Avoid host that asks you to communicate off the site.
If you are in Japan you should inspect the accommodation before paying.
Ask for a receipt for any payment.
Never use Western Union, MoneyGram, BidPay to send payment. It is our belief that these forms of funds transfer are favoured by fraudsters.
Never send money to a bank account not in Japan.
Report any host asking for payment by Western Union, MoneyGram, BidPay, any form of wire payment or to a bank account not in Australia.
Do not send money to a bank account in the name of Michelle Johnstone without inspecting the property. This name is commonly used on internet fraud attempts.
For Homestay Hosts
If student overpays for accommodation it is almost certainly
Advance-fee fraud.
Typical Advance-fee scam:
They communicate from overseas and write confidence building emails
They send you a cheque for excess of the agreed rental period and deposit, drawn on an obscure bank
They ask you to transfer the excess amount by Western Union to a third party
In the meantime your bank comes back to you to advise cheque is fake/stolen and will not honour
They disappear
Ask for a deposit
Never use Western Union, MoneyGram, BidPay to send payment. It is our belief that these forms of funds transfer are favoured by fraudsters.