Scam Alerts!
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Scroll down this page to search and view possible scam alerts that are reported by our readers! You can also search using the categories list or the text box tool.
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A reader has submitted a possible new timeshare scam alert using the name Express Timeshare Financial Services. The reader reports receiving a telemarketing call stating the telemarketer has a buyer for their Silverleaf timeshare. They were then sent a "purchase agreement" showing a financed sale in the inflated amount of $56,000. The contract did not provide any contact information for the company, the closing agent, the buyer, and also appears to contain a generic fake verification seal as an attempt to create validity for the buyer's "signature". The timeshare owner did not believe this was a legitimate timeshare reseller, and thus submitted the scam alert to warn other consumers.
A simple online search using the same business name showed another timeshare scam alert was posted to a popular timeshare discussion board. At that time, the scam attempt appeared to be targeting a consumer who owns a timeshare out of Mexico, and was using the common fraud tactic of faking closing costs and taxes- claiming these fees had to be paid in advance by the seller. If you believe you have been a victim of fraud perpetrated by this company or individual- please report the crime and provide details of the communication to the FBI Internet Crime division at https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx Did this alert help you? If so, please consider donating one dollar to help fund this website! A reader reported that they received an unsolicited "offer" to rent their timeshare ownership with the Grand Mayan resorts located in Mexico. As is common with the fraudulent schemes targeting consumers who own timeshares located in Mexico, the "offer" includes a monetary amount that is simply far from any realistic rental value. When consumers accept the bait, they are then told that government taxes and certificates must be purchased before funds can be released to them. The offer appears to come from a brokerage located in New York City using the name MB Realty LLC, but no brokerage using that names shows as registered with the state. The Better Business Bureau does have a listing, which shows two consumers posted complaints claiming the business is operating as a timeshare related scam.
If you have been approached by this individual or organization, or if you believe you have been the victim of fraud perpetrated by the business, please report the crime to the FBI Internet Crime division. Did this alert help you? If so, please consider donating one dollar to help fund this website! Kristopher Chavez was convicted in 2018 by a Boulder County jury of one count of violating the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act, one count of theft of an at-risk elder, and 19 counts of felony theft. At his sentencing hearing, he learned the high cost of his actions when he was sentenced to twelve years in prison.
According to the initial grand jury indictment released in December 2016, Chavez and his accomplice Timothy Hatcher operated a time-share fraud scheme from 2014 through September 2016 using the name "Timeshare Rescue". Investigators said Hatcher would contact time-share owners across the U.S. — most of them elderly — and invite them to a seminar at a local hotel, where he would pitch a proposal wherein the owners would pay a onetime fee to transfer ownership of their time-share. The timeshare owners would sign a Power-of-Attorney form and pay a large upfront fee believing that this would allow them to escape the lifetime financial obligation of their timeshares. However, the con artists would simply pocket the money and no transfers were completed. Using the POA, the thieves were able to divert past due notifications and billing invoices, so the consumers were unaware the timeshare ownerships had not been transferred. Timeshare Exit companies have become more common as a larger number of timeshare owners find out how difficult it can be to divest of a lifetime of costs. Some timeshare developers have historically worked to restrict and diminish timeshare resales, perhaps inadvertently helping to make the secondary market a morass of misinformation and scams. With few viable options, timeshare owners are easy targets to telemarketing schemes and con artists who steal millions, primarily from the elderly. Consumers continue to be given mixed messages, as even well known consumer advocates like Dave Ramsey often recommend a timeshare exit strategy as the best way to escape the industry. Timeshare developers have been trying to fight back by suing these third-party companies, but ever increasing timeshare maintenance fees keep pushing more desperate consumers over the edge. Did this alert help you? If so, please consider donating one dollar to help fund this website! I was recently contacted by another timeshare owner reporting a very common telemarketing scam and realized it has been some time since the last scam alert was posted for this technique. The timeshare owner sent in a great summary of the cold call sales pitch, and did a great job of vetting the fraud attempt! As always, stay up to date with free timeshare scam alerts and keep yourself protected from timeshare related telemarketing scams!
"....On Oct. 10, 2018 at1:04 pm, I was contacted from Toni at 321-247-9981 telling me they were calling about my Vacation Village Resort Property pertaining to rental offers for 2018-2019. She went on to explain that we had Getaway weeks expiring and could earn an income from them. I told her I did not understand the Getaway Weeks so she referred me to a specialist, Sara. Sara told me I could earn $1400/wk. It would also cost me $300/wk to do this. I was told I had 4 weeks expiring. Sounds good, doesn't it? Because I didn't quite understand the Getaway Weeks, I searched it and came across an article on RCI Getaway Weeks scam. I immediately called RCI. They do not offer rental of your Getaway Weeks....." Did this alert help you? If so, please consider donating one dollar to help fund this website! An Orlando man is accused of running a nationwide timeshare scheme out of an apartment, according to an arrest report.
