Timeshare cons are among the most frequently complained about scams in the United States.
Typically, timeshare owners receive unexpected phone calls from con artists, posing as timeshare sales representatives. The scammers claim that they can sell the property within 60-90 days. They pair their offers with high-pressure sales maneuvers, adding urgency to the deal.
Once the timeshare owners have agreed, they’re charged with an upfront fee to cover up ad costs. With the promised sale, most timeshare owners surrender their credit card information. And once the funds have cleared, the scammers disappear without a trace.
In select cases, victims of the scam consult timeshare fraud recovery companies—which, from time to time, are scammers too.
The best approach when dealing with resale companies is to check the business name with the Better Business Bureau.
Article source: http://www.timesharesdaily.com/index.php/201201311081/Latest/Timeshare-scams-continue.html
[RushPRNews press release] -- Timeshare owners across the country are being scammed out of millions of dollars by unscrupulous companies that promise to sell or rent the unsuspecting victims’ timeshares. In the typical scam, timeshare owners receive unexpected or uninvited telephone calls or e-mails from criminals posing as sales representatives for a timeshare resale company. The representative promises a quick sale, often within 60-90 days. The sales representatives often use high-pressure sales tactics to add a sense of urgency to the deal. Some victims have reported that sales representatives pressured them by claiming there was a buyer waiting in the wings, either on the other line or even present in the office.
Timeshare owners who agree to sell are told that they must pay an upfront fee to cover anything from listing and advertising fees to closing costs. Many victims have provided credit cards to pay the fees ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. Once the fee is paid, timeshare owners report that the company becomes evasive—calls go unanswered, numbers are disconnected, and websites are inaccessible.
In some cases, timeshare owners who have been defrauded by a timeshare sales scheme have been subsequently contacted by an unscrupulous timeshare fraud recovery company as well. The representative from the recovery company promises assistance in recovering money lost in the sales scam. Some recovery companies require an up-front fee for services rendered, while others promise no fees will be paid unless a refund is obtained for the timeshare owner. The IC3 has identified some instances where people involved with the recovery company also have a connection to the resale company, raising the possibility that timeshare owners are being scammed twice by the same people.
If you are contacted by someone offering to sell or rent your timeshare, the IC3 recommends using caution. Listed below are tips you can use to avoid becoming a victim of a timeshare scheme:
Be wary if a company asks you for up-front fees to sell or rent your timeshare.
Read the fine print of any sales contract or rental agreement provided.
Check with the Better Business Bureau to ensure the company is reputable.
To obtain more information on Internet schemes, visit www.LooksTooGoodToBeTrue.com.
Anyone who believes they have been a victim of this type of scam should promptly report it to the IC3’s website at www.IC3.gov. The IC3’s complaint database links complaints together to refer them to the appropriate law enforcement agency for case consideration.
Article source: http://www.timesharesdaily.com/index.php/201201311080/Latest/FBI-WARNING-Timeshare-Marketing-Scams.html
This is the time of year when those of us who have a cruise booked for later in the year really start to look forward to it. There’s nothing like a holiday “in the diary” to boost our spirits, especially if we live somewhere where the sun could come out more often.
Since the fated date of the Costa Concordia disaster – Friday, January 13th – images of the cruise ship have dominated the media.
Cruise holidays have never been more sophisticated, or popular (depending on which company they own with, timeshare owners can book cruise holidays – Club La Costa is one example of a leading shared ownership specialist which offers cruises through its dedicated travel agency. It’s the only kind of holiday – unless you belong to the super yacht set – where you can wake up in different ports and countries in the space of a week.
According to the UK’s online cruise travel agency Cruise.co.uk, it doesn’t look likely that bookings will suffer in the wake of the Concordia tragedy. The company reports that it’s seen over 150,000 searches for deals on its site this past week, including many for March departures.
Cruise videos have received a lot of hits, too, searches for cruise ship videos up 150% and over 45,000 videos viewed. Predictably, many of the searches were for Costa Cruises.
The big new cruise ships are attracting a lot of attention – PO, Royal Caribbean and Cunard together dominate the enquiries, with over 55% of the market. Consumers are keen to read testimonials and watch videos of the actual ships before deciding which cruise to book.
