A family from Winnipeg was allegedly terrorized by timeshare scammers while on vacation in Mexico’s Puerto Vallarta coast, the Toronto Sun recently reported.
According to the wife, identified only by her first name “Sue”, the family was strolling along the area’s famous beachside boardwalk, fronting the Pacific Ocean, when they were approached by a man who offered a $300 “gift” to attend a timeshare presentation.
According to the man, he was a representative of the resort where the family was staying, and convinced the family to attend the talk. They were given then given $230, with the rest to be given after the presentation.
However, the family soon learned that the talk wasn’t about timeshares . According to Sue, “These gentlemen went on to explain that it wasn’t (timeshares) … these are condominiums that are being sold to potential residents who want to live here or tourists who want to come for the winter.”
The couple then said they wouldn’t be making a purchase. However, they were told to return the cash gift “because that’s how the staff made a living”. When the family started walking away, the men followed.
“He came in a white pickup truck, pretty much drove in front of us to keep us from walking down this hill, pretty much blocking our way, got out and was yelling profanities at us and calling us every name known to man, in front of our seven-year-old daughter,” Sue said.
In an interview with a local media channel, she recalled being scared and handing over $150. “We’ve done nothing wrong but here’s ($150) back. We think that is more than fair considering we’ve been lied to, you’re scaring my daughter, you’re scaring me.”
The man took the cash and left. However, the scammers weren’t done with the terrified family of three yet. Moments later, a black pickup truck pulled up and another, larger man got out.
“(He) rushed straight for my husband, grabbed his shirt, twisted it up by his neck, grabbed his throat and told that him he would die if he didn’t give the money back, and that his family was going to go to prison and that he (the man) worked for the police,” Sue said.
She stepped in and handed over the rest of the money. Fortunately, the second man was satisfied and left without asking anything else. Eventually, the family found a bus stop and was able to return to their resort.
While timeshare scams are a dime a dozen, this is apparently the first time timeshares were used to misrepresent a company offering full ownership, rather than fractional shares.
According to Sue, the incident was traumatic enough that it ruined the family’s vacation, nor any chances of returning.
“The taste for Mexico is definitely lost. I don’t think I’ll be going back.”
