Imagine forking out your hard-earned cash to secure that dream summer holiday home or flat, only to find it does not exist.

With the festive season nearly upon us, financial authorities and property experts have issued a stern warning to South Africans not to fall victim to holiday rental scams, where people are lured into paying for fake accommodation.

According to the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) – the national body that provides information relating to financial matters to law-enforcement agencies – online classified advertisements for holiday accommodation usually appear on certain popular websites...