Troubleshooter: Beach rental warning
JOHNSON COUNTY, N.C. (WTVD) -- A Raleigh couple was planning to celebrate their five-year anniversary and before the trip even began they had already spent close to $500.
Donna Davis' husband surprised her with a special weekend getaway trip to Topsail.
"We were excited! He even showed me the pictures and it was right on the lower level. We were going to cook out and dine right there on the beach," Donna said.
Her husband found the beach rental on Craigslist. The ad said it was a wonderful oceanfront, two bedroom, two bath, with private beach access.
"She told us to wire it through Western Union and once she got the money, she would send us the unit number and the combination number," Donna said.
The Davis' wired the $460 to Wendy George, but they say they couldn't get the condo information.
"All of our bags were packed sitting on the couch ready to leave, and she hadn't sent any information of where we needed to go," Donna explained.
Donna texted back and forth with Wendy, who promised to wire back Donna her $460, but it never happened.
"So here we are stuck, paying out money for what we thought was going to be a romantic weekend and it turns out it wasn't. I mean we were scammed," Donna said.
The Davises never got the specific address for the condo rental. I did reach Wendy George by phone.
When I asked her about the Davis rental that never happened, she said she didn't recall that name and hung up on me.
Donna has contacted the authorities and police are investigating this case.
The best advice when you're renting a place through an individual and not through a company, is to try and pay by credit card.
If they ask you to wire money, be very cautious as once you wire that money and it's picked up, it is almost impossible to get back.