Commenting on the results, Seamus Conlon, Managing Director of cruise.co.uk said,“Like everyone in the industry we’re truly shocked and saddened by the Costa Concordia accident last week but already our figures show that the accident is having little or no effect on bookings for the key brands.
“Early January showed that PO, Cunard and Royal Caribbean are still top with British browsers but we’ve also noticed that the interest in the luxury brands such as Seabourn, Holland America and Oceania has risen 100% over this time last year.
“River Cruising is up 50% s showing strong growth with more interest in both the specialist operators and the less well known destinations such as the Far East and Russia. This could be as result of the increased interest from the press over the past year. ”
Published Date: Monday, January 30, 2012 12:22 PM
Article source: http://www.gotimeshare.org/news-items/680.aspx
Hilton Flamingo Owners Association announces plan to renovate the Hilton Flamingo property to make room for new Linq project. Selling Timeshares, Inc. offers information regarding the proposed changes to its Hilton customers.
Las Vegas, NV (PRWEB) January 29, 2012
Based on a recent letter sent to Hilton Flamingo owners, Caesar's Entertainment has announced the funding of plans to develop the land that sits between the Hilton Flamingo Timeshare and the Imperial Palace.
Selling Timeshares, Inc. has offered up information on their timeshare blog to help educate customers and owners about the proposed changes.
David Van Norman, Head of Web Development at Selling Timeshares, Inc. said, "This could be an opportunity for Hilton Flamingo Owners to gain easier access to the property and have many more attractions within walking distance."
The project has been dubbed 'Linq', and takes its aim on the weary mid-strip traveller. The upgrade is aiming at dramatically transforming the face of the strip while offering an open-air retail-dining-entertainment fusion, complete with rooftop lounges and world-class shopping. The development will occupy a quarter mile back from The Strip, reaching to the back end of Hilton Flamingo. Linq is designed to be a fresh take on the many retail outlets in Vegas, offering a younger, more nightlife-oriented experience. The goal is to create a starting or ending point for the traveler's on the strip, a rest stop after exploring the many attractions that the Vegas strip offers.
Hilton has sent out the proposed amendment to all owners, urging approval of the project. The amendment proposes only a few changes and offers benefits such as increased pool access and a 10% discount for all Caesars owned establishments inside of the Hilton Flamingo and Linq. Owners can take advantage of the these benefits regardless of whether they have purchased at a presentation or from buying a Hilton timeshare on the resale market using a licensed timeshare resale broker.
Imperial Palace and Oshea's are sacrificed to the project and will no longer exist, also the Harrah's and Hilton Flamingo will experience some minor changes and upgrades. The Linq's north side will feature a guest walk path that goes from the Carnaval Court outdoor plaza at Harrah's through the former Imperial Palace and lead you into the Linq resort. Hilton owners will also be able to access the Linq development from the south through the Hilton Flamingo Resort. The amendment also proposes better vehicular access to the resort, pedestrian access and a new parking location.
Hilton representatives are advising their owners to reach out to owner services if they have not yet received the proposed amendment.
About Selling Timeshares, Inc.
Selling Timeshares is comprised of a group of Licensed Real Estate Professionals with years of knowledge of the most valuable vacation networks offered in today's market. They are a full service timeshare resale brokerage that does not charge an upfront fee to sell.
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For the original version on PRWeb visit: www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2012/1/prweb9147649.htm
Article source: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2012/01/29/prweb9147649.DTL
Timesharemarketplace.com is a free timeshare website that brings buyers and sellers together, while sharing real-time industry news.
Orlando, FL (PRWEB) January 30, 2012
Timesharemarketplace.com is a newly launched unique, interactive, and innovative website that connects timeshare buyers and owners looking to sell or rent their properties. The website acts as a mediator between the buyer and seller, and while many agencies charge an upfront fee Timesharemarketplace.com is completely free to both the buyer and the seller.
This is a free site for all parties involved. Distressed owners of timeshares can advertise to rent and or sell timeshares for free, and interested buyers can browse and purchase timeshares through Timesharemarketplace.com, 100% free of charge. There is no commission paid to the site owners, or the property owners. Many timeshare resale agencies will charge an upfront fee or tack on commission for themselves, but unlike the rest Timesharemarketplace.com is free of charge.
