how to avoid being scammed when booking a private static caravan ??

adviceforall

Yes you could ask to send a cheque so you have their details, we accept payment by both means so should not be a problem, if its a Haven park they should send you a guest registration form to enable you to get passes and maybe the keys aswell which will have the pitch number and they sign it and pit their tel number on it and owners name.

Did you not have a name and address to send a booking form to? We have a caravan at Littlesea, our full details are on our website, home address, and tel number as well as my mobile and email address. Guests send us a booking form and I send the receipt to their home address ( so both parties have proof of address) You say down south, if by chance it is Littlesea I might be able to find out some more if you tell me the ref no on direct holiday homes (we also advertise there and the site have our details I think) I'm also a member of a website for private owners so can ask around there is not Littlesea..
Glad you finally have reached them though, any excuse for not getting back to you sooner?

Do you have a telephone number to talk things through with them, you can get an idea of how they sound and ask for the pitch number etc to check things through.

Good luck

lagoslife

I would definately ask to pay the balance by cheque so you have a record of their home address and telephone number if possible.

Maybe contact the Haven site to see if the details match up?

Most of the private holiday rental listing sites aren't accountable if something goes wrong (they just list the adverts), as the contract is between the owner and holiday maker.

With this in mind it's worth doing background checks. See these posts for ideas;
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2500269
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3093442