Woman Arrested for Vacation Rental Fraud on Miami Beach
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City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
OFFICE OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS, Tel: 305.673.7575 PRESS RELEASE
Tonya Daniels, E-mail: tonyadaniels@miamibeachfl.gov
Melissa Berthier, E-mail: melissaberthier@miamibeachfl.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 16, 2017
Woman Arrested for Vacation Rental Fraud on Miami Beach
— Luring Unsuspecting Renters through Popular Vacation Home Rental Site —
Miami Beach, FL – The City of Miami Beach continues committing significant efforts and
resources across various departments to combat illegal short-term rentals. Not only do these
rentals negatively impact the quality of life in residential neighborhoods, they are also
damaging to the local economy and the Miami Beach brand.
Last Friday, at approximately 12:45 p.m., the Miami Beach Police Department arrested a
woman involved in defrauding at least two innocent people under the assumption that they
were temporarily renting a Miami Beach property as part of their vacation.
Once apprehended, the criminal was charged with organizing a scheme to defraud, grand theft
in the third degree, and burglary/unoccupied structure. Luring victims through popular vacation
home rental sites, one of these families lost over $6,900 in rental fees. Another victim arrived
at the property and was told the property was not ready due to repairs. Both individuals not
only lost a substantial amount of money in the rental, but also the cost of travel and more
importantly, the opportunity to enjoy their vacation as a family on beautiful Miami Beach.
“We want everyone who visits this international hotspot to have a wonderful experience, and
poor experiences like the one these families became victim to are detrimental to Miami Beach’s
image,” said City Manager Jimmy L. Morales.
Miami Beach has plenty of hotels, motels and select areas where legal short-term rentals are
permitted. The city encourages visitors to steer clear from booking on the unregulated, shadow
market. To learn more about the rules and guidelines of short-term rentals on Miami Beach,
visit www.practicesaferenting.com.
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