Timesharemarketplace.com is the one stop shop for the timeshare community. The user-friendly site navigates you through the process from start to finish for buyers, sellers, professionals, and advocates. Timesharemarketplace.com has a diverse database of over 3,000 international resorts complete with reviews, photos, and details of the property. Equipped with many details, this website assists the audience of over 8 million timeshare owners worldwide, with a single resource to find information about timeshares and resorts, including reviews and complaints.
To ensure rapid sales and purchases Timesharemarketplace.com has included many resourceful tips and tools such as: The timeshare blog, social marketing tools, tips on timeshare fraud, timeshare reviews, scam reporter, price comparison, and a savings calculator.
In a constantly evolving industry, the interactive Blog is compiled of real-time timeshare news, trends, reviews, and information on occurring scams to keep the public up to date. Staying up-to-date in the industry news can assist you in selling and purchasing a timeshare property.
Although timeshares date back 5 decades ago, in today's society there is one way to get the word out: Social Networking. Timesharemarketplace.com included a social marketing tool to enable maximum advertising exposure for each user by allowing them to insert social networking buttons to directly reach out to their personal and professional contacts as well as the public.
Through this reputable, user friendly, content rich site you can quickly report any and all timeshare scams including fraudulent resale firms or resorts sales practices. Just as all industries, the timeshare industry is susceptible and affected by scams and fraud. Users of Timesharemarekplace.com can search the database of complaints and communicate with other users and share their experiences. Timesharemarketplace.com makes it simple for users to share complaints and reports on scams and any fraudulent activity. Users also are able to read the complaints and reports, which assist them in making informed decisions regarding their timeshare property. Sharing exclusive information, such as fraudulent activity, implements a trusted community feel throughout this website's users.
Timeshare marketplace is a free service, comprised of many beneficial features to enable both the advertiser and purchaser to make the best decision on their timeshare. From being able to report fraudulent activity, to viewing thousands of resort choices, the user is able to stay connected in the industry. Timesharemarketplace.com is not only a 100% free service, but also an interactive site in which you can communicate with one another before the sale is complete.
Visit www.timesharemarketplace.com for your timeshare all your timeshare information and needs.
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For the original version on PRWeb visit: www.prweb.com/releases/prwebrentselltimeshareforfree/timesharemarketplace/prweb9142660.htm
Article source: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2012/01/30/prweb9142660.DTL
Timesharemarketplace.com is a free timeshare website that brings buyers and sellers together, while sharing real-time industry news.
Orlando, FL (PRWEB) January 30, 2012
Timesharemarketplace.com is a newly launched unique, interactive, and innovative website that connects timeshare buyers and owners looking to sell or rent their properties. The website acts as a mediator between the buyer and seller, and while many agencies charge an upfront fee Timesharemarketplace.com is completely free to both the buyer and the seller.
This is a free site for all parties involved. Distressed owners of timeshares can advertise to rent and or sell timeshares for free, and interested buyers can browse and purchase timeshares through Timesharemarketplace.com, 100% free of charge. There is no commission paid to the site owners, or the property owners. Many timeshare resale agencies will charge an upfront fee or tack on commission for themselves, but unlike the rest Timesharemarketplace.com is free of charge.
Timesharemarketplace.com is the one stop shop for the timeshare community. The user-friendly site navigates you through the process from start to finish for buyers, sellers, professionals, and advocates. Timesharemarketplace.com has a diverse database of over 3,000 international resorts complete with reviews, photos, and details of the property. Equipped with many details, this website assists the audience of over 8 million timeshare owners worldwide, with a single resource to find information about timeshares and resorts, including reviews and complaints.
To ensure rapid sales and purchases Timesharemarketplace.com has included many resourceful tips and tools such as: The timeshare blog, social marketing tools, tips on timeshare fraud, timeshare reviews, scam reporter, price comparison, and a savings calculator.
In a constantly evolving industry, the interactive Blog is compiled of real-time timeshare news, trends, reviews, and information on occurring scams to keep the public up to date. Staying up-to-date in the industry news can assist you in selling and purchasing a timeshare property.
