Comments on: When It’s This Easy To Take Someone’s Money… http://battellemedia.com/archives/2013/02/when-its-this-easy-to-take-someones-money.php?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=when-its-this-easy-to-take-someones-money Thoughts on the intersection of search, media, technology, and more. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:42:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: sin http://battellemedia.com/archives/2013/02/when-its-this-easy-to-take-someones-money.php#comment-33314 sin Sat, 13 Apr 2013 11:33:00 +0000 http://battellemedia.com/?p=7102#comment-33314 <a href="http://www.streamiming.com/" rel="nofollow">Nice Article </a> Nice Article

]]> By: johnbattelle http://battellemedia.com/archives/2013/02/when-its-this-easy-to-take-someones-money.php#comment-32699 johnbattelle Mon, 18 Feb 2013 22:56:00 +0000 http://battellemedia.com/?p=7102#comment-32699 Thanks, very good points. Then again, I imagine it's not hard to pay kids ten cents a review to post enthusiastic raves about a place to make it seem real. … and the beat goes on Thanks, very good points. Then again, I imagine it’s not hard to pay kids ten cents a review to post enthusiastic raves about a place to make it seem real. … and the beat goes on

]]> By: Brad Miller http://battellemedia.com/archives/2013/02/when-its-this-easy-to-take-someones-money.php#comment-32698 Brad Miller Mon, 18 Feb 2013 22:49:00 +0000 http://battellemedia.com/?p=7102#comment-32698 I use VRBO quite often and have seen such fraudulent posts as well. However, the way I avoid them, and it has worked every time for me, is only look at places that have legitimate traveler reviews. Owners are allowed to post reviews of their own properties, but those are clearly labeled as owner reviews--and I ignore them. If a property has several legitimate and positive reviews, it is safe. It seems to me that your issue here was more due to not being familiar with the website (which I understand is a problem, as most people won't be familiar with it). The trick is to simply think critically about the listing and only trust those which have reviews. I know you are addressing a larger issue with this post -- I just wanted to offer a defense for VRBO specifically, as I use it a lot and really enjoy the service it provides. I use VRBO quite often and have seen such fraudulent posts as well. However, the way I avoid them, and it has worked every time for me, is only look at places that have legitimate traveler reviews. Owners are allowed to post reviews of their own properties, but those are clearly labeled as owner reviews–and I ignore them. If a property has several legitimate and positive reviews, it is safe.

It seems to me that your issue here was more due to not being familiar with the website (which I understand is a problem, as most people won’t be familiar with it). The trick is to simply think critically about the listing and only trust those which have reviews.

I know you are addressing a larger issue with this post — I just wanted to offer a defense for VRBO specifically, as I use it a lot and really enjoy the service it provides.

]]>