Just received in our South of France villa rental offices is the following message which seems plausible...but stop! It's a nasty scam, designed to trick you into sending the most sensitive of personal information.
Our advice is if you are in anyway unsure of the e-mail you receive, contact the company they are supposed to have been sent from and verify everything. No company should ever ask for this kind of information to be shared with them in a general mass e-mail.
We love the internet but be aware and keep safe!
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Dear HomeAway User,
Thank you for choosing HomeAway!
As part of our standard quality control procedures, your account has been selected for further review. Due to security reasons, we cannot keep your listing live until we receive additional information.We need to receive the following documentation from you within 10 working days
If you are the owner of the property, we ask that you please provide us with the following information:
1. A copy of your photo ID (both sides of your driver's license or passport)
2. A copy of a deed of sale and title deed
3. An original gas, telephone or other utility bill for the rental property dated within the last 3 months
If you manage or represent this property on behalf of the owner, we ask that you please provide us with the following information:
* A copy of the lease agreement you have signed with the owner or written letter from the property owner authorizing you to rent the property
* A copy of the property owner’s valid photo ID (driver’s license or passport)
Please make sure that all information is clear and legible. Proof of ownership and or authorization to rent, along with photo ID
Included as an attachment to a reply or directly to this email: Contact@Office-HomeAway.eu
Why is HomeAway reviewing my account?
This additional step is essential to ensure a quality experience for our holidaymakers, thus benefiting you and all of our other members. We collect the proof of id & ownership in order to verify the legitimacy of the advert.
How long will this review take?
Upon receipt of the requested documents, if they are in compliance with our request, it will take up to 7 working days. You will receive an email confirmation once your review is completed
If I don’t provide these documents?
We understand you may have privacy concerns about sharing this information. However, it is important for you to know that HomeAway collects the proof of ID and ownership as part of our security process. Our responsibility is to provide holidaymakers with a safe and secure environment in which to search for holiday accommodation. The steps that we take are designed to enhance our holidaymakers’ experiences, which in turn benefits all of our members.
How do you protect my personal information once you have it?
Please rest assured that this request is purely for administrative and security purposes and the information is not passed onto any third parties. The documents are used to verify owner legitimacy prior to publishing an advert, and are then removed from our system and stored on our highly secure servers. Our company takes data protection very seriously and we can certify that all the necessary measures are taken to preserve your privacy.
If you need further assistance, please do not hesitate to reply to this email; we're happy to help!
Kind regards,
Steve Johnstone
Trust and Security Specialist
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Legal Information HomeAway SARL:
Address: Rue de Lyon 105, 1203 Genève, Switzerland
Company registration number: CHE-116.158.222
EU VAT Number: EU826015249
Swiss VAT Number: CHE-116.158.222 TVA
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