Although timeshares date back 5 decades ago, in today's society there is one way to get the word out: Social Networking. Timesharemarketplace.com included a social marketing tool to enable maximum advertising exposure for each user by allowing them to insert social networking buttons to directly reach out to their personal and professional contacts as well as the public.
Through this reputable, user friendly, content rich site you can quickly report any and all timeshare scams including fraudulent resale firms or resorts sales practices. Just as all industries, the timeshare industry is susceptible and affected by scams and fraud. Users of Timesharemarekplace.com can search the database of complaints and communicate with other users and share their experiences. Timesharemarketplace.com makes it simple for users to share complaints and reports on scams and any fraudulent activity. Users also are able to read the complaints and reports, which assist them in making informed decisions regarding their timeshare property. Sharing exclusive information, such as fraudulent activity, implements a trusted community feel throughout this website’s users.
Timeshare marketplace is a free service, comprised of many beneficial features to enable both the advertiser and purchaser to make the best decision on their timeshare. From being able to report fraudulent activity, to viewing thousands of resort choices, the user is able to stay connected in the industry. Timesharemarketplace.com is not only a 100% free service, but also an interactive site in which you can communicate with one another before the sale is complete.
Visit http://www.timesharemarketplace.com for your timeshare all your timeshare information and needs.
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Ben Meckler
TimeshareMarketplace.com
321-250-8887
Email Information
Article source: http://news.yahoo.com/timeshare-owners-unite-fight-back-against-resale-firms-232615182.html
SAN DIEGO – Federal agents are warning of a timeshare scheme that has scammed millions of dollars from owners across the country.
Criminals of the scam target timeshare owners either by phone or email by posing as sales representatives for a resale company, according to San Diego FBI special agent Darrell Foxworth.
Representatives agree to sell the owner’s timeshare within 60-90 days, then pressure owners to act quickly on the deal, Foxworth said. Some victims reported that a buyer was allegedly waiting in the wings, either on the other line or even present in the office.
The owners agree to pay an up-front fee to cover anything from listings, advertising fees, to closing costs, agents said. Victims have paid hundreds to thousands of dollars by providing their credit cards, he said.
Once paid, the resale company avoids calls and emails, sometimes the websites are inaccessible, Foxworth said.
In some cases, owners that were defrauded by the scheme have been subsequently contacted by another timeshare fraud recovery company, agents said. The representative from the recovery company promises assistance with either another up-front fee or no fees unless a refund is obtained for the owner. Investigators said some of these instances involve the same people as the resale company.
The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) recommends owners to use caution and provided the following tips in avoiding the timeshare scheme:
- Be careful of a company that requires an up-front fee for selling or renting your timeshare.
- Check with the Better Business Bureau to ensure the company is dependable.
- Read any sales contract or rental agreement thoroughly.
For victims to file a complaint or provide details about a possibly scam, they should go to IC3’s website. The IC3 database informs law enforcement agencies with the input provided.
Article source: http://www.fox5sandiego.com/news/kswb-timeshare-scheme-scams-millions-from-owners-20120130,0,3820669.story?track=rss
The Dragon is the only one of the Chinese Horoscope signs that isn’t a real animal and as this is the Year of the Dragon, fortunately it’s supposed to represent power, luck and strength.
If you’re planning a pre-summer city break soon, here are six of the world’s most cosmopolitan city centres where Chinese culture plays an important role in the feel and flavour of the city. Some of them are popular destinations for points-owning timeshare owners for a city break in between holidays or a stop off in a hotel in between long-haul flights.
London
London’s Chinese New Year kicked off on January 29th in Trafalgar Square with music, acrobatics, firecrackers and a fair share of colourful and quite friendly dragons! Chinatown is around Soho, next to the theatre district. But originally, London’s Chinatown was in the East End (in Limehouse/Docklands) before it moved to the West End in the fifties. It has become a real foodie destination – most of the best, most authentic restaurants and dim sum bars are based there. The prices are usually lower than in more commercial parts of London and it’s always full of life.
