North Vancouver RCMP are warning the public about a spate of attempted scams baiting people with the promise of top dollar for their unused time-share vacation properties.
In one case, a local resident struck a deal with a cold-caller promising to buy his time share at double its real value, and was directed to wire transfer thousands of dollars to an escrow account in Mexico to pay for taxes, administration and brokerage fees. The owner became suspicious and halted the sale.
Suspicious signs you’re being targeted by fraudsters include high pressure tactics to force you to make a quick decision and requests for an up-front payment or other fees. People running the scams are sophisticated and may be able to produce documents that look genuine.
Adding insult to injury, police have also noted a follow-up scam in which victims are promised their money will be returned if they pay another fee. “As with the first scam, no money is ever recovered and telephone calls and emails are unanswered,” a release from the RCMP notes.
