Stay Safe - Learn how to Protect Yourself from Fraud

The best way to ensure a safe transaction is to use an escrow service that will hold funds until the end of your vacation (for rental escrow), or the delivery of the deed (for resale escrow). We've arranged for First American Title — a licensed reliable escrow agent — to provide this service to our members. Escrow is the only sure way to prevent fraud:

• Rental Escrow Service
• Resale Escrow Service

We encourage you to do some research before beginning with any transaction:

• Contact the resort directly to verify the ownership status of the person you are buying/renting from:
  • Is this person an owner at the resort?
  • Do they own the week/unit being advertised?
  • Are there any unpaid maintenance fees/assessments that would:
    • prevent a renter from checking in to the unit, or
    • transfer to the new owner
• Ask the owner for references of people that have rented from him/her previously
• Both parties should sign a rental agreement
• Never pay 100% of the rental price up-front (depending on how close the transaction is to the check-in date)
• Pay 50% of the rental price up-front, and the remaining 50% when you receive written confirmation FROM THE RESORT that the reservation has been placed in your name (it's also a good idea to phone the resort to ensure your reservation is secure)
• Never pay via wire transfer (Western Union, MoneyGram). Please view our Payment Method Comparison for more information

Note: There are a number of timeshare brokers that use RedWeek.com. When dealing with a broker, ask for their name, company name, license number, and state where licensed, and run a check to make sure their license is active. Arello is a helpful resources in doing this, or contact the broker's state regulatory agency.

Trust your instincts. Ask questions. Stay safe.