Federal Bureau of Investigation Taking Active Steps Against Timeshare Fraud
Timeshare scams are nothing new to the industry, especially in Florida where the industry has such a strong foothold as a popular American leisure destination. The great majority of timeshare scams occur within the state of Florida, putting anyone involved with a timeshare there at risk. For a long time, these scams were somewhat overlooked by national entities, causing consumer outrage and the public to be defrauded of large sums of money. While there are many types of timeshare scams, the FBI is currently focusing on resale scams, warning timeshare owners to be aware of these largely telemarketing-based schemes.
Because the economy has taken such a drastically negative turn in recent years, timeshare owners who were once thriving and able to afford the many fees associated with timeshare ownership can no longer afford to pay. Because of the increased number of owners trying to sell timeshares, resale scams have soared, especially in recent months in the state of florida. Many struggling timeshare owners are trying to sell in order to get out of their timeshare contracts, and this is where the timeshare resale scams come in to play.
Because the economy has taken such a drastically negative turn in recent years, timeshare owners who were once thriving and able to afford the many fees associated with timeshare ownership can no longer afford to pay. Because of the increased number of owners trying to sell timeshares, resale scams have soared, especially in recent months in the state of florida. Many struggling timeshare owners are trying to sell in order to get out of their timeshare contracts, and this is where the timeshare resale scams come in to play.
Drastic Increase in Consumer Complaints of Resale Scams
Timeshare Scams
The primary reason the FBI is on high alert for resale scams is that there was a huge number of complaints filed with their Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) earlier this year. Apparently, owners trying to sell are contacted by telemarketers either by phone or email claiming that they had a buyer for the unwanted timeshare. These perpetrators of these timeshare scams are either criminals or employees of the actual resale companies.
Promising a quick sale, (typically between 60-90 days) these scammers received large sums of money and no sales were made. The biggest red flag is asking for an upfront fee while claiming a decision needs to be made quickly. Owners looking to sell a timeshare should always be aware of the dangers associated with providing credit card information to those claiming they can facilitate a timeshare sale.
Promising a quick sale, (typically between 60-90 days) these scammers received large sums of money and no sales were made. The biggest red flag is asking for an upfront fee while claiming a decision needs to be made quickly. Owners looking to sell a timeshare should always be aware of the dangers associated with providing credit card information to those claiming they can facilitate a timeshare sale.
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