If you’re looking to lock in a vacation rental, whether it’s in Maine or on the Cape, it’s about that time of year. Just as most folks know that summer rentals are booking up, so do the scammers.

So it’s time to brush up on the vacation rental business and how scams present themselves. While there are certainly legitimate private party ads for properties, that’s where you’re most likely to encounter a scam. It’s best to avoid those ads, but if you can’t resist, tread ever so carefully.