Liverpool, Manchester and other cities also have their own Chinatown districts – often near the port area where Chinese immigrants would land when they first arrived. Their influence has really enhanced the classic British menu – Chinese and Indian food have become part of the British food scene, along with Mediterranean, and more recently, Moroccan, Tunisian, Lebanese and other North African and Arabic influences.
Paris
Paris has 2 Chinatowns or “Quartier Chinois” as the French call them; one of the Chinatowns is in 13 arrondissement and another in Belleville, 20 arrondissement. The original one in the 13th arrondissement is on the Left Bank, around Place d’Italie and the other in the 20th arrondissement, in Belleville, once a depressed neighbourhood but now much more vital – and hip. There is surprisingly little information about these French Chinatowns online, but there’s a great guide to Belleville which is an area many tourists would miss, at http://www.secretsofparis.com/belleville-district
Amsterdam
One of the main influences in Dutch cuisine is Indonesian, because of the country’s history, but there is a small Chinatown bustling with atmosphere in Amsterdam, and it’s located in the Nieuwmarkt area. It’s packed with places to eat, including Thai and Japanese.
New York
If you’ve ever been to one of New York’s massive dim sun restaurants for lunch, you’ll know there’s nothing like it! Huge round tables, trolleys laden with dim sum, and pots of jasmine tea or Chinese beer to wash it all down with. The Lower East Side is a tourist magnet, full of Chinese flavour (sometimes a bit over the top).
If you’re heading to New York this year and want to check out the Chinatown district, there’s a great guide in New York Magazine here: http://nymag.com/guides/everything/27795/
San Francisco
If you thought New York’s Chinatown was the largest outside Asia, it’s not! It’s here. And it also happens to be one of the top tourist attractions – a visit to the city by the bay is incomplete unless you’ve soaked up some of the flavours of this vibrant neighbourhood. You’ll have seen it featured in movies – even the district’s Bank of America is decorated with golden dragons – very appropriate this year, and perhaps a good omen?
If you’re spending a week or two at a timeshare resort in the area, a great idea is to combine time in the city as well as the Napa Valley, an easy drive away.
One of the best website guides is http://www.sanfranciscochinatown.com
Vancouver
Last but not least, there’s a reason why this city’s dubbed Hongcouver. Immigrants flooded into the Pacific coast city before Hong Kong was handed over to China and, just like San Francisco or New York, Vancouver’s Chinatown is a main attraction. There are well over 200 Chinese restaurants in the city. Vancouver’s Chinatown is probably the most authentic – more down to earth and less kitch than New York’s. It’s divided into the merchandise section and market section and is the third largest in North America.
An excellent website covering the history, food, culture and attractions in Vancouver’s Chinatown is http://www.vancouver-chinatown.com/history/history.php run by the area’s merchants and business themselves.
Published Date: Monday, January 30, 2012 12:12 PM
Article source: http://www.gotimeshare.org/news-items/679.aspx
I spent last week in Las Vegas visiting with an old friend. Besides catching up, I also planned to visit a number of timeshare presentations to write a series about what you can expect if you attend the timeshare presentations to get the freebies and the type of manipulation that occurs (and in the process I probably became the first person in history that was actually turned away from a timeshare presentation). In between all of this I looked for other things that might make for a good money related post.
While I was looking, I came to the conclusion that if you are ever going to start a religion, the one to start is with a money God. I sat down to eat some frozen yogurt at the South Point casino and stared in amazement for the next hour as people walked through the casino doors, rubbed the statue’s tummy for good luck and placed coins and bills around the statue. While certainly not on the scale of the annual New Year visit to the God of Wealth in Japan, it just reaffirmed that when people are playing games of chance, they will seek any perceived advantage that they can get and part with additional money if they think it might in any way give them an additional advantage. While this certainly isn’t good money management skills, it does show that if you are ever in the situation to begin a new religion, creating a god of money or wealth is the way to go.
Money Posts of Interest
Here are a few money posts and articles I came across this past week that I thought were interesting:
Are Expensive Batteries Worth The Extra Cost? at Wired Magazine. The detailed and tested results may surprise you.
German Secret to Success (Little debt, frugal habits and a government that is intensely focused on high production, low inflation and extensive social services) at LA Times.
