yes that was Somerset Maughns description of Monaco...but we also can include the Algarve.....for example this is from the Algarve Observer


Sunday, August 21, 2005




Britons Cheating Other Britons in the Algarve

8/19/2005 12:15:00 AM
An international network of companies, some established in Portugal, has been selling holiday club cards, falsely associated to “time-share” properties. The targets were particularly British holiday-makers in the region. After operating for several years in the Algarve, they are now being investigated by the Public Ministry.

An ingenious scheme allowed the network of companies to operate in the market with impunity for eight years and, until now, without being suspected of involvement in a business associated with fraud and forgery of documents.

It is only now that the first complaints are being received by the British authorities, who have communicated them to Portugal. Those who have been tricked are not always happy to admit that this has happened, which explains the still small number of complaints, compared with the number of people who must have bought the cards.

A source at the IGAE (inspectorate-general of economic activities) told the Algarve Observer that there had been numerous reports made to the Public Ministry in the meantime.

The same source said that, if the business exists, it is certainly profitable and would have involved thousands of people who would have ended up handing over money for nothing.

So what exactly were they promising, these “sellers of dreams”, all from English-speaking countries, who were operating in tourist areas of the Algarve? On payment of about £6000 (7400 €), refundable after 4 years (cash-back), they get a certificate and a “special card” to access holiday discounts, and other benefits announced at the time, in different tourist areas in the world.

When introduced to the “product”, potential customers are encouraged to purchase straight away, even using their credit cards to do so. The less cautious British citizens are persuaded by the favourable conditions of the scheme.

Promise to refund the fee

The contract allows for the refund of the registration fee after four years, and it is then that the company ceases its activity, and thus fails to meet its obligations.

One of the companies which was operating this sales scheme and has now been reported is “Time Linx”, registered with the Ministry of Finance since 1996 and which closed four years later.

Connected to the same company, “Freestyle” appeared in 2000, and continued with the same sales process, accepting no responsibility for the responsibilities of “Time Linx”.

Card members who recently wanted to get their money back, as provided by the contract, also found that the accounts and the company had been closed since 2004.

When people try to recover their money, contact details of a law firm based in Spain are given, which is supposed to know about the case and is ready to give legal support to the tricked customers: the cost of starting the process is £625 (750 €).

Confident of being able to recover their money, there are people who have handed over the said amount. Only later, when nothing happens, do they discover that they have again fallen for a confidence trick.

The law firm is fictitious and the names of the lawyers do not appear on the list of registered lawyers in that country.

According to police authorities that were contacted by the Algarve Observer, the possibility still exists of another company appearing in the Algarve to continue with this fraudulent sales scheme. And they promise to be on the look out.

The process that has already been drawn up and handed to the Public Ministry indicts them of being a supposed criminal association, accused of practising aggravated fraud, and forgery and use of false documents.

It is a sales “model” with connections to companies in Gibraltar, Spain and the UK.
People harmed by this type of company have already got organised and set up a website (www.crimeshare.net). It is a real “wailing wall” of those who have been tricked twice

The usual sales method for these scams is to stop " NEW " tourists , obvious by their colour in the busy areas of Albufeira etc.
They offer advice on where to go, eat etc then give the poor fools a scatch card.
This " SURPRISE, SURPRISE " is a winner. to collect the prize they are then taken by TAXi to a local hotel ( one of the better ones ) where the sale starts.

So if any visitor is approached on the streets the best advice is to ignore them, if this does not work then be as rude as you like.

I know of one algarve resident who when seeing these " persons " at work
sidles up to them and loudly wispers " TIME SHARE " this usualy results in the swift exit of both the " sales person " and the poor punter.

It still amazes me how people are prepared to part with large sums of money to others without checking them out. Slightly off the track of timeshare, but on a similar theme of "shady people" I would urge everyone to check out people before they give them money. It really isn't that hard to do and could save a lot of heartache. I know that because I am currently helping out a guy, who could face losing almost € 100.000,00 from being far too trusting. Unfortunately, in this day and age you can't afford to trust anyone, even friends I am sorry to say!

If you are dealing with a company check them out via either the RNPC here if Portugal or Companies House in the UK (sorry don't have knowledge of other European countries). You can find out a lot on the internet and for small fees you can then obtain even more details of the companies. If you are giving anyone and I really mean ANYONE regardless of what initials they have after their name, large amounts of cash, check where it is going, into what accounts etc etc. If anyone wants the websites and details of how to use them by all means send me a pm.

I am currently drawing up a detailed list regarding the buying process for a few people and hope to turn it into an article for a magasine. I have gained a lot of the information whilst "ghosting" for some people alongside their other advice and a very interesting process it was too

The usual sales method for these scams is to stop " NEW " tourists , obvious by their colour in the busy areas of Albufeira etc.
They offer advice on where to go, eat etc then give the poor fools a scatch card.
This " SURPRISE, SURPRISE " is a winner. to collect the prize they are then taken by TAXi to a local hotel ( one of the better ones ) where the sale starts.

[/quote

The set up....They feel obligated because they have paid up the taxi and the hotel.

When introduced to the “product”, potential customers are encouraged to purchase straight away, even using their credit cards to do so. The less cautious British citizens are persuaded by the favourable conditions of the scheme.

Promise to refund the fee

The contract allows for the refund of the registration fee after four years, and it is then that the company ceases its activity, and thus fails to meet its obligations.

Ah, something for nothing.....oldest trick in the book....and it works often enough to make it worth while....all you have to do is set it up proplerly (a taxi and a good hotel get's the ball rolling in the direction).


P. T. Barnam was right....."There is a sucker born every for minute"..

Playing on greed I suppose.
Cowboy, was it Barnam who had a sign saying 'This Way to the Egress' to get people to pay to get back in again?

pm wrote:Playing on greed I suppose.
Cowboy, was it Barnam who had a sign saying 'This Way to the Egress' to get people to pay to get back in again?

if he didn't, he should have.