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Nobody wants to believe that they can be scammed, especially when it comes to planning a dream vacation, but scam artists can be pretty sophisticated in their tactics.
One common type of scam is those directed at travelers and there’s one that’s on the rise that involves timeshares in Cancun.
Travelers are being scammed out of their hard-earned money, so Cancun tourists are being warned to watch out for this scam now.
The Timeshare Scam
According to reports the timeshare scam being carried out in Cancun is directed at Americans.
Both current and prospective buyers are the targets.
The scam consists of requesting money from current timeshare owners or making fake offers to potential buyers.
@danstravelguide Americans love popular destinations in Mexico like Cancun, Los Cabos, and Puerto Vallarta. Some Americans love Mexico so much and vacation there so frequently that they have purchased a timeshare or real estate in Mexico, and if they haven’t, many have considered it. However, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico has just released a new warning about the increasing amount of scams and fraud related to timeshares and real estate in Mexico. 🇲🇽 #traveladvisory #timesharesrscams #travelmexico #mexicotravelguide #cancunmexico #timesharetravellers ♬ Suspense, horror, piano and music box – takaya
How It Works
The way the scam works is there are groups of individuals that operate something similar to a call center.
In the case of current timeshare owners, the individuals call the owner and request payment for fees, such as taxes, that don’t exist, tricking them into sending money that they don’t owe.
In regards to potential buyers, they receive calls from the scammers providing them with offers on timeshares that don’t exist, keeping their money once they hand it over.
@cyber_warrior76 #greenscreen #cancun #scam #fraud #vacation ♬ original sound – Cyber_Warrior
How To Avoid Being Scammed
There are a few important things to remember when it comes to getting these kinds of phone calls.
One is that you should be suspicious of any offer from someone who calls out of the blue.
If you haven’t contacted a company about a timeshare, then there shouldn’t be any reason for someone to be calling with a too-good-to-be-true offer.
If you own a timeshare, don’t fork over any money until you contact your timeshare directly and verify the amounts due.
@traveloffpath Don’t fall for this airport scam! . #travel #mexico #mexico🇲🇽 #traveloffpath #fyp #foryoupage #cancun #airport #scam ♬ Primal Fear – Drama Effect – Dave James
What Are Timeshares?
Timeshares are vacation homes, more often than not condos, that are typically located within resort properties.
They are individual units that are purchased on a shared ownership basis.
“Ownership” refers to the unit and weeks owned, and owners are allowed to use the property during those designated times, the weeks that they own each year.
@grantfamof4 Replying to @heyhihellomate If you like cliche Orlando, Vegas, beaches every year, then you can “own” a 3 star hotel room. Price varies, but timeshare brands sell directly from around $25k to at least $150k (probably more), not including HOA #timeshare #timesharepresentation #hilton #marriott #travel #traveltiktok ♬ original sound – Grant Fam of 4
Why Do Travelers Purchase Timeshares?
Timeshares are a decent investment for those who want to repeatedly return to the same vacation destination year after year.
They can also be a good investment for those who want vacation trading power through a vacation exchange company like RCI, but that’s a whole different story.
To purchase a timeshare, you pay the purchase price, and then typically annual maintenance fees and taxes.
@viniabangladash This what buying into time shares look like#foryourpage #lesbiansoftiktok🏳️🌈 #cancunmexico ♬ He Decided To Die (He Would Not Come Down From The Cross) – Rev. James Cleveland
Timeshares In Cancun
Although there seem to be more all-inclusive resorts in Cancun than anything else, there’s no shortage of timeshares either.
The most recent estimates are that there are more than 600 companies in Cancun offering timeshare units for sale.
Many of these timeshares are located within the same Cancun resorts that you book online, and purchasing them on a timeshare basis really doesn’t have any added benefits.
@ruzz_31 #timeshare #cancun #hoteloffers ♬ original sound – Watarian
What To Do If You Want To Purchase A Timeshare
If you’ve ever walked out of Cancun Airport, you’ve probably noticed the huge crowd of timeshare salespeople trying to get you to a timeshare sales meeting.
These meetings are high-pressure and long, and probably not the way you want to purchase a timeshare, so you feel free to just breeze right past them to avoid their sometimes unethical tactics.
Instead, if a timeshare purchase is something that you’re considering, you’re better off doing your own research, contacting a reputable company, and hiring a local Cancun lawyer to help you with the process.
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