Rental scams emerge in Mar del Plata ahead of summer season

Criminals in Mar del Plata, Argentina, have begun using a new fraudulent scheme targeting summer vacation rentals. According to the local College of Real Estate Agents and Brokers, scammers are cloning profiles of luxury properties in exclusive areas such as Los Troncos, Playa Grande, and southern gated communities.

The fraud typically involves posting premium property catalogs on digital applications and then moving communication to private WhatsApp chats. Scammers pressure victims by offering discounts of up to 25% if deposits are made outside of official platforms. Once victims transfer funds via fintech digital wallets, the accounts are quickly emptied and closed to prevent tracking.

In one reported instance, a single property in Los Troncos was “rented” to six different families for the same period in January within a 48-hour window. Victims often only discover the scam upon arriving at their destination.