Over 120 tourists stranded in Croatian resort by online accommodation scam

Cesenatico, a popular Adriatic tourist destination, is grappling with a significant scam that has left over 120 people, primarily families from Italy and abroad, without booked accommodation during the peak season. The victims arrived to find that the apartments they had reserved online simply do not exist.

Fraudsters advertised non-existent properties on booking platforms, using authentic photos of real locations and even legitimate national identification codes belonging to other establishments. To lure unsuspecting tourists, they offered prices significantly below market rates, with weekly stays in high season advertised for less than 800 euros, a 50-60% discount from the average price. A notable red flag, according to Cesenatico Mayor Matteo Gozzoli, was the absence of reviews on these listings.

Many tourists paid deposits or the full amount upfront. Upon arrival, they discovered the deception. In one shocking instance, a scammer cynically told a victim over the phone, "You are the twentieth we have defrauded this week. Report us, your money is already in Lithuania." Mayor Gozzoli described it as the largest scam of its kind the town has ever experienced.

In response, local authorities and businesses have mobilized to assist the stranded tourists. Some hotels and campsites offered free or discounted lodging, and a building was opened to provide temporary shelter with essential services. Similar scams have been reported in nearby Milano Marittima. Investigations suggest an organized group is responsible, using prepaid cards and fictitious names. With the busy Ferragosto holiday approaching, authorities are urging tourists to exercise extreme caution with online bookings, especially when prices seem too good to be true and reviews are absent.

“

You are the twentieth we have defrauded this week. Report us, your money is already in Lithuania.