Unfortunately, scams and fraudulent activity are a part of life. Recently, fraudulent telemarketing targeted at Club Wyndham owners has become more prevalent. Often times, fake companies will call claiming to be from a legitimate management company wanting to rent your timeshare.

Some examples from real-life telemarketing scams include callers that…

• Claim to be contacting you about your recent or past timeshare vacations.
• Ask you to take a survey regarding your timeshare ownership.
• Offer fake "bonus weeks" for renting your timeshare.
• Pose as a Club Wyndham representative and claim that you have weeks left over.

Here are four things to look for when identifying potential timeshare or exchange telemarketing scams.

1. Exercise Caution & Do Not Pay Anything Upfront
Chances are if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If someone offers you a lot of return for very little investment, be cautious. Fraudulent telemarketers will often try to get you to pay for something before you have used it ... don't. Never give out personal financial information over the phone.

2. Ask Questions
Be curious and ask plenty of questions. Fraudulent telemarketers will not be able to answer questions as in-depth and with as much knowledge as an actual Club Wyndham representative can. Ask questions, and if you are skeptical of any offer, do not feel pressured to accept it.

3. Know Your Rights
Even though “do not call” lists exist, these fraudulent companies will call you in violation of them. However, you have one legal recourse. If your phone number is on a “do not call” list and a fraudulent company calls you with a bogus offer, you may be able to file a complaint against that company with federal and/or state regulators.

4. Thoroughly Vet the Offer
Again, if someone calls you with an offer about your timeshare that you have any doubts about, be sure to thoroughly research the company and the offer being made. Check various business complaint websites such as the Better Business Bureau, the Federal Trade Commission, and the American Resort Development Association.

If you believe you have fallen victim to a scam, or have received a phone call that could be a scam, contact the Club Wyndham Scambusters team at 866-515-6989.