A Camps Bay holiday villa has allegedly been used in a scam targeting estate agents and holidaymakers, with photographs and altered ownership documents reportedly used to create the impression that the property was available for sale or rent.
Image used for illustrative purposes/By: Franz Marc Frei/Getty Images
According to IOL, the scheme has resulted in estate agents visiting the property and travellers paying for accommodation advertised using images of the villa.
Elize Sewell, owner of Camps Bay Apartments, which manages the property, said the repeated visits had disrupted guests.
“Our guests should be relaxing, not opening the gate to strangers,” she said.
How the alleged scam works
According to the villa’s management, people posing as prospective buyers initially viewed the property through an estate agent, claiming to own a mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Management alleges that private ownership documents, including a municipal account, were subsequently altered to display the name of another company. The documents were then allegedly presented to estate agents as proof of ownership.
Agents were reportedly offered a sole mandate to market the villa. In one alleged instance, a purported owner asked for petrol money for a brother said to be stranded in Mpumalanga.
Management said the property continued to attract unexpected visits and calls from estate agents, causing concern for guests staying there.
Holidaymakers allegedly caught out
The villa’s management also reported that a property advertised on Booking.com under the name “Mountain View Escape” used photographs of Lion’s View, which had allegedly been obtained through an estate agent.
According to management, at least two groups of travellers, one from South Africa and another from Denmark, paid for accommodation advertised using the images. Both groups were reportedly directed to a different address and subsequently left reviews describing the listing as fraudulent.
Management said the listing was still online when its statement was issued.
Sewell urged prospective guests to be cautious about making payments to anyone claiming to represent the property.
“Please never send money to anyone using Lion’s View’s name. If you want to stay with us, book direct at lionsview.co.za,” she said.
The matter has reportedly been referred to the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority.
How to protect yourself when booking accommodation
The alleged scam serves as a reminder to verify accommodation listings before making payments, particularly when a property is advertised through unfamiliar channels or the booking details appear inconsistent.
Estate agents and prospective buyers should verify ownership through the relevant Deeds Office records and avoid sharing private ownership documents with unverified parties. Management also warned agents never to pay money to someone claiming to be a seller.
For holidaymakers, these precautions can help reduce the risk of falling victim to accommodation fraud:
- Verify the property: Check that the address and map location match the accommodation being advertised.
- Use trusted booking channels: Make payments through the booking platform rather than transferring money directly to an unverified individual.
- Check the listing carefully: Look for inconsistencies in photographs, contact details, property descriptions and reviews.
- Confirm directly with the property: When in doubt, contact the accommodation provider using contact details from its official website.
- Report suspected fraud: Travellers who believe they have been scammed should report the incident to the booking platform and the South African Police Service (SAPS).
A little extra checking before paying can help ensure that a holiday booking leads to the accommodation promised, rather than an unexpected problem on arrival.
Source: IOL, reporting on allegations made by Lion’s View management.
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