The Better Business Bureau is warning anyone who might need to rent supplies for a party to be careful.
The BBB says “vendors” for supplies like bounce houses or extra tables and chairs might take your money and never show up.
In most reports, people say they searched for party rentals on social media, including Facebook Marketplace, and found a “vendor” who appeared to be legit.
That vendor might ask for a deposit upfront and ask you to send it using a payment app.
Then, you agree on a date for the vendor to drop off the supplies, but they never show up!
One person said they paid a scammer nearly $1,600 for wedding supplies, but they were left empty-handed.
The BBB says there are some things you can do to protect yourself.
First, be wary of anyone selling services on social media, especially if they refuse to meet in person.
If you DO find a vendor on social media, do your research. Search for an official website or reviews from other customers.
And don’t trust vendors who only accept payments through payment apps.
Most legitimate businesses will let you pay with a credit card, which makes it easier to dispute the charges if something goes wrong.