Home Away/ VRBO Home Away Web Sight is UNSAFE! Internet

I went to Home Away , last September, to search for a home to rent for our family vacation this summer. Me and my wife and two sons families including  5 grandchildren.  Checked on several places using the HomeAway web sight and finally settled on one in Destin Fla.  When I clicked on "contact owner" I sent dates etc to what I thought was the owner of the place. The true owner did not get the initial request. A crook intercepted email and then began negotiations with me instead of true owner. 

The crook then offered a big discount to pay for trip up front.   He said his preferred method of payment was by wire transfer. Home Away says they recomend never paying by wire transfer.  Never saw that warning. I was typical consumer only reading how many bed rooms  and baths in house. What i explained to Home Away is how i paid is not the issue here. Their web sight is insecure! Internet search shows that this scam has been going on since 2011! Unfortunate families have lost 3 and 4 thousand dollars in scams on this sight! All I want is my 1300 back. Home says because I paid by wire they are not responsible. They are responsible for the crook however. Never would have been a request for wire transfer if I was talking to the real owner!!! Please help!!!