It is well known that timeshare is fraught with trouble. From salesmen trying to get a few thousand for a product you don’t need, to a re-sale company wanting an upfront fee with the promise of a quick sale.
Luckily the internet is full of advice (if you look for it). The TCA tries to post as much as possible about protecting yourself from fraudsters. We want you to enjoy your money, not have it ripped away.
And it’s not just us. If you search “scam advice” in Google, there are tons of articles providing advice and support to people who are worried they are or have been scammed.
Action Fraud provides a lot of advice on their website and who to go to in the event that you fall victim to a fraudulent act. Below is their list of tricks to help you keep a tight hold of your hard earned cash;
“1. Do not give any personal information (name, address, bank details, email or phone number) to organisations or people before verifying their credentials.
- Many frauds start with a phishing email. Remember that banks and financial institutions will not send you an email asking you to click on a link and confirm your bank details. Do not trust such emails, even if they look genuine. You can always call your bank using the phone number on a genuine piece of correspondence, website (typed directly into the address bar) or the phone book to check if you’re not sure.
- Destroy and preferably shred receipts with your card details on and post with your name and address on. Identity fraudsters don’t need much information in order to be able to clone your identity.
- Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software and a firewall installed. Ensure your browser is set to the highest level of security notification and monitoring to prevent malware issues and computer crimes.
- Sign-up to Verified by Visa or MasterCard Secure Code whenever you are given the option while shopping online. This involves you registering a password with your card company and adds an additional layer of security to online transactions with signed-up retailers.
- If you receive bills, invoices or receipts for things you haven’t bought, or financial institutions you don’t normally deal with contact you about outstanding debts, take action. Your identity may have been stolen.
- You should regularly get a copy of your credit file and check it for entries you don’t recognise. Callcredit, Equifax and Experian can all provide your credit file. An identity protection service such as ProtectMyIDmonitors your Experian credit report and alerts you by email or SMS to potential fraudulent activity. If it’s fraud, a dedicated caseworker will help you resolve everything.
- be extremely wary of post, phone calls or emails offering you business deals out of the blue. If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Always question it.
- If you have been a victim of fraud, be aware of fraud recovery fraud. This is when fraudsters pretend to be a lawyer or a law enforcement officer and tell you they can help you recover the money you’ve already lost.”
Although the internet is a great way of communicating things such as this, the majority of the victims scammed in the UK are elderly and a lot of them don’t have access to the internet.
The way to stop people from trying to steal our money is to stand united. Talk to your neighbours. Keep an eye on the elderly couple next door. Make sure that if you have been scammed, that everyone knows your story.
Mary’s sister who lives 3 streets down lost £200 answering one of those leaflets”
For more information regarding this article or assistance in any other timeshare related issues please contact the TCA on 01908 881058 or email: info@TimeshareConsumerAssociation.org.uk