Do you know about the scams that are increasing with vacation ownerships and the timeshare industry? We understand this concern and we are providing assistance so your valuable vacation ownership is protected. Below our legal department and partners in the industry have provided educational resources that will help you in staying clear of timeshare scams.

We have put in a lot of time and effort so we can help you with the identification and conning tactics and unwanted and pressured calls that the timeshare scammers uses. All of the questions that you may have will be answered below. Our efforts along with the law enforcement can protect the timeshare industry and stop the scammers.

Tips on Staying Clear of Timeshare Scams:

How can you identify a scam artist that has contacted you?

You can’t 100% know for sure that a scam artist has contacted you. It can be very difficult and confusing trying to figure out if the person on the other end of the phone is a scam artist. If your gut is telling you that it is a scam artist on the other end of the phone, then trust your gut. Anytime something seems too good to be real, then it probably is. You have to remember that the timeshare scam artists are experts.

It might be confusing for you to try to figure out who has been sending you emails that offer a timeshare rental for you. The scam artist criminal could give you a company name that you can do an internet search on or they may inform you that they are representing our organization or resort. Many times the scam artist criminal will only provide you with a phone number and a name of a company, but no added information.

If a scam criminal has contacted you, then use the options below:

1. Try to keep the scam artist criminal on the phone for as long as you can so you can get more information about their organization. All emails and phone calls should be documented with the date and time that you were contacted. Any emails that you receive and you believe are suspicious should not be forwarded to prevent added viruses being spread. Always refrain from providing your credit cards, bank account information, or wiring of money because the deal that you are being offered is just too good to be real.
2. File a report with the law enforcement agency in your area and give them all of the information that you have, even if you think some of the information is not important.
3. When you are contacted by a scam artist criminal tell them to immediately remove your name and number from their calling lists, then hang up your phone.
4. Contact the proper lists that has all the scam artists’ criminals’ information such as ARDA as they provide numerous fraud and scam articles in their library that is updated regularly. You can see ARDA’s library by clicking here: (http://www.arda.org/advisories/)

 Formal complaints against timeshare scams: 

1. Filing a complaint can be done at the Federal Trade Commission, Business Fraud Division by phone (1-877-382-4357) or online at (https://www.ftc.gov/)
2. Filing a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office in your state. You can use any search engine. Just type your state such as “Texas Attorney General’s Office”. Once the website comes up you can click the “Complaint” link, which will take you to where you need to file your complaint.
3. You can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPD). This is a new agency, but they have compassion for victims of scam artist’s criminals and they thrive in stopping these scammers. You can file your complaint here (https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/)

It is important that you are aware and you have the educational tools that will keep you staying clear of timeshare scams. We hope that the information that we have provided will not need to be used.