It should first be noted that, generally, timeshares in and of themselves are not a scam. For the right people timeshares can provide a lifetime of low-cost vacations. Timeshares get a bad rap because of the annual fees owners must pay to cover maintenance and upkeep costs. High annual fees are not a scam either, but it may seem like one to those who don’t use their timeshares very often. And, when owners try to sell their timeshares, they often get about a third of what they originally paid. That’s also not a scam—just a lousy investment.
So, it’s not surprising that many timeshare owners develop an acute case of buyer’s remorse, which is why there’s a proliferation of timeshare resellers and outfits claiming they can legally get you out of a timeshare. Of course, that opens the door for scammers who make the same claims.
Timeshare fraudsters pose as real estate brokers or travel agents offering to help sell timeshares. They contact owners through unsolicited calls, emails, or fake websites, often claiming they have a slew of buyers already lined up. For their services, they require an upfront fee of $1,000 to $3,000, paid by wire, cashier’s check or money order, but the timeshare is never sold.
Here are some tips to protect yourself:
If you think you have been victimized by a timeshare scam, immediately report it to your timeshare company and contact your state attorneys general office. You should also report it to theFBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
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