Vacation Nightmare: Tourists Book Non-Existent Apartments in Italy
A Belgian family of five, who booked accommodation in Italy via Booking.com, discovered that the address provided was actually an insurance agency. An attempt to find a quick alternative on the same platform led them into a second scam. Over 120 families have already fallen victim to this fraud network.
Italy is one of the most beloved summer destinations, but for one Belgian family, a dream vacation on the Adriatic coast turned into a frustrating ordeal. After a long drive, the five family members arrived at their destination only to discover that the accommodation they had booked through Booking.com simply did not exist. While trying to resolve the issue, they booked an alternative apartment on the same platform, only to find they had fallen victim to the exact same scam.
The family arrived on Monday, August 3, in the resort town of Cesenatico. They had pre-booked a stay at the 'Residence Da Andrea' on Giovanni Pascoli Street, which appeared to be an affordable option for the peak season. Upon arrival, they were shocked to find that the address led to an office building housing a local insurance agency. "It was a terrible shock," the father told the Italian newspaper Il Resto del Carlino. "We were just waiting to settle in and go to the sea. Instead, we found ourselves standing in front of insurance company employees. There was no accommodation in sight."
Stuck and under pressure, the family logged back into Booking.com to find an immediate replacement. They booked a property in the nearby town of Cervia (Milano Marittima area), but upon arrival, they discovered that this apartment was also completely fictitious. Within hours, the family had been scammed twice. Local authorities explain that tourists in distress during the peak season are often forced to act quickly, making them easy targets for fraudsters.
A Fraud Network Targeting Over 120 Families
It was later revealed that the Belgian family is part of a much wider wave of victims: at least 120 families have fallen into the web of this sophisticated scam along the coast. The fake ads, primarily under the names 'Residence Da Andrea' and 'Residence Angelini,' used real photos of properties for sale and stolen national identification codes (CIN).
Victims were asked to transfer a down payment to a bank account under the name Andrea Angelini. To add credibility, phone calls to the numbers in the ads were automatically forwarded to a nearby hotel, which was unaware it was being used as a cover. Italian police have identified the main suspect, who operated under a fake identity, and believe he was assisted by a wider network of accomplices.
Following the incident, local officials in Cesenatico and the tourism office stepped in to assist the family. The municipality arranged for them to stay in a hotel at a reduced rate until August 10. "We are finally on vacation," the father said with relief.
Mayor Matteo Gozzoli has filed an official complaint with the Prosecutor General and announced that the municipality will join the legal proceedings as an injured party, citing the severe damage to the city's reputation. The local tourism office is now urging vacationers to use only official municipal channels to find verified accommodation.
