While problems are rare on Turo, scams happen occasionally.
The most common types of scams used by Turo hosts that you could be a victim of include:
- Phishing attempts
- Bait-and-switch tactics
- False insurance claims
- Fake listings for non-existent vehicles
After extensive research, I put together the guide below to make it easier for you to identify and avoid the most common scams found on Turo.
Relevant Articles to Read:
- The 13 Most Rented Cars On Turo
- Rental Car Scams
- How Much Can You Make On Turo
- Is Turo Legit
- What is Turo Car Rental
Table of Contents
Real-Life Examples of Turo Scams
Unfortunately, some Turo users have encountered actual scams perpetrated by dishonest hosts. Learning from other’s experiences can help travelers spot shady situations.
Example: False Damage Claims
In one case, a renter picked up a car where the host said photos had already been taken. However, the images conveniently excluded damage the host later falsely claimed the renter caused:
“In hindsight, he took pics of everything except what he later claimed I damaged.”
Another renter was pressured into paying unverified damage fees outside of Turo’s secured platform:
Additional first-hand accounts detail issues like:
- Falsely accusing renters of smoking in the vehicle with no evidence
- Attempting to charge extra “deposit fees” externally that violate Turo’s policies
- Making exaggerated repair estimates for minor damage not clearly caused by the renter
- Quickly cancelling trips after obtaining the renter’s personal information for potential identity theft
Example 2: Security Deposit Scam
The Scam Unfolds
A Turo user booked a rental car for a trip occurring months later. Immediately after booking, the supposed owner contacted them requesting an early $500 “security deposit” to be paid externally before providing the vehicle.
I have a trip booked 140 days out. The owner sent me this immediately after I booked:
Suspicious Host Message
Hello,
Thanks for booking my car on Turo! Kindly pay the refundable security deposit of $500 via Zelle to continue your reservation.
My Zelle is: xxx-xxx-xxxx
Thanks, Admin Turo
Recognizing Red Flags
Multiple indicators signal this host message is a scam attempt:
- Requesting payments outside Turo’s platform
- Odd phrasing like “Kindly pay”
- Claiming to be “Admin Turo” which is not a real role
- Demanding an immediate deposit for a far future rental
- Pressure to “continue” the reservation
Preventing Loss from This Scam
The naive host avoided being defrauded by:
- Not paying any funds through external services like Zelle
- Reporting the listing and user to Turo for policy violations
- Ultimately canceling the fraudulent rental reservation
How Prevalent Are Rental Car Scams on Turo?
Some key statistics on the likelihood of being scammed using Turo:
- Less than 1% of Turo rentals result in a damage claim, according to Turo’s resolution team
- Under 5% of trips experience any issues needing support assistance
- Over 1 million Turo car rentals have occurred with the majority being positive
So, scams are infrequent but possible. Below are the most common scams possible on Turo along with a short explanation:
- Phishing scams via fake emails or texts requesting personal/financial information
- Bait-and-switch listings showing nice vehicles but providing a lower-quality car
- False damage claims demanding unauthorized payments from renters
- Fake rental listings for non-existent vehicles tricking renters
While reprehensible, these instances of fraud make up a slim minority of total Turo transactions. Still, it’ is wise’s smart to learn scam red flags and utilize safeguards.
How to Spot Rental Car Scams on Turo
Avoiding scams starts with recognizing suspicious signals. Be wary if you see these patterns:
- Unrealistically low rental prices well below similar cars in the area
- Poor grammar, spelling issues, or confusing phrasing in a listing
- Minimal host reviews and limited verifiable information
- Requests for wire transfers or direct payments outside Turo’s platform
- Pushy urgency to book a listing without chance to vet properly
- Limited exterior photos not showing all angles and interior clearly
One common fake rental scam on Turo involves listings too good to be true. If a price seems suspiciously cheap for the vehicle type, tread carefully.
Thoroughly vet listings, even if temptingly affordable. Scammers often utilize stolen legitimate listing photos and details, editing just enough to appear credible. Evaluating closely helps identity inconsistencies signaling possible fraud.
Preventing Turo Rental Car Scams
The best safeguard against scams is your own due diligence in reviewing listings and communications. Follow these best practices:
1. Carefully Assess Each Listing
- Verify host identity via reviews and profile info
- Compare rental costs to similar vehicles
- Read all listing details closely, checking for oddities
- Request additional photos of any unclear areas
- Ask hosts questions to confirm the legitimacy
2. Use Turo’s Built-In Protections
- Enable two-factor authentication on your account
- Pay only through Turo’s verified payment system
- Purchase insurance protection plans for your trip
- Take time-stamped photos documenting car condition
- Use Turo’s messaging system for all communications
3. Report Suspicious Activity Promptly
- Inform Turo immediately of any shady communications
- Provide evidence like screenshots of messages
- Follow Turo’s guidance for resolving issues
- Dispute any unauthorized charges through your bank
Diligently vetting listings, utilizing Turo protections, and reporting questionable host interactions will help you avoid the bulk of potential scams.
Here are some resources to help you avoid scams on Turo:
- Turo Trust & Safety Center: https://help.turo.com/
- Turo’s Help Center: https://help.turo.com/
- The Federal Trade Commission’s Scam Alerts: https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts
What To Do If You Encounter a Rental Car Scam
If you accidentally fall victim to fraudulent activity on Turo, act swiftly with these steps:
- Cease contact with the scammer and document interactions
- Contact Turo to officially report the scam incident
- Provide evidence like screenshots establishing the situation
- Cooperate fully with any investigation from Turo
- Dispute charges through your bank and credit card company
- Change account passwords if personal information was compromised
By promptly informing Turo about scam attempts, you enable their Trust & Safety team to take action to prevent future abuse.
Make sure to capture proof of faked listings or unauthorized charges to help resolve matters.
Even quality platforms like Turo experience occasional abuse by fraudsters. Reporting issues assists their ongoing enhancements to information verification mechanisms and policies protecting customers.
Turo’s Ongoing Efforts Against Rental Car Scams
Turo understands the importance of sustaining confidence around peer-to-peer vehicle rentals. Their expanding protections include:
- Identity verification checks on all hosts
- Annual vehicle safety inspections required
- Secure encrypted payments through the app
- Damage claim resolution assistance
- $1 million insurance liability coverage
Additionally, Turo’s Trust & Safety division investigates suspicious account activity aggressively. Their anti-fraud teams identify high-risk transactions utilizing machine learning technology assisting human safety agents.
Key Takeaways – Avoiding Rental Car Scams
- Turo scams are rare – less than 5% of Turo rentals experience any issues, with under 1% involving damage claims
- Recognize red flags like prices far below market rate, limited host details and odd requests
- Vet all listings thoroughly by comparing to similar vehicles and verifying host reputation
- Use Turo’s built-in protections for payments, insurance and documentation
- Report suspicious activity immediately by contacting Turo support
- Provide evidence of scams like screenshots of fake listings or unauthorized charges
- Cease contact with scammers and dispute fraudulent charges through your bank
- Leverage Turo’s Trust & Safety resources to resolve scam attempts with assistance
- Stay informed on latest policies and protections Turo implements to maximize safety
