A reader has submitted a possible scam alert about a Hawaiian Limited Partnership, Mauna Loa Vacation Ownership, claiming that she purchased a timeshare interest from the company in late 2010- but that the timeshare was never properly transferred or titled to her name. The reader did not supply any supporting documentation such as an executed purchase agreement or proof of payment, so as with all possible scam warnings- this information should be considered to be an allegation only and readers should always perform their full due diligence to be able to make an informed decision on their own. Follows is an excerpt from the reader's submission:

"...I purchased a timeshare in Dec 2010 with Mauna Loa Vacation Ownership. After months of dealing with the President -John R Stevens title was never transferred and never got my money back. I have filed police reports, reports to his bank and mine to recover funds, and taken him to small claims but supposedly he has left the country so that I am unable to find him. He told the police officer when I filed the report" yes I took her money and no I'm not paying it back or transfering title" direct quote. I just want to let everyone know that this has happened to me and to be aware. I will pursue all legal action available to me in finding this person. It is the principal of the matter. This is embezzelment, wire fraud , breach of contract and other criminal actions.Additional information can be provided if someone is able to help me build a case or find him... Karen N."

According to the Better Business Bureau, the company mentioned above has an A+ rating (Click here for the BBB report) and there are no consumer complaints showing.. However, it does appear that the contact information on the BBB profile page is no longer accurate, as the phone number shown is no longer valid and the address now appears to be the office of Old Republic Title (HERE).

I have left a message with the resort, Mauna Loa Village by the Sea, to see if they have any comments or advice for the reader, but have not yet gotten a reply. I did locate a few other online references to the gentleman mentioned in the readers complaint, Mr. John R. Stevens, but nothing that appears to be very current. He seems to have a long history in timeshare development and sales.

Click HERE to read a 1997 Hawaii Real Estate Commission Meeting Minutes with a discussion involving Mr. Stevens.
Click HERE to read a 2006 Case Summary of a legal dispute between Mauna Loa Vacation Ownership and Accelerated Assets.

If you believe that you have been the victim of any type of consumer fraud perpetrated by Mauna Loa Vacation Ownership, or with any other business involving timeshares- please take the time to report the complaint to the Attorney General's Office for the State of Hawaii by clicking HERE.

I received a statement from the Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi which I'd like to share with readers. It proves that consumers who take the time to report timeshare related fraud do make a difference, as we have seen in the investigation, prosecution, and punishment of numerous individuals who were involved with the Universal Marketing Solutions/Creative Marketing Solutions scheme to defraud. Follows is an excerpt from the AG statement:

"...In 2010, we received more than 12,000 complaints about timeshare resale fraud—more than the next four highest complaint categories combined. Tackling timeshare resale fraud is a top priority in my office. In addition to championing tougher laws to stop timeshare resale fraud, we diligently investigate these types of cases. I am pleased to share that one of our investigations has resulted in a 188-month sentence in federal prison for a woman, Jennifer Kirk, for conspiracy to commit fraud and wire fraud. Kirk, now a resident of Illinois, was operating a timeshare resale scam that stole $30 million from more than 22,000 victims across the country. Kirk owned and operated Universal Marketing Solutions, which later became Creative Vacation Solutions, from October 2007 until December 2009 when my office shut these companies down. The companies were located in and operated out of Palm Beach County.

The complaint states that Kirk employed telemarketers who placed cold calls to timeshare owners and then falsely represented that their company had actual buyers for the owners’ timeshare property. Her telemarketers then solicited advanced fees of up to several thousand dollars from each victim in purported closing costs that they promised would be refunded to the owner once the closing on the property occurred.

According to the complaint, despite collecting fees from approximately $1,200 to $3,000 from each of the 22,000 victims, her companies never sold a single timeshare unit. The complaint also alleged that the defendant and her co-conspirators pocketed the closing costs. My office obtained an injunction and asset freeze against the businesses, which prevented Kirk and the co-defendants from continuing to operate any timeshare or timeshare related businesses and froze all assets related to the businesses named in the complaint.

To date, 11 individuals have been charged in connection with the operation of Creative Vacation Solutions and Universal Marketing Solutions. The federal investigation is continuing into those timeshare resale scams. The United States Postal Inspection Service assisted with this investigation and the United States Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Illinois prosecuted the case.

Florida will not tolerate people who prey on those trying to sell their timeshares. This case is a great example of law enforcement working together to protect consumers...."

See the entire release HERE.

The Attorney General’s Office protects timeshare owners by investigating the business practices of companies that market their services to timeshare owners interested in selling or renting their timeshare interests. Many of these companies charge exorbitant fees and perform very few services. Under Florida law, these companies are called “Resale Service Providers” and are required to provide a written disclosure of the fees and costs relating to advertising, listing, or sale of a timeshare interest, as well as other disclosures. Consumers also should request a contract in writing prior to providing any payment information.

