Vidanta confirms callers attempting to scam owners

[drguy]

I've received a couple of calls from "Grupo Vidanta" wanting to exchange my Grand Luxxe units for 5 Sea Garden units that are already rented out. I will receive $5250 for the 5 Sea Garden studio units and all I have to pay is my maintenance fee of $1689, netting me $3561 per week that I trade.
Vidanta has confirmed that it is a scam as they do not, and never have, rented owner's weeks.
This is who called: The phone number from caller id is 773-273-7214. I was told to call Oscar back at 1-800-595-4312 ext 112 if we were interested.
A quick search reveals that this is a land line in Evanston, IL.
Someone has gained access to Vida account information, but seemingly not the mf data as the fee quoted was several hundred dollars less than actual.
Beware of this new, persistent group of scammers.

 

[LannyPC]

I wouldn't say that this is a new group of scammers. They're probably the same ones just operating under a different name. As for the caller ID number, it might not be based in Illinois. It could very well be someone piggybacking of that number.

Regarding "the [maintenance] fee quoted [being] several hundred dollars less than actual", I think the scammer was just coming up with a number he wanted you to pay and just said that it was the "maintenance fee" hoping that you wouldn't care what it was called, you would just be happy to fork that money over in exchange for the alleged big payouts.

The last thing is that I'm glad that "Vidanta has confirmed that it is a scam" and let you know so that you would not fall for it. However, it would be nice if they would be very active and proactive in warning owners about such scams rather than waiting for owners to inquire.

 

[raygo123]

They are very good at such notifications

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

[drguy]

I wouldn't say that this is a new group of scammers. They're probably the same ones just operating under a different name. As for the caller ID number, it might not be based in Illinois. It could very well be someone piggybacking of that number.

Regarding "the [maintenance] fee quoted [being] several hundred dollars less than actual", I think the scammer was just coming up with a number he wanted you to pay and just said that it was the "maintenance fee" hoping that you wouldn't care what it was called, you would just be happy to fork that money over in exchange for the alleged big payouts.

The last thing is that I'm glad that "Vidanta has confirmed that it is a scam" and let you know so that you would not fall for it. However, it would be nice if they would be very active and proactive in warning owners about such scams rather than waiting for owners to inquire.

I get scam notification emails at least twice per year from Vidanta. Often more than that. They are very protective of their owners once one buys from them. It took only a couple of hours for them to respond initially, and less than 24 hours for them to confirm that the numbers are in no way affiliated with Vidanta and that Oscar does not work for them.

 

[RX8]

A quick search reveals that this is a land line in Evanston, Ill

Actually, the "local" Illinois phone number is a VOiP Internet number. The scammers are likely calling from Mexico.

 

[MuranoJo]

LannyPC,

Just so you know, as a Vida member, I bet I get a scammer warning from them at least every other month, unsolicited. This is via email, and all mail correspondence also carries this warning.

I'd say they go above and beyond in warning members about the scams.

 

[LannyPC]

I get scam notification emails at least twice per year from Vidanta. Often more than that.

That's great to know. Kudos to Vidanta. I just wish more (all) resorts would be as proactive in warning owners of such scams. If they did, fewer owners would fall victim to these resale scams and the resale scamming business would not be so lucrative and would probably die out.

 

[MuranoJo]

Amazingly, regardless of the countless warnings from the resort, I still see numerous posts on various forums from members who are seriously considering some outfit who cold-called them.

'You can lead a horse to water....'

 

[drguy]

Amazingly, regardless of the countless warnings from the resort, I still see numerous posts on various forums from members who are seriously considering some outfit who cold-called them.

'You can lead a horse to water....'

Yes...We all have to take on some personal responsibility. The salespeople stretch and bend the truth, but the company is very protective of outside interference with those that buy weeks.

 

[kauig]

Timeshare Rentals

I just received a couple of calls from this number 800-595-4312 X 112 from Oscar Olaverietta offering to trade my Grand Bliss week for 3 studio sea garden weeks for $1100 ea pocketing $3300 after paying my maintenance fee for that week. I talked to him twice - he sent me the contract and I started looking online, then called Vidante (my home resort Riviera Maya) and they said they do not have rental companies working for them to rent out weeks and to not work with them - that they just wanted to take my money. I will be ignoring from here on out but I'm glad I looked it up. This happened today Aug 18, 2015. Call came from "unknown".

 

[MuranoJo]

Good for you! Smart thing to do. We've also had a few strange calls from scammers, but surprisingly, not that many really. Just one here & there, but we don't answer 'unknown caller' calls--in fact, we are getting to the point we don't answer calls we don't know with our local area code as they are often faked as well. Our SOP is, if you don't know who it is, don't answer. If it's important or someone you know, they'll leave a message.