A Maltese property owner has discovered that their Gozo property – leased on a long-term basis for over three years – was falsely listed on the international booking platform VRBO, where it was booked and paid for by a tourist.

The listing, created without the owner’s knowledge or consent, included their personal contact details and property images, even though the owner has never had any agreement with VRBO or advertised the property for short lets.

VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner), part of the Expedia Group, is one of the world’s largest platforms for short-term holiday rentals, connecting property owners with travellers worldwide. The platform operates similarly to Airbnb, with bookings and payments handled directly through its system.

The case came to light when a tourist from Hungary, who had booked what was believed to be a short stay for three people, contacted the owner via email and WhatsApp to arrange arrival details. The guest claimed to have paid in advance directly through VRBO after seeing the property listed online.

However, the owner – who has never at any time advertised the property on VRBO or any other short-let platform – was taken by surprise when both an email and a WhatsApp message were received from the guest, followed by a screenshot showing the property details and the owner’s personal contact information displayed on the booking confirmation.

The property has been off the rental market for years, and the photos and contact details had only ever been provided to local real estate agencies for long-let purposes.

The incident has raised concerns about how the fraudster obtained the owner’s personal contact information and was aware of the property ownership. One possibility being considered is that a property database from a local agency may have been compromised, allowing scammers to replicate genuine property profiles and lure unsuspecting travellers into making payments.

The owner will be reporting the case to the relevant authorities. It is not yet known whether this case is part of a wider scam targeting the Maltese and Gozitan property market.

The situation highlights the need for vigilance among both property owners and travellers booking accommodation in Malta and Gozo.