by GomerPyle
Sat Mar 27, 2010 9:38 am
I'm afraid the whole business has developed from the time share industry, and that's another area with a terrible reputation, and for that reason different methods have been employed to attempt to make an income stream for what are the bargain basement shoddy properties.
This scam has developed from that, but has short cut much pretence that they are providing anything. Some make some effort to make it appears there is some deal on offer, others just take all the money off your card until it's all dried up without even making much effort to provide anything. Whether this is being operated by time share operators or out and out scammers isn't clear. The dividing line between them is not clear cut. The time share industry is pretty shady itself.
None of this would be possible if these operators weren't being allowed to run card processing facilities by banks, and they could bring this criminal activity to a speedy end if they behaved reputably. It's all centred on Florida, as that's the centre of the time share iustry, irrespective of where their phone centre may be based. That's just an effort to avoid Florida regulations which are a little stricter than most US states. These people target non-Americans mostly because they have faced class action law suits from victims in America.
I doubt that the US authorities will do much about this activity as long as it involves foreigners, but that's short sighted as these cockroaches are destroying the reputation of all Florida tour operators and I would never ever consider any offer from a US tour operator.
The bottom line is to NEVER EVER give your card details to a stranger over the phone. If a stranger asks for your card details - they're a scammer and you're going to have your card maxxed out.
Your only recourse is to your card company, and that should protect you, but their reaction will be to try hard to resist you and it'll be hard to force them to do anything if they dig their heels in. It is a mistake to think you are protected if you willingly give your card details to a scammer.
This scam has developed from that, but has short cut much pretence that they are providing anything. Some make some effort to make it appears there is some deal on offer, others just take all the money off your card until it's all dried up without even making much effort to provide anything. Whether this is being operated by time share operators or out and out scammers isn't clear. The dividing line between them is not clear cut. The time share industry is pretty shady itself.
None of this would be possible if these operators weren't being allowed to run card processing facilities by banks, and they could bring this criminal activity to a speedy end if they behaved reputably. It's all centred on Florida, as that's the centre of the time share iustry, irrespective of where their phone centre may be based. That's just an effort to avoid Florida regulations which are a little stricter than most US states. These people target non-Americans mostly because they have faced class action law suits from victims in America.
I doubt that the US authorities will do much about this activity as long as it involves foreigners, but that's short sighted as these cockroaches are destroying the reputation of all Florida tour operators and I would never ever consider any offer from a US tour operator.
The bottom line is to NEVER EVER give your card details to a stranger over the phone. If a stranger asks for your card details - they're a scammer and you're going to have your card maxxed out.
Your only recourse is to your card company, and that should protect you, but their reaction will be to try hard to resist you and it'll be hard to force them to do anything if they dig their heels in. It is a mistake to think you are protected if you willingly give your card details to a scammer.
Non-EU citizens should go here to find out about obtaining a visa to work as an au pair in the UK
http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/doineedvisa/
Whenever payment is requested by Western Union you're dealing with a scammer
http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/doineedvisa/
Whenever payment is requested by Western Union you're dealing with a scammer
