Bungalow Booking Safety Guide

1. The 12 verification steps

1. Verify the Google Maps pin. The operator must have a pin with photos and reviews. No pin = red flag.
2. Cross-check on Tripadvisor, Booking, Otelz, Etstur. Absence everywhere is suspicious.
3. Look for an official website. Operators running only through Instagram DM are high risk.
4. Search "[name] + şikayet/dolandırıcı" on Google, Şikayetvar, Ekşi Sözlük.
5. Run photos through Google Reverse Image Search. If the same photo appears under a different name, the photos are stolen.
6. Ask for a tax plate or Tourism Operating License. Real operators share freely. Tax-number lookups available on GİB's portal.
7. Check the Instagram account's creation date (About → Registration date). Less than 6 months old with a lot of followers = caution.
8. There must be multiple contact channels. A landline, WhatsApp, email, physical address. A single channel is a warning.
9. Request a video call. Legit operators won't refuse a 5-minute live tour before you pay a deposit.
10. Check the IBAN holder name. Must match the business or a consistent owner.
11. Demand a written booking confirmation — name, date, payment, cancellation terms (email or WhatsApp message is enough).
12. Propose on-site payment — a real operator will accept at least half at arrival.

2. Safe payment methods (risk ranking)

• 🟢 Safest: Credit card + virtual POS (iyzico, PayTR). Chargeback available if something goes wrong.
• 🟢 Safe: Cash/card on arrival.
• 🟡 Moderate: Wire to a business IBAN, name-verified.
• 🟠 High risk: Wire to a personal IBAN; only if you've otherwise verified the operator.
• 🔴 Do not: Crypto, Western Union, anonymous prepaid cards, PayPal "friends & family".

3. Spotting a fake Instagram account

• High follower count but <1% engagement (fake followers).
• Photos with very mixed styles (stolen).
• Comments closed or only likes visible.
• Bio phone numbers from other countries.
• Rapid follower growth with no old posts.
• "DM us" is the only information shown.

4. If you've been scammed

Speed matters. In order:

1. Bank: Call within 24-48h to dispute. If a card was used, request chargeback.
2. Criminal complaint: File with the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office (can start via e-Devlet).
3. CİMER: cimer.gov.tr — routes to Ministries of Tourism and Interior.
4. Consumer Arbitration Board: If the operator is licensed, tuketici.ticaret.gov.tr.
5. Social media report: Instagram/Facebook → Report Profile → "Scam or Fake".
6. Evidence archive: Screenshots of all conversations, wire receipt, ads, URLs.

5. Red flags (walk away)

• Prices 40% below market, "last minute".
• "Pay deposit now or someone else takes it" pressure.
• Refusal to provide contract/invoice/receipt.
• No address, "I'll tell you when you arrive".
• Google Maps pin missing or in random forest.
• Only vague location ("near Çamlıhemşin").
• "Cash-only off-the-books receipt" offer.

6. What rizebungalovevler.com does

For every listed bungalow we:

• Verify the Google Maps location.
• Talk to the operator by phone.
• Check tax plate or tourism operating license.
• Look for references in at least 3 independent platforms.
• Pull photos from the operator's own site or directly from the owner.

Still, we recommend you book directly on the operator's own website. We are not an agent — we are a verified guide.