The typical timeshare sales pitch could show up in your mailbox, or in your e-mail in-box, or in the form of a telemarketer's voice over your telephone (usually right around the exact moment that you put a hot, steaming plate of dinner onto the table, of course). In truth, the method of delivery really doesn't matter so much as the words being used, and they usually go something like this:

Congratulations, James Smith! You and your spouse have been selected to receive a complimentary three-day, two-night vacation package at the luxurious Dream Resort on the paradise island of Aruba! Your package includes round-trip transfers to and from the airport to your private two-bedroom villa, which comes complete with a full kitchen, washer/dryer, and more! You will have full access to all of the Dream Resort's amenities, including five swimming pools, an eighteen-hole golf course, and a seven-mile beach! Plus, you will receive free vouchers for four gourmet meals at the five-star Italian restaurant located inside the Dream Resort complex!

Sounds pretty awesome, right? As if you've finally won something worthwhile after all those years of throwing worthless lottery tickets into the trash along with your I'll-never-have-to-go-to-work-again hopes and dreams.

It actually could be true — if you're in the market for a timeshare unit like the Dream Resort on Aruba, and if you don't mind paying for whatever is missing from the fine print (in this case, airfare costs are notably absent). On the other hand, if you have not been shopping for a timeshare and you receive such a pitch out of the blue, you might be inclined to think it is part of a scam. And you might be right.