The scammer distributes one or more false adverts and pretends to be an owner:
(Adverts can be placed on free websites but also on paying websites)
To limit the risks, don't pay the total price of the rental in advance, 20 or 25% is enough and you should require a contract first (inform yourself of the regulations by competent organisations). Exercise extra caution when you are paying into an account abroad.
For example, here is an extract from a scams forum:
From November 2007 to March 2009, an individual, using many identities, proposed announcements of apartment rentals on the Internet, for many big ski resorts: TIGNES, ARCS 1800, LA PLAGNE, VAL THORENS, LES MENUIRES, COURCHEVEL, but also villas in Spain: DENIA and MARBELLA.
He provided addresses and phone numbers mainly in England and in Switzerland but also in France and in Spain. He was being paid by bank transfer to an account located in Mauritius or in Spain.
In this case, he was indicted by a magistrate.
These cases exist and don't only happen to other people: they are isolated incidents, but don't fall into the trap!
Fight together against this minority of very active scammers:
a) Inform yourself using articles from Wikipedia:
This fight depends on your information, please read the articles!
b) If you receive an Email that you identify clearly as an attempt to scam:
We advise you to play for time with scammers, address then an Email, allowing them to believe that you are a good fish and ask for clarification. This Email will force them to argue; so they should invest their time!
The more you practice this technique, the more you discourage these malicious individuals. (They think they've got you, but they've been got).
c) If you were the victim of a scam:
File a complaint with the competent services.