British gang of 36 people are arrested for £15million Costa del Sol timeshare scam that has affected hundreds of people across the UK
Read the original article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4667378/British-gang-36-arrested-15million-timeshare-scam.html#ixzz4nC9QkY3b
Following this latest scam reported in the national press this month we are again sharing our top tips on how to avoid the most commons scams.
Sadly, scams are not uncommon in the Timeshare industry. There are a lot of organisations out there that prey on individuals desperate to escape their unfair timeshare contracts. There are companies pretending to be Solicitors when in fact they are just telesales advisors or sales teams offering to cancel your timeshare for a fee, while having other motives of getting you signed up for another product but never taking you out of your timeshare contract.
As reported in the Daily Mail article a Costa del Sol gang did just that even employing fake lawyers who would contact those who were scammed to falsely offer their services to claim their money back. Meaning the victims ended up being conned not once but twice.
We urge people to always be cautious and seek professional advice from a registered solicitor. If you are concerned or think you may be a victim contact a solicitor or your local police.
We would advise you to be suspicious of any company that:
• contacts you out of the blue
• says they already have a buyer for your timeshare
• puts a lot of pressure on you
• asks for more personal details
• invites you to attend a presentation
• asks for a upfront fee payable on a credit card or via bank transfer
Here are some key things to check:
• Check when the company was formed at Companies House
• Check the company registration is not bogus
• Find out if they have a physical office address you can visit
• If they are Solicitors they should be authorised by The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)
• You must read any contract & understand it before you sign it
If you have already paid a company money to cancel your timeshare but are unsure if they are a bogus company, or are exactly who they say they are, get in contact and we may be able to help.
Visit our Timeshare & Holiday Ownership pages for more information.
Sarah Waddington – Principle Solicitor