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Avoiding Freaky Timeshare Scams

As timeshares have grown more popular throughout the
years, more and more opportunistic scammers have
rooted in this industry, using the hype to their own
advantage. They have made up some elaborate schemes
with increasing improvement to reel in the innocent
and rob a good part of their cash. And demographics do
show that there are high increases in
timeshare-related crimes.

Variations

With this said, you have to be highly aware of the
timeshare scams that may be pitching their way to your
bank account. Most of these are borne out of
telemarketing and the internet with a database that
lists down former and current timeshare owners. And
they give out irresistible prices so that they can
seal the deal. A good pattern of this is they usually
goad the clients to pay a certain amount of brokerage
fees. And when you do pay the fee, they�ll disappear
out of thin air and so, of course, is your hard-earned
money.

Another style on which these scammers use is that they
inform you that you�ve won an additional holiday trip
on top of your vacation. It can come in the form of a
timeslot you can choose within a 12-month span. But
the catch is: you have to reply with your decision
very soon. Along with that, you have to pay a service
or even a miscellaneous fee. And when you do make the
payment, guess what? The promo, the company has said,
has just closed.

A devious style on where a scam does not leave you
with nothing like previous two is where they try to
sell you a timeshare in exchange for your current one.
When you make the purchase, they don�t do their share
and you�ll end up with two properties to deal with,
paying all the miscellaneous fees and whatnot. They do
this simply to make fun of other people; there really
are people who have nothing to do with their lives,
eh?

These are the three major types of scams �invisible�
timeshare companies do. Be aware of these techniques
so as you won�t end up like the hundreds who walked
away with worry in their eyes and their vacation plans
gone in a snap.

Ways to Avoid Them

Well, you should do your homework when you�re involved
in shady deals where companies require you to pay a
fee first before anything else. Study the company
closely and call business bureaus to validate the
existence and credibility of the company. Don�t be
swayed by the prices that they offer; in fact, this
should be a basis for speculation because they�re a
business. They shouldn�t just offer such low costs
without their company being in a financial rut. Find a
company which posts fair prices and with no random
fees involved. Make sure of this so that you won�t end
up with empty pockets.

As with everything that becomes a fad in the world,
like thorough game guides for World of Warcraft or
Weekly Courses about a certain subject that are sold
online, you should be wary when you attempt to
purchase this as this may be a devious attempt to
steal your money. As I said, do your homework on these
companies or call the Better Business Bureau to
validate these seemingly shady companies.