Odd call from Mexico City

[drguy]

I just received an add call from a gentleman explaining that he was with an agency of the Mexican Government involved with timeshare rental and resale fraud/ drug cartels. Very well spoken and tole me that he got my information from some of the folks involved in this type of fraud. He asked for nothing and explained that my name was now on a list making it more difficult to purchase property or timeshares in Mexico.
Anyone else receiving this type of call?
Is this likely just a new scam? Since he asked for nothing, I'm not sure what the scam would be.
Thanks.
Guy

 

[DeniseM]

Could be that he is just collecting "live" numbers to sell to telephone solicitors.

Chances are that you will get a follow up call with the offer - perhaps many calls.

I never answer the phone if I don't recognize the number - if this call was to your cell phone, you should block the number.

You should google the number to see if it is on any scam caller lists.

 

[drguy]

Could be that he is just collecting "live" numbers to sell to telephone solicitors.

Chances are that you will get a follow up call with the offer - perhaps many calls.

I never answer the phone if I don't recognize the number - if this call was to your cell phone, you should block the number.

You should google the number to see if it is on any scam caller lists.

The number is a Mexican number, so the usual scam caller lists don't pull it up. Haven't found an effective list for Mexico yet.
I have a message into Vida for their interpretation of the call as well.

+52-5585263088

 

[MuranoJo]

I just received an add call from a gentleman explaining that he was with an agency of the Mexican Government involved with timeshare rental and resale fraud/ drug cartels. Very well spoken and tole me that he got my information from some of the folks involved in this type of fraud. He asked for nothing and explained that my name was now on a list making it more difficult to purchase property or timeshares in Mexico.
Anyone else receiving this type of call?
Is this likely just a new scam? Since he asked for nothing, I'm not sure what the scam would be.
Thanks.
Guy

Interesting--and very suspicious of course. In particular, "...he got my information from some of the folks involved in this type of fraud..." (Who? Victims or authorities?) as well as, "He asked for nothing and explained that my name was now on a list making it more difficult to purchase property or timeshares in Mexico"
What does that mean?

 

[bjones9942]

Keep in mind also, that if you know the right tricks you can spoof your caller id information. May be in Mexico. May be in New Delhi. May be in Fresno. Did you call the number back?

 

[Jim in Cancun]

Info on Mexican "Government" Scams

Inside the Gate has been keeping track of a lot of this and now they are even using knock-off government websites, documents and emails. Read more here: http://insidethegate.com/gatehouse/?s=mexico+fraud#sthash.a3H6lopd.dpbs

 

[GeorgeB]

Definitely a scam. This is the initial phone call setting you up.

Think about how they got your name and number.

The only ORIGINAL source of resort member information is your resort AND only YOUR RESORT!

All the resorts in Mexico are loosey-goosey with their database security.
AKA NO membership list SECURITY exists. The resorts will deny this, of course.

This is a violation of Mexico's Privacy Law and can be enforced against offending resorts if damages of a member occur because of a security breach or fraudulent sales presentation.

If you got ripped off, the resorts will blame it on you. If you got lied to and believed those lies in the sales presentation, well that's your fault too.

This is ABSOLUTE NONSENSE! It all started with the resorts themselves.

Mexico has similar consumer protection laws as the USA and will enforce those laws if the victims present their case to them.

[Deleted - if you have info. to share - please share it openly in the forums. If you are soliciting - that is not permitted on TUG.]

 

[LannyPC]

The only ORIGINAL source of resort member information is your resort AND only YOUR RESORT!

Not necessarily. This has been discussed a few times here on TUG. It is also possible that names and numbers have been leaked by employees at the various exchange companies such as RCI.

Regardless, this scam, sadly, is still proliferating so watch out for those scam phone calls.

 

[silentg]

Not necessarily. This has been discussed a few times here on TUG. It is also possible that names and numbers have been leaked by employees at the various exchange companies such as RCI.

Regardless, this scam, sadly, is still proliferating so watch out for those scam phone calls.

Am I the only one who screens calls?

 

[VacationForever]

Am I the only one who screens calls?

I don't screen calls but I also hang up very quickly when it sounds like a telemarketer or scam calls.

 

[rpennisi]

Nomorobo (hope I got that correct) stops mostly all automated calls at one ring.
The ones that get through, I only answer if I recognize the caller.

 

[RX8]

Not necessarily. This has been discussed a few times here on TUG. It is also possible that names and numbers have been leaked by employees at the various exchange companies such as RCI.

Regardless, this scam, sadly, is still proliferating so watch out for those scam phone calls.

I don't have any stats to back this up but it certainly seems like a majority of these scams pertain to Mexican timeshares. That would lead me to believe rogue employees at these resorts are pilfering owner lists and selling them.

 

[MuranoJo]

These scams happen frequently all over the place. Florida seems to be a hotbed of scam calling centers for the U.S., so it's not necessarily predominantly MX.

 

[bankr63]

How do I get placed on the list that makes it difficult to buy Mexican timeshares? Will Vidanta then leave me alone at the TS presentations?

Okay, wishful thinking, I know.

And I love taking telemarketer calls. Especially the ones from India offering to clean my ducks. Do they clean all the feathers? Do they clean the cages or just the ducks. Why do they clean air ducks; wouldn't it be easier to clean them on the ground?...

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

How do I get placed on the list that makes it difficult to buy Mexican timeshares? Will Vidanta then leave me alone at the TS presentations?

Okay, wishful thinking, I know.

And I love taking telemarketer calls. Especially the ones from India offering to clean my ducks. Do they clean all the feathers? Do they clean the cages or just the ducks. Why do they clean air ducks; wouldn't it be easier to clean them on the ground?...

Why a duck? Why a duck? Why not a chicken?