David Santrell Jolly, 37, ran Global Contract Resolutions out of an apartment, through which authorities said he defrauded at least 13 timeshare owners out of more than $88,000, the arrest report stated. Investigators said Jolly posed as a legitimate real estate agent and would get in touch with victims to pretend that he was selling their timeshare. He would then demand upfront payments for the promised timeshare release which never materialized. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced May 4 that the operators of Pro Timeshare Resales LLC will surrender $3.4 million worth of assets and be permanently banned from timeshare resale services and telemarketing after a settlement.
The settlement resolves allegations that the defendants conducted a business scam in which they would call timeshare property owners and claim to have a buyer or renter ready to purchase or rent properties. All the timeshare property owners had to do was fork over $2,500 in advance fees. According to the FTC, the defendants would take these advance funds and then never deliver on their promises. The FTC voted 2-0 to approve the stipulated final order, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Orlando Division, and has been signed by a judge. The order settles charges against Jess Kinmont; John P. Wenz, Jr.; Pro Timeshare Resales of Flagler Beach LLC; Pro Timeshare Resales, LLC; and J. William Enterprises, LLC, doing business as Pro Timeshare Resales. The Florida Office of the Attorney General, the Florida Department of Agricultural & Consumer Services, and the Better Business Bureau of Central Florida assisted in the case. Adrian Abramovich of Miami admitted using spoofed robocalls to sell people timeshares and vacation packages through international call centers. Abramovich impersonated companies like Expedia and TripAdvisor, trying to “trick unsuspecting consumers into answering and listening to his advertising message.” He’d make the calls appear to come from local numbers to increase the likelihood those he called would answered. The operation made more than ninety-six million calls over a three month period. The fine is the largest yet levied for an illegal telemarketing operation.
More action needs to be taken to control an illegal industry that blatantly disregards US laws. One commissioner was quoted as saying, “... Going after a single bad actor is like emptying the ocean with a teaspoon—and right now we’re all wet...” If you receive any unsolicited telemarketing call regarding a timeshare, simply hang up the phone. No legitimate broker or rental agency operates from black market lists through telemarketing. They are all SCAMS! View the full press release HERE. The New Mexico Real Estate Commission is advising consumers to be on the lookout for telemarketing cold calls from an unlicensed business entity purporting to be a full service property management company, real estate brokerage or title and escrow company that lists and sell timeshares. The con artists are falsely identifying themselves to consumers using the names and license numbers of actual New Mexico real estate brokers, unbeknownst to those brokers. The company claims to be a New Mexico company, R-5 Realty, but cites a false business address in the Albuquerque area. When consumers respond to the solicitation, they are directed to forward various upfront transaction fees to an out of state or out of country, escrow company.
“We have received a surge of inquiries from consumers who have been contacted by a company that represents itself as R-5 Realty. R-5 Realty is not licensed by the real estate commission, said Mike Unthank, Superintendent of New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department. “Timeshare fraud is a serious crime, which can cost consumers thousands of dollars.” If you own a timeshare, please be advised to question any offers to help you sell it..." Common lies are:
In New Mexico, getting paid for selling other people’s timeshares is an activity which requires a real estate license. If you receive a call from someone claiming to be a broker with an offer on your timeshare, you may check with the real estate commission to verify whether or not the caller is a licensed real estate broker at (800) 801-7505. The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers about a timeshare scam that lures victims by offering lucrative prices for those reselling a property. The scam uses the name and address of Resort Network Services LLC, which claims to be based in Raleigh, N.C. However, an investigation by the BBB serving Eastern North Carolina revealed that the real Resort Network Services dissolved in 2009.
The scam company is targeting people throughout the United States and Canada who are looking to resell a timeshare property. Targets were asked to wire thousands of dollars to Mexico under the guise paying “title fees,” “transfer fees,” “foreign investment fees” and other phony charges. The BBB of Eastern North Carolina originally became aware of the scam when a consumer contacted them about the company, assuming it was based in their area. Since then, BBB has received several Scam Tracker reports about the con. A Williamsburg lawyer has been sentenced to 50 months in prison for a participating in a timeshare scheme from 2011 to 2013. Deborah Wagner, 45, was sentenced to over four years in prison and one year of supervised release Thursday morning in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in Norfolk, according to court records.
Her prison sentence will begin Sept. 9, documents state. Wagner was a partner at the law firm of Wagner & Hyman in Williamsburg. Prosecutors believe she used the law firm as a front to conduct a timeshare transfer scheme from 2011 to 2013. According to a government press release (read the full release by clicking HERE), Ms. Wagner participated in a timeshare scheme with Keith Kosco, Julie Duffield, Brendan Hawkins and others. Keith Kosco owned and operated a number of entities involved in travel, tourism and timeshare businesses including Resort Realty, Inc., Resort Solutions, Inc., and Exotic Equity Transfers, LLC (EET). Brendan Hawkins owned and operated another timeshare transfer business known as GoodBye Timeshares (GoodBye). Both businesses offered timeshare transfers in exchange for upfront fees. Desperate timeshare owners who were otherwise unable to escape the financial obligation of the timeshare ownership would pay for a service to have the unwanted timeshare deeded out of their name. It was represented to the seller of the timeshare that clean title would pass to the new owner with no further obligations of timeshare ownership (including maintenance fees) once the transfer was complete. |
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