New York: Increased cases of online rental vacation scams

Vacationers heading to popular hotspots like New York City may find the hotel prices a shock. During the height of the tourist season a hotel room can run hundreds of dollars a night, sending some to look for cheaper options. They are out there, but so are the scams that can ruin your trip. Some of the apartments and homes advertised as “Vacation Rentals” on websites like Craigslist.com and Backpage.com appear to be amazing deals. They promise you’ll pay just $50, $75 or $125 a night for fancy Manhattan apartments, and are complete with photos showing charm and luxury. However when “20/20″ checked a random sampling of these low-price ads, it was tough to find even one that was legitimate.
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