You arrive in Mexico, Jamaica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, or any other exotic destination. As you come out of the terminal you are approached by a gentleman telling you that you have a free ride to your hotel.

Interested, you ask if you have to pay any other fees. “No, he says. “We just want to invite you to visit our new hotel tomorrow, for an hour or so. It’s been built this year and we are trying to promote it. Please come and check it out. That’s all. So yes, the ride is free”.

Do not take the offer of the free ride. He will want to make sure you are not scamming him by not showing up tomorrow (just to take advantage of the free ride) and he will get your credit card number.

That’s not all. The worst happens actually when you get to the “new hotel” the next morning. The one hour promised will be a 6-8 hour imprisonment, where they will aggressively try to sell you timeshares, just like the scenario described in the Free Cruise scam. They will not take no for an answer. They will use intimidation and make false promises such as, if you change your mind, you could always get a refund: nobody ever gets a refund from buying a timeshare.

Also, if you say you can’t afford it, they will offer a credit line that makes it look like the best deal of your life.

Bottom line is – because they deal with hundreds of people like you a day, they know every possible trick to scam you, according to your reactions and questions. And, because they hold you in that room for hours, chances are you will end up buying in.

How to avoid: do not take any free cab ride from the airport, unless it’s a shuttle to your hotel organized by the hotel.