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Our latest newsletter covers a serious but vitally important topic, as we look at the rise of timeshare fraud and the steps you can take to combat this threat
Protect Yourself Against
Timeshare Fraud
Protect yourself from timeshare scams and spot fraudulent schemes before they happen
Image by Fizkes/Shutterstock
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Unfortunately, fraud is a problem many timeshare Owners encounter, with activity targeted by dishonest third parties. Often the people behind these schemes get in touch to say they can rent, sell or advertise your timeshare benefits, or may even claim you have weeks, certificates or points they can help sell on your behalf.
While these scams can look genuine at first glance, the good news is they often follow the same patterns and use similar tactics you can identify to stay one step ahead. This newsletter will show you how to identify issues and protect yourself, so that you don’t get caught up in any fraudulent schemes in 2024.
If the offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is
Image by Andrii Yalanskyi/Shutterstock
If the offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Be suspicious of pre-recorded sales messages.
If someone asks for upfront fees, it’s likely a scam.
Be wary if they ask for personal details, especially information they should have on record.
If a business’ website does not have a sophisticated privacy policy or terms of use, it’s a red flag.
In a rush? Watch our timeshare exit fraud education video for a quick recap on what to watch out for and how to report any potentially fraudulent activity. Click here for English subtitles and here for French Canadian subtitles.
Watch: Timeshare exit fraud education video
Elimination of fees, including resort association fees, or contract cancellations.
Offers to rent your timeshare or to exchange unused benefits.
Offers to buy or sell your timeshare, guaranteeing to sell within a certain time.
Promises of paid ownership transfers for a substantial fee.
Good to know: Hilton Grand Vacations will never contact you with a pre-recorded sales message, ask a third party to contact you on our behalf about renting or buying your timeshare or request a wire transfer payment.
Phishing emails can look authentic so check the email address matches the one you usually receive HGV correspondence from
Image by Sandi Santos/Shutterstock
Top tips to identify fraudulent timeshare scams:
The four most common timeshare scams:
How fraudsters may try to contact you:
Pop-up online advertisements: These may be masked by scammers to look like they’re from Hilton Grand Vacations.
Phone calls: These could be delivered through recorded messages or a live agent. If during the call the agent becomes unprofessional, impatient or defensive, it’s likely a scam.
Emails: Phishing emails are often cleverly made to look like they’re from Hilton Grand Vacations and may promise to
sell or transfer your ownership. Always check these are from exactly the email address you receive your usual HGV correspondence from.
Letters and postcards: As above, read any letters you receive carefully — fraudulent documents often contain inconsistencies and grammatical errors.
How to report third-party fraud:
Avoid giving out personal information: Never provide details over the phone to someone you don’t know.
Record all information: The more information you can record (e.g., caller’s name, the company, phone number and website) the better when reporting fraudulent incidents to the authorities.
Contact the authorities:
– Canada: You can report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and the Provincial Consumer Affairs Regulator.
– Europe: Gather as many details of the scam as possible and email them to us at LegalReport@hgv.com.
– United States: You can file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office in the state where you reside. Not sure how to
find your AG’s office? Click here to find a location.
– All Other Countries: You can report the incident to your regional consumer protection division.
Cancel all agreements and payments immediately: If you think you’ve been the victim of a scam, contact your credit card company or bank and request a stop payment. You can also reach back to the scammer and notify them in writing of your wish to cancel.
For additional resources, log in to your Member website and visit your dedicated fraud protection page below:
Embarc and Extraordinary Escapes (English & French-Canadian)
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Club Traveler newsletter is published bi-monthly by Hilton Grand Vacations Club, LLC, and distributed exclusively to Extraordinary Escapes, HGVClub and The Club Members. All rights reserved. The publisher is not responsible for omissions or errors. Reproduction or use in whole or in part of the contents of this publication in any format or medium without written permission from Hilton Grand Vacations is prohibited.
Hilton Grand Vacations disclaims all liability for any and all advertisements, promotions, articles and other affiliated content contained within this publication. The opinions expressed in each article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Hilton Grand Vacations. Hilton Grand Vacations does not make any representation regarding the availability of or endorse any of the products or services provided by third parties.
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