Stay Away from Scratch Cards

The Nasty Scratch Card Scam on Gran Canaria

If you're traveling in the Canary Islands - including Gran Canaria - sooner or later you'll encounter supposed scratch cards promising big prizes. The danger lurks especially at tourist hotspots in Playa del Inglés, Puerto de Mogán, or along the promenade in Las Palmas.

How the scam works

You're approached on the street, someone hands you a free scratch card and - as if by miracle - you've immediately won one of the expensive main prizes (often a luxury trip, cash, or an expensive tablet).

The only thing you can do right in that moment: Throw the card away (or better yet, don't accept it in the first place) and keep walking. No great prize awaits you, but rather a nasty surprise.

The path into the trap:

To collect your "prize," they explain that for whatever reasons it can only be picked up at a nearby hotel complex. To get you there, they even offer you a free taxi ride.

From this moment on, you're trapped: You find yourself at an aggressive sales event and are talked at for hours by trained salespeople - and sometimes even pressured - to sign a timeshare contract . The supposed prize becomes completely irrelevant at this point.

What exactly is a timeshare contract?

With a timeshare contract, you buy the right to use a vacation property each year for a specific period.

• You acquire no ownership of the property, but merely a time-limited right to reside or use it.
• In addition to the already high purchase price, you commit to annual operating costs, which are often unpredictably increased by the operator.

Many vacationers sign these contracts hastily and only realize afterwards that they're tied to a single vacation destination. Since these contracts are extremely difficult to cancel, the EU has introduced a 14-day right of withdrawal for your protection. The European Consumer Centre (ECC) also urgently warns on its website about this scam.

Immediate payment: How much money is demanded

Often the providers demand an immediate down payment of around 1,000 euros. According to the ECC, there are also cases where the full amount is due immediately - and that can be over 5,000 euros.

Since no one carries that much cash on vacation, they'll gladly accompany you directly to the nearest ATM or offer you card payment.

Money gone? Here's what you can do now

You'll probably never see the money again in such cases - unless you acted smartly: Your chances are good if the down payment or total amount was paid by credit card (with signature) .

If the company won't refund voluntarily, you can initiate a payment dispute (a so-called chargeback) with your credit card company or bank. It's best to mention the term "timeshare" - this can significantly increase your chances. Note however: Banks handle this very differently, there's unfortunately no absolute guarantee.

What you should NEVER do when approached:

• Don't accept or scratch the scratch card in the first place:
  Simply ignore the promoters on the street and keep walking.
• Don't fall for the supposed prize:
  Don't be lured by alleged luxury trips, cash, or free tablets - they don't exist.
• Under no circumstances get into the offered taxi:
  Never let yourself be driven to an unfamiliar hotel complex or event venue.
• Never go to an ATM together with the sellers:
  Under no circumstances withdraw money accompanied by strangers.
• Don't sign any documents under pressure:
  Don't let anyone talk you into anything or pressure you on the spot - don't sign contracts spontaneously.
• Don't make any down payments or payments:
  Don't pay cash on the spot or make spontaneous payments by debit or credit card.