Stay Alert – Rental Scams Can Ruin Your Party

If you need to rent party supplies such as chairs, decorations, or a bouncy house, be cautious when searching for vendors. BBB Scam Tracker continues to receive reports of party hosts being tricked by rentals that never materialize.

Here's how the scam typically works: The "vendor" promises to reserve your rental for the date you need it — if you pay a deposit first. They may also require you to fill out a contact form with personal details. However, the party supplies don't arrive on the specified date. The "vendor" may claim they've had an emergency and can't deliver on their promise. When you ask for your money back, they'll disappear completely and prevent you from contacting them by blocking you on social media or deleting their account.

To avoid rental scams, the BBB recommends the following:

• Do your research before you rent. Take a good look at the rental company's website and ensure it has accurate contact information. Then, read consumer reviews about the company on third-party websites, such as BBB.org. Also, search the business name plus the word "scam" to ensure you don't find any reports of fraudulent business dealings.
  
  
• Think twice when renting from listings only advertised on social media. Be suspicious if you find party rentals on social media but can't find the company's website or confirm their contact information anywhere else. If the rental business only contacts you and facilitates the rental transaction through social media and refuses to talk on the phone or in person, that's another red flag.
  
  
• Be careful with your personal details. You may need to fill out a contract with personal information, but make sure you're dealing with a legitimate, professional company before handing over sensitive information.
  
  
• Carefully review your contract. It's common to have a contract in place when you order rentals from a company. Ensure that your delivery date and time are accurate, as well as the final cost and payment details. Save a copy of the contract that is signed and dated by both you and the company.
  
  
• Consider how the company is asking you to provide payment. Oftentimes, scammers will ask you to provide payment through a digital wallet app or a wire transfer. Don't ever hand over money or your payment information to a stranger or someone you haven't met. If you do pay, remember that it's much easier to dispute fraudulent charges using your credit card. If you pay with a debit card, digital wallet, or cash, you may not get your money back if you find out you were scammed.

If you spot a party rental scam, report it to BBB.org/ScamTracker to help build consumer awareness.