Fake Facebook holiday rental listing targets unsuspecting travellers to Ballito

Ballito holiday property management company Flat Out recently discovered that photographs of one of its managed apartments were being used without permission in a fraudulent online listing. The post, shared on January 18 by a Facebook profile trading as ‘Jennifer’s Apartments’, appeared on the Ballito Holidaymakers page and other platforms. Flat Out owner Deneil Botterill said she acted swiftly once alerted to the post.

“We attempted to contact ‘Jennifer’, but the post was removed and the Facebook profile was subsequently locked.” The suspicious listing advertised the apartment at well below market-related rates, a common tactic used by scammers to lure unsuspecting travellers. Botterill said these scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated. “These scammers are professional, especially those using AI,” she said.

“Their websites look legitimate and their posts appear convincing. It is extremely difficult to track them down because they steal profiles and leave very little digital footprint.” Further red flags soon emerged. The WhatsApp business number linked to “Jennifer’s Apartments” is registered under the name Jennifer Knepscheld and displays images of low-cost apartments across KwaZulu-Natal, with no options for length of stay or nightly rates.

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No business website could be found, while an email address belonging to a Jennifer Robbins was also linked to the listing. A Truecaller search of the number offered a third, possibly unrelated name.

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