The Attorney General, Bill McCollum, sent a message to consumers warning them against investing in timeshare or vacation properties in other countries, especially Mexico.
 
The Attorney General's office has been flooded lately with complaints from residents who have fallen victim to unfair business practices at the hands of shady travel companies.
 
"My office is committed to providing as much information as possible to Floridians in an effort to educate them about ways to protect themselves from various types of vacation-related fraud." McCollum commented to reporters.
 
The complaints regarding foreign timeshares called in to the Attorney General's Citizen Services Division include issues such as overly aggressive sales pitches, exaggerated return on investment reports, as well as suspicious business practices. These problems can lead to great losses for investors. The U.S Department of State urges consumers to remember that no company can be sued in the country unless they are in some way based in the United States.
 
Mexican law does make some provisions in an attempt to protect consumers. For example, investors are allowed five days to cancel a time-share contract in order to receive a full refund. Attorney General McCollum wants consumers to be aware of this law and stay away from time-share companies that threaten penalties for anyone canceling within five days.
 
Consumers who feel they have been scammed in some way should contact a Mexican lawyer, the Mexican consumer protection office PROFECO, or other organization that may provide assistance to someone regarding a foreign business deal.
 
It is also a good idea for Floridians considering timeshares as an investment to call the state's Attorney General's office to check the history of complaints against the company. While a lack of complaints don't necessary guarantee that a company is honest, complaints against a business can give you a head's up when investing in a timeshare.