before you have confirmed the funds are real.
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5
Your bank later confirms the payment was fake, reversed, or stolen.
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6
The scammer disappears, and you are left out of pocket for whatever you refunded.
Fake bank email receipts
Scammers often send realistic-looking payment emails to create urgency and false reassurance. Never rely on an email receipt as proof of payment. Sign in to your bank directly and confirm the funds have arrived and fully cleared before doing anything else.
Always wait for cheques to clear. Never trust email receipts as proof of payment. Verify funds have actually arrived in your account before acting.
Key Rules For Hosts
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Always take a deposit to confirm a genuine booking.
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Never refund an overpayment until your bank confirms the funds are genuine and fully cleared.
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Never use Western Union, MoneyGram, or BidPay to transfer any amount in response to a booking enquiry.
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If something feels wrong, stop responding, report the enquiry, and do not proceed with the booking.