Central Florida Business Alerts Community to Online Bounce House Rental Scams

Bounce N Around Rentals, a family-owned business in St. Cloud, Florida, is sounding the alarm on a surge of online bounce house rental scams targeting local residents.

 

Owner Isaias Dingui reports a troubling increase in calls from customers who have fallen victim to fraudulent schemes.

 

One recent incident involved a customer who nearly sent a $100 deposit to a fake company she found on Facebook.

 

"She was about to send the money, but it was a scam," Dingui recounted.

 

He emphasized that such cases are becoming all too common, with weekly reports of customers losing money and being left without the promised bounce houses.

 

Gerry Mendiburt, Director of Investigations for the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Central Florida, confirms that these scams are on the rise.

 

In the past year, the BBB has received over 800 reports of imposter scams statewide, with more than 500 occurring in the last six months alone.

 

Scammers often lure victims with low-ball offers on social media, leading to lost deposits and unfulfilled rentals.

 

To protect themselves, consumers are advised to thoroughly research rental companies.

 

Key steps include verifying the company's website URL, checking for a presence on the BBB's website, and being cautious of vendors who only communicate through messaging apps or lack a valid phone number.

 

Additionally, it's recommended to use credit cards for payments, as they offer better protection against fraud.

 

Dingui hopes that raising awareness will help restore trust in legitimate businesses like his.

 

"It's sad that we're losing customers' faith because of people who pretend to have inflatable companies," he said.

 

By staying vigilant and conducting due diligence, consumers can avoid falling prey to these scams and ensure their events go off without a hitch.