Timeshare Resales a Hot Scam in 2010

Looking to unload a timeshare? In this tough economy, so are thousands of other people. Because the economy has made it difficult for most timeshare owners to resell, many turn to outside agencies to act as a broker on their behalf.  That provides the perfect opportunity for scam artists looking to cash in.

The scam works like this: sellers pay supposed agents $1,000 or more to find a buyer for the timeshare. The agents pocket the cash and promise to find a buyer, but instead take off, leaving the owner high and dry.

This scam has become so prevalent that attorneys general in several states have warned timeshare owners to be on the lookout.

The Federal Trade Commission warns timeshare sellers to investigate any reseller through the state attorney general’s office or Better Business Bureau. They also advise timeshare owners to get all information about a resale in writing and confirm the reseller’s license is valid in the state where your timeshare is located.

Finally, the FTC advises sellers to get details about how the reseller plans to promote and advertise your timeshare.  And, experts say, you should have a system in place to monitor the reseller’s progress.

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Want to Keep Your Children Safe? Avoid the “Stranger Danger” Message

*This article is the second in a series on back-to-school safety.

Like most parents, you’ve probably told your child not to talk to strangers. But according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCME), parents should rethink their “stranger danger” message. In fact, experts say, simply telling children not to talk to strangers doesn’t go far enough in protecting them from potential danger. Here are a few reasons why.

The definition of a stranger is misleading

To most adults, a stranger is someone you don’t know. But what happens when a child sees or is around a person more than once? Most parents don’t take the time to help children differentiate between people they are familiar with and those they know well. That means that if a child is around an adult more than once or sees that person often, they may no longer view that person as a stranger and may even talk to, or worse, go off with that person if prompted.

In fact, according to the NCME, most children are taken by someone they either know or are familiar with.

Not all strangers look scary

According to researchers at the NCME, most children describe a “stranger” as someone who is “ugly” or “mean.” So, what happens when children encounter a friendly, attractive adult they don’t know? They will likely not perceive that person as potentially dangerous.

Adults talk to people they don’t know all the time

From the grocery store to the gas station to most places in between, adults regularly engage in conversations with people they don’t know. It makes sense, then, that children wouldn’t see any harm in speaking to people they don’t know.

When it comes to keeping children safe, teaching children to recognize and avoid potentially dangerous situations is far more effective than telling them not to talk to strangers.

One way to do this, experts say, is to help children to identify “safety nets” of people they can run to when they need help. Those individuals may include a uniformed law enforcement or security officer; a store salesperson with a nametag; a person with a nametag who is working at an information booth; or a mother with children.

Experts also say it’s a good idea to practice “what if” scenarios with your children on a regular basis so they know what to do if they ever find themselves in a potentially dangerous situation.

Parents should practice these scenarios during regular outings to the store or park to help reinforce these skills and help children know what to do if they become lost or are in danger.

What are some things you do to teach your child to avoid dangerous situations? Please share them in the comments section below.

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ICE: In Case Of Emergency

Take a minute and think about what would happen if you were involved in an accident.  Once you got to the hospital, would staff know whom to contact on your behalf?

They would if you had emergency numbers stored in your mobile phone under ICE (in case of emergency). It’s simple. Just store the number of your emergency contact person(s) under the name ICE.   And if you have more than one contact person?

Simply label the entries ICE 1, ICE 2, etc. When emergency workers or hospital staff go through the address book on your phone, they’ll know whom to contact, thanks to this simple acronym.

The ICE campaign has been around since 2005 and is widely-recognized by law enforcement and emergency medical personnel.

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