In addition, timeshare owners should be cautious of any business demands any type of upfront fee prior to performing any services. Furthermore, no government entity will require a consumer to pay money up front in order to assist that consumer in pursuing a fraud claim or prior to making attempts to secure a refund for a consumer. Also, please be aware that the Florida Office of the Attorney General does not contract with any third party companies to assist in obtaining refunds or restitution for individuals. If you receive an unsolicited call claiming to be associated Attorney General's office asking for a fee for "timeshare advocacy" services- it is a scam! Should any company imply that they are working with the Florida Office of the Attorney General or at the request of this office, consumers are encouraged to file a complaint.

Meline K, a reader, has just submitted a possible new timeshare scam alert about a company claiming to be operating out of Reno, Nevada under the name of Royal Members Events and Services.

".....This company is also affiliated with Royal Members Events and Services 775-996-5730 at 100 W Liberty Reno NV. This is a SCAM to purchase timeshare. They called me first from Tribal Events and Services, offering 31k to purchase my Puerto Vallarta timeshare and also called me today from Royal Members Events and Services with the same offer. When I called and asked for their license number, they place me on hold forever and then asked for my email address tellin me they will email it to me. I googled the address on thier site ..... and it is an office location without a sign..."

If you believe that you have been the victim of an online scam targeting consumers, please take the time to report the crime to the Federal Bureau of Investigation at http://ic3.gov as well as your state Attorney Generals office. You can find contact information for all the United States Attorneys General at http://naag.org.

Reporting consumer fraud to the proper authorities is the best way to stop it!

_Read the entire article HERE.

"...A federal judge sentenced the architect of a timeshare telemarketing scheme that bilked $30 million from 22,000 victims to more than 15 years in prison Monday, waving off the new mother’s sobbing claims of remorse. U.S. District Judge G. Patrick Murphy rejected Jennifer Kirk’s request for a 12-year term and admonished the 31-year-old New Jersey woman for starting a family even after her scheme had drawn the attention of state and federal authorities...

...Federal prosecutors say Kirk operated Florida-based Universal Marketing Solutions and later Creative Vacation Solutions from October 2007 to December 2009, employing telemarketers who falsely told timeshare owners in unsolicited calls that they had buyers for their properties."

While I'm happy to hear that she is being punished for her crimes with imprisonment, I would have liked to have seen some type of restitution be offered to the victims of her scheme. A fine of $15,000 hardly seems fitting for more than $30 million in consumer fraud. I have to wonder where all that money went, and why more can't be returned to the fraud victims themselves.

A reader has submitted a possible new timeshare scam alert about a company using the name Resort Solution Trust and claiming to be operating out of Largo, Florida.

Aline M. writes "....This is a telephone timeshare resale scam by a high pressure salesman. He led my husband to believe that a person was on the other line to buy our timeshare. he wanted $l,68l.00 to close the deal.He verbally told him okay to this, thinking we would get the final transaction for the sale in the mail. This was put on my Discover card because I didn't have the cash . I received in the mail a transaction which stated that they were going to list our timeshare for possible sales.This company is Resort Solution trust.I had to cancel my charge card after they already had the money. We don't know the legal actions we could take. We have contacted our attorney."

If you believe that you have been the victim of a bait and switch phone scam perpetrated by the company, please take the time to contact the Florida Attorney General and report the crime by clicking HERE.

A reader has submitted a new possible timeshare scam about a company claiming to be operating out of Colorado Springs, Colorado under the name of Corporate Travel Services of America. Currently, the local BBB shows the business as an F Rated company due to the number of consumer complaints received.

Diana K writes "....Corporate Travel Services of America, based on Colorado Springs, CO. Reported to BBB and on various complaint sites after $1369.90 paid as down payment toward a supposed sale contract for my timeshare resulted in company vanishing and my file being dumped on Resorts USA Corp, another eventually unresponsive timeshare company in Texas. Have been contacted by two other victims of same scam and apparently phone line disconnected and website down...."

If you believe that you have also been the victim of a timeshare scam perpetrated by either of these companies, please take the time to report the crime to the following US Attorneys General:

Attorney General of Colorado
File an online consumer complaint by clicking HERE.

Attorney General of Texas
File an online consumer complaint by clicking HERE.

The investigation and prosecution of this type of fraud can be a slow process, but as we have seen with the recent imprisonment of numerous timeshare con artists- reporting timeshare fraud works!

A con artist who defrauded consumers out of more than a quarter million dollars by promising timeshare owners that Universal Marketing Solutions and Creative Vacation Solutions had waiting buyers for their timeshares, and then simply pocketing the upfront fees- has also been sentenced in Federal court.  Ralph Johnson, 34, or Delray Beach- was employed as a telemarketer by the call centers, and is the latest individual to be sentenced to prison as part of the prosecution of more than $30 million estimated in total mail and wire fraud by the companies.

Johnson worked as a telemarketer in the call center in 2009, and according to prosecutors scammed more than $282,000 from 141 victims.  He pleaded guilty in early September to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, was just sentenced last week to spend forty-six months in prison.

This aggressive prosecution of everyone involved in the timeshare resale scam will hopefully deter other individuals from operating or even working for these types of fraudulent upfront fee schemes.