BBB warns of supplies rental scams for party planners

Hosting a big party sometimes involves renting decorations and supplies. But, if you’re looking for supplies to host your next big celebration and yard party, steer clear of scammers.

The BBB is warning of con artists who target party hosts with phony rentals of furniture, gazebos, bouncy houses, and other decorations and supplies.

Here’s how the scam works:

When looking for party supplies, you might end up searching social media platforms for convenient options. You find a small business or vendor, and message them about your rental needs. You pay a deposit and even fill out a form with your contact information and other details.

On the day of your party, nothing arrives, and the vendor makes up excuses for why he couldn’t deliver the “goods.”

“At this point, the ‘vendor’ may tell you they’ve had an emergency and can’t deliver on their promise. However, the scammers will disappear completely when you ask for your money back,” the BBB said. “Other times, you can’t contact the rental company at all. For example, if you originally contacted the vendor on social media, they may have blocked you or deleted their account.”

One victim who reported a rental scam via the BBB Scam Tracker said they saw an ad for inflatable rentals on Facebook. After messaging the individual via messenger to coordinate the drop-off, the scammer asked for a $250 payment via Apple Pay. Following payment nothing was received.

Similarly, another consumer who fell victim said:

“I was looking for an inflatable for my son’s birthday and I searched up on Facebook and that [company name redacted] was sponsored. I messaged them and they had good reviews and then he told me to Zelle him a downpayment of $150 and then the other $150 I will send it later and so I thought it was legit. Then he told me to send him a screenshot that I sent the money and then he blocked me.”

Another consumer said they got scammed while renting items for their son’s wedding. The victims lost over $1,500 and were forced to look up decorations and other supplies at the last minute.

How to protect against party or event rental scams

• Be a diligent researcher. Closely inspect the rental website and check for reviews online. You can also conduct a scam search on the BBB platform and online.
• Be very cautious of party rental ads you see on social media. Avoid businesses for which you cannot find a website or confirm contact information via a third-party platform.
• Never do business with individuals or vendors who refuse to talk over the phone or in person.
• Scrutinize unsolicited correspondence on messaging apps. A legitimate business won’t contact you or initiate a conversation out of the blue.
• Never give out personal or financial information unless you have confirmed the legitimacy of the vendor
• Carefully read the contract and details, including final costs and payment details
• Avoid using digital wallet apps or wire transfers when paying. Use a credit card so you can dispute fraudulent charges easily.
• Report any suspicious activity to the social media platforms, BBB and local authorities

Worried about scams and scammers?

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If you’re suspicious about a certain phone call, email, SMS or post, simply describe the situation to our AI-powered chatbot and let it guide you to safety. Scamio is available on WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger or a web browser for free! For localized versions, check Scamio in  France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Romania, Australia and the UK.