Are you interested in creating a space where special memories with your family can be shared? In today’s time, it is harder than ever to make time to prioritize what really matters. For that reason, joining a vacation club is a good way to establish a comfortable vacation home setting where you and your family can reconnect. Wondering how it works? Vacation club memberships allow you to prepay for future travel, but at today’s low rates. That way, members save money over time and simultaneously guarantee that every vacation will be as good as the last one. That way, you don’t waste time or energy researching terrible hotels online and wasting money. Timeshare scams are easy to avoid if you know what to look for. Keep reading below to know more about timeshare scam red flags to be aware of.
All About Timeshare Scams
Many people buy a Villa Group timeshare because they are a reputable and trustworthy provider. They have been in the business for nearly 40 years and have thousands of satisfied members. It’s a smart move to invest with the Villa Group if you want to avoid timeshare scams. Timeshare scammers are experts at convincing unsuspecting victims to use illegitimate services. Sometimes, they even misuse legitimate companies’ names in order to gain trust from their victims. Remember, the Villa Group is a reputable provider that does not scam their members. For example, they will never contact you to sell your unit. So if someone calls you and claims to work with the Villa Group, make sure you know who you are talking to. In addition, the Villa Group will not contact you to rent out your unit or to demand you pay Mexican Taxes or other suspicious fees. Lastly, Villa Group will never sell or share member’s personal information. In fact, it has been reported that they have high security encrypted systems. That way only authorized personnel have access to member info to protect their privacy.
Avoid These Scams
Here are some examples of timeshare scams that owners have reported.
- To start with, a warning sign of a scam is if you are offered a “guaranteed” way to exit your existing vacation club membership. It’s a huge red flag they are trying to scam you because timeshare memberships cannot be cancelled after the cooling off period has ended. Next, scammers have been known to ask members to pay an upfront fee to sell or rent out their vacation unit. Scammers can be quite persistent and will call and email you multiple times a day. Legitimate sales reps will be more respectful and less aggressive.
- Another scam tactic is when the fraudsters claim they can “work with” a particular resort on your behalf. Also, sometimes scammers will often send potential victims a letter of intent. The letter of intent would look official with the purchase amount for their timeshare. However, when the unsuspecting victim agrees to proceed, they end up paying an upfront fee and the scammers disappear without providing a legitimate service.
- Lastly, automated sales calls from a company are almost always a scam. The truth is, only nonprofit groups and political campaigns are allowed to use automated calls. To stay safe, only deal directly with reputable companies.
Report Timeshare Scams to Help Others
In conclusion, if you ever think you have been scammed, you should report the fraudulent individual or company to the authorities. By doing so, you can help fellow owners or prospective members from becoming a timeshare scam victim themselves. To report a scammer, contact the Business Fraud Division at the Federal Trade Commission by calling 1-877-382-4357or file a complaint online. Also, report the incident to your state’s Attorney General’s Office. The office closest to you can be located by searching for the “Attorney General’s Office” in your home state. Lastly, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) is a newer agency that works to prevent consumer scams. By reporting the crime to the authorities, you can help others that may be at risk.
Thankfully, the majority of today’s timeshare providers are legitimate and reputable. It’s a great way to prepay for future travel and save money. While timeshare scammers are still out there, it is easy to avoid becoming a victim if you know what to look for. Stay safe and don’t let yourself become a victim. Only work with your existing provider to avoid timeshare scams. Remember, only work with trustworthy providers like the Villa Group. By working together and sharing information with fellow members, we can prevent more timeshare scams from happening.