Homeaway VRBO Homeaway.com scam stole $2600 Austin Texas

 I inquired about a condo via Homeaway.com and received a reply from who I thought was the rental property owner/manager.  I proceeded to exchange emails with this person about the cost and facts of the condo rental.  They offered me a discount if I paid the full rental fee up front, by wire transfer.  Since it was a significant savings, I stupidly agreed. 

They kept telling me that they did not receive the money and encouraged me to send another wire.  When I refused, I stopped hearing from them.  I had my bank put a trace on the money and found out that the funds were deposited into the account weeks earlier.  The total amount was $2593.16. 

This time, I called the property owner and surprisingly, she did not know who I was.  Upon further discussion, after telling her I had been exchanging emails with her over the past month, we came to realize I was receiving emails from a slightly different email address than hers.  Basically, she was not the person I had been corresponding with all this time.

I am now out a lot of money with no vacation rental.