How I make Money on Craiglist at Price Economics. A great, detailed look at how one person has created a business using Craigslist and common sense.
The Story of How I Doubled My Debt (In One Day. Last Week) at Add Vodka (how can you really go wrong with a blog name like that?)
Money Mistakes Smart Moves I Made in College at Young Adult Finances. It’s always good to go back and review what you did right and wrong with your finances, and it never hurts to learn from others.
The Negative of Wealth at Simple Island Living who asks that people learn from their mistakes.
Do You Have the Courage to be Wealthy? at Watson Inc. Most people don’t think of money related issues as having to do with courage, but when you think about it, they certainly can.
Carnival Reading
Some of the money and personal finance carnivals that have listed plenty of posts for those looking for additional reading:
Festival of Frugality hosted by Squirrelers who chose “101 Simple Pleasures That Don’t Cost A Dime” as a Editors Pick.
Carnival of Personal Finance hosted by Matt About Money.
Carnival of Financial Camraderie hosted by Young Adult Finances.
Total Money Carnival hosted by Passive Income to Retire.
Carnival of Financial Planning hosted at Credit Cards Canada.
Yakezie Carnival hosted at Little House in the Valley.
Article source: http://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2012/01/29/109135_money-gods-weekly-round-up.html
“Daytona SeaBreeze is popular resort and the perfect place for a pit stop—especially for race fans attending Speed Weeks at the Daytona International Speedway,” says Harold Channell, General Manager at Daytona SeaBreeze resort.
Boca Raton, FL (PRWEB) January 28, 2012
Bluegreen Corporation (NYSE: BXG), a leading provider of Colorful Places to Live and Play, today announced that that its Daytona Beach timeshare resorts, Daytona SeaBreeze, Fantasy Island Resort II, Florida timeshare resorts, offer exceptional accommodations to sports car racing fans attending the Rolex 24, Gatorade Duel and Daytona 500 at the Daytona International Speedway during Speedweeks.
“Daytona SeaBreeze is popular resort and the perfect place for a pit stop—especially for race fans attending Speed Weeks at the Daytona International Speedway,” says Harold Channell, General Manager at Daytona SeaBreeze resort. He continues, “Everyone here in Daytona Beach is looking forward to providing guests with a relaxing retreat during some very exciting weeks of racing.”
SPEEDWEEKS 2012 EVENTS
For the past five decades the world’s best drivers have been coming from every corner of the globe to put the pedal to the metal and go full throttle for 24 hours on the famed 3.56-mile road course at Daytona International Speedway. The Rolex 24 Grand-Am endurance race competition takes place January 28-29, 2012.
On February 23, 2012, the starting lineup for the 54th annual Daytona 500 will be determined during the Gatorade® Duel. After two 150-mile qualifying races, the top 43 drivers will advance.
The Daytona 500 is biggest, richest and most sought-after NASCAR® event. New legends are born and memories that last as lifetime are made in a 500-mile race around 31-degree high banks for the checkered flag. The Great American Race kicks off the NASCAR race season and takes place on February 26, 2012.
Other Speedweek races include the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200, Budweiser Shootout, Daytona 500 Qualifying presented by Kroger, NextEra Energy Resources 250 and the DRIVE4COPD 300.
Bluegreen’s Daytona Beach resorts are conveniently located on one of the world’s last drive-on beaches. Guests at these Florida timeshare resorts are encouraged to rent a convertible and have some top-down fun while relaxing in oceanfront accommodations.
ABOUT BLUEGREEN CORPORATION
Founded in 1966 and headquartered in Boca Raton, FL, Bluegreen Corporation (NYSE: BXG) is a leading timeshare sales, marketing and resort management company. Bluegreen Resorts manages, markets and sells the Bluegreen Vacation Club, a flexible, points-based, deeded vacation ownership plan with more than 160,000 owners, over 59 owned or managed resorts, and access to more than 4,000 resorts worldwide. Bluegreen also offers a portfolio of comprehensive, turnkey, fee-based service resort management, financial services, and sales and marketing on behalf of third parties. For more information, visit http://www.bluegreenonline.com. See what Bluegreen owners are saying on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
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Article source: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/1/prweb9146118.htm
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