STR Scam Watch: Staying Smart, Safe & Compliant

STR rules are changing fast. Permits, fees, and compliance updates seem to drop every month and scammers are exploiting the confusion.

Case in point: in Newberg, OR, fraudsters launched an email campaign that looked exactly like an official city notice. The email, disguised as coming from the city’s planning office (⚠️ planning.newbergoregon_gov@usa.com), asked hosts to “settle invoices” before their STR permit could move forward. The catch?

👉 The city doesn’t even have a Planning & Zoning Commission.

👉 Legitimate fees are only paid through the city’s OpenGov portal, never via emailed invoices.

This kind of scheme is becoming more common as STR permitting expands. And when you’re juggling registrations, occupancy taxes, and compliance requirements, it’s easy to miss a red flag.

🔎 What Scammers Are Doing

They’re taking advantage of the complexity of STR regulations by:

• Mimicking city emails: Fake addresses (@usa.gov, etc.) look credible at first glance.
• Fabricating urgency: Warnings like “Timely settlement will move your application forward without delay” pressure hosts into paying fast.
• Piggybacking on real updates: Fraudsters timed this attack right after Newberg updated its STR ordinances—so the scam felt believable.

✅ How to Protect Yourself

As STR compliance becomes more technical, here’s how hosts can stay safe:

1. Verify the source

• Official cities often use .gov emails, not generic domains.
• Fees and permit steps are processed through secure portals, not third-party addresses.

2. Cross-check details

• If you get an email about permits, confirm it against the city’s official system.
• When in doubt, call the planning department (or the relevant channels) directly.

3. Watch for common red flags. Some examples:

• Vague titles (“Application Review Fee”)
• Generic sender names
• Attachments or links with poor formatting

4. Educate your team & co-hosts

• If you manage multiple properties, make sure your staff and partners know how to spot fraudulent notices.

🧩 Why This Matters Beyond Newberg

This isn’t just a local issue. As more cities roll out:

• STR ordinances with new occupancy and noise rules,
• Permit requirements tied to density or neighborhood caps, and
• Tax compliance obligations like hotel occupancy tax collection…

…the opportunity for scammers to confuse hosts will only grow.

Translation? Operators need to be just as vigilant about fraud prevention as they are about compliance itself.

💡 Key Takeaway

Short-term rental scams are evolving alongside regulations. Staying compliant means not only following ordinances and securing permits but also protecting yourself from fraudulent attempts that prey on the complexity of the system.

👉 Action step: If you get a suspicious email about permits, stop and verify it through your city’s official portal or planning department. When in doubt, don’t click, don’t pay—call instead.

📌 Want to stay ahead of both STR regulations and emerging scams?

Follow Strisker.com for updates on ordinances, meetings, best practices, and now — alerts, too.

Because in the STR space, knowledge isn’t just power. It’s protection.