If you are considering vacationing in a resort, or are interested in joining a resort, you may wonder if resort vacation international is legit. You may also want to know if you should use a reputable company, or if there are any potential scams to be wary of.
Check if a vacation rental is legit
When you are looking for a good resort vacation rental, you want to make sure you are going to be able to find a legit place to stay. If you are not careful, you could end up getting scammed.
A great way to determine whether a resort rental is legitimate is to check the property’s website. If the home owner has their own website, you can learn more about the home and its amenities. The real owners should also be easy to contact and be able to provide you with more photos than the ones in the listing.
In addition to the website, you should also perform a Google Maps street view of the location. This should confirm that the property is in the same area as the resort.
While the most popular vacation rental websites offer robust fraud prevention measures, you should do your homework and do your research. Scammers will create a variety of fake listing schemes. Some of them are elaborate and difficult to track down.
Another useful tip is to use a credit card for payment. Credit cards offer more protection than prepaid or debit cards. Be wary of owners who ask for a hefty deposit, or who require a wire transfer.
Another good idea is to check out the house rules of the property. These may be related to what you are expected to do inside the house. Doing so can prevent you from paying extra fees.
Lastly, check out the owner’s social media accounts. Make sure to read all of their messages carefully and look for discrepancies.
If you’re still unsure about a potential vacation rental, you should speak with your local law enforcement department. They can help you report the ad to the appropriate website and alert the public. It is not uncommon for people to pay a deposit to a stranger, only to find out later that they are not the owner of the property.
To avoid a bad experience, be sure to research the location of the resort vacation rental, the name of the home owner and the most important facts about the property before you make your reservation.
Check if a timeshare is a scam
If you are thinking of selling your timeshare, there are steps you can take to avoid being a victim of a scam. First, you should do your research. Read about the resort you are interested in, and check the reputation of the developer and the company who handles the sales. You can also check online.
Timeshare resorts can provide you with a list of trustworthy third-party companies to help you with your sale. They may be familiar with the scams that occur and can refer you to someone they believe is legitimate. However, you should not rely on their recommendations. It is best to use companies that have a BBB accreditation.
Also, be wary of any offers for “free travel.” These may be offered in the form of post cards or emails. In order to qualify for the offer, you may have to sign up with a travel club, attend a seminar, or pay a fee to the company.
Never send money to a company or individual without checking their identity. The biggest red flag is when they ask for your money upfront.
Scam artists will pose as representatives of a legal or financial institution, a title company, or escrow agents. They will claim that you are a valid buyer or renter, and will use fake names, area codes, and email addresses to contact you.
Similarly, you should be wary of calls that claim you can get a refund. This is a common tactic used by timeshare fraudsters. Sometimes, they claim that you need to put money in a fictitious account to get the refunded amount. Other times, they will ask for additional money for unforeseen expenses.
If you are considering a timeshare, you should hire an attorney. A lawyer is a good source of information and can help you review your contract. Be sure to obtain the contact information of your attorney from your state bar association or the attorney’s office.
To make a final decision, you should visit the resort. Ideally, you will be able to see the actual property and find out the costs of your stay.
Check if a robocall is a scam
If you get a call that claims you have won a free vacation, but don’t have the money to make the purchase, you should find out if it is a scam before you give them your information. You should contact the airline directly to verify that the offer is legitimate. Scammers often take advantage of people during the summer months when they are looking for cheap vacations.
Scammers use robocalls and ads to get you to sign up for their “deals.” They advertise free vacations and claim to have discounted trips. Many of these scams involve a call that asks you to provide credit card information and then promises you an upgrade if you pay the fee in advance. Then, the scammers try to get you to book a rental through their fake website.
Scammers also sometimes use spam e-mails or online ads to spread the word about their “deals.” In some cases, you may even get a phone call or text message announcing that you’ve won a free vacation. However, it is illegal for a company to call you and offer you a vacation deal without your written permission.
Finally, you should be cautious of websites that request payment through gift cards, wire transfers, or any other kind of payment. Aura’s credit monitoring service can alert you to suspicious activity and help you avoid falling victim to a scam. Also, you should never follow links in an e-mail.
If you receive any of these robocalls, e-mails, or messages, it is always best to contact the airline immediately. If you do fall for one of these scams, you might have a hard time getting back your money. This is especially true if you have a credit card, so be careful of fraudulent websites that ask you to decline your card.
