Hang up the phone, do not send any money, Attorney General William Tong said at the time. With the increasing popularity of timeshare properties in Mexico, resale and secondary market issues are also on the rise. These fraudsters can be persistent. They often include statements for clients to initial or sign, where they agree that they have not been offered any promises verbally. There's very likely some problem with the resort. Please carefully review our, 8380 Bay Pines Blvd. Lets take a close look at ways to create the liquidity necessary in your income plan to cover big-ticket items later in retirement, such as long-term care. The Arizona Republic/azcentral.comin partnership withCall For Actioncan investigate. The Procuradura Federal del Consumidor (Office of the Federal Prosecutor for the Consumer), known as PROFECO, is the consumer protection agency designed to protect consumers against abuses or fraud by companies operating in Mexico. 3. File fraudulent documents with state or local officials and even register with their local Better Business Bureau under false names. It is extremely difficult and often impossible to recover money wired abroad, and fraudsters with U.S. accounts can quickly transfer funds overseas. Trust me. New Milford, CT 06776, Telephone: (860) 355-2631 Olsen explains I cant recall a single instance where a client was ever sued. In almost every case, you will lose your money and still be stuck with the timeshare. Often though, timeshare developers in Mexico are very reluctant to provide refunds. This is where a scammer will offer to rent out your Mexico timeshare for an advanced fee. Do not enlist the help of outside companies which could be scammers. Again, this isnt necessarily a scam because it is disclosed to you in the timeshare documents, but it is certainly not a good value. Promise to pay timeshare owners a significant sum of money for their timeshare. I acknowledge that this consent may only be revoked by email notification to info@timeshareexitcompanies.com. They a have a mediation process, and the lawyer at the agency is there to help and assist the consumer. The Phantom Buyer Scam. Provide official looking documents, including contracts and title paperwork. And they did send me the bank statements.". NEW ORLEANS - JESUS ADRIAN LEDESMA BERNAL, a/k/a JSS, age 32, a resident and citizen of Mexico, was sentenced today to 18 months in the Bureau of Prisons after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud by U.S. District Court Judge Jane Triche Milazzo of the Eastern District of Louisiana, announced U.S. Attorney Peter G. Str. However, there is a bunch of examples below that educate you on how to avoid it. My check-in date was April 7, 2023. New York, It doesnt matter if the timeshare is in Mexico, Canada or the United States. Skip to content. Remember that scammers can assume the identities of actual brokers. "They were so sophisticated in how they did it. In some cases, criminals haveposed as Mexican government officials that haveset up afund toassist victims of timeshare fraud, according to the attorney general's office. When you buy a timeshare from a resort developer directly, it almost always decreases in value by 50% or more the second it is purchased. Out of the blue you get a call from a real estate agent in Mexico who has a client offering three times what you paid for it! If you own one of these timeshare properties, the fraudsters may promise to pay you a significant sum of money for your timeshare. Through collaboration between all departments, Villa del Palmar timeshare seeks to resolve customer's problems with the best and most effective means. After waiting a few weeks without receiving a check, Kittleson inquired. Mexican law prohibits timeshare salespeople from offering gifts, free vacation certificates, or any other promotion strategies without informing the consumer of the specific purpose of the offer, but this prohibition doesn't stop salespeople from using this tactic. The FBI Criminal Investigative Division and the Office of Investor Education and Advocacy of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) would like to warn consumers of a recent increase in fraudulent schemes targeting owners of timeshare properties in Mexico. Sending a contact form message through this website does not create an attorney-client relationship with Finn Law Group. Sell your timeshare on the resale market (but expect to . In all of these cases, the agencyis not able to assist the clients because of the one-year limitation. Be wary of hiring lawyers recommended by third parties who make unsolicited offers, as they may not be impartial. It had swim-up pool, small sofa, and a jacuzzi. Mexican National Sentenced to 18 Months for Timeshare Telemarketing Scam Free Consultation Timeshare Scam Hotline Toll Free1-877-316-9181 Most timeshare owners never see it coming. PROFECO (Mexican's Consumer Protection Agency) is an organization of the Mexican government with the objective of protecting consumers against frauds or scams made by companies operating in Mexico. For starters, you should try to join a provider that has experience in the industry such as Villa del Palmar and the Villa Group. Also, be skeptical of any request to wire money in connection with your timeshare. The The timeshare developer then claims that because agencyis involved, the timeshare scam situation needs to be reviewed by their legal department, instead of just processing the refund through their sales department. We are committed to advancing our clients goals while delivering cost-effective legal services. This is another delay tactic, to ensure that the client has no recourse through the agencyto fight against the timeshare developer because they do not try to use it until after one year. Individuals who have been victimized by this type of scam are encouraged to file a complaint with the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center by visiting https://www.ic3.gov. The listed address was for a different tenant. Saint Petersburg, FL 33709. This alert represents the views of the staff of the Office of Investor Education and Advocacy. Darren Kittleson, who has worked in real estate for 30 years, was duped out of more than $24,000 by con artists who offered to buy his week at Garza Blanca Resort in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico. I agree. Next,representatives told him he needed to buy an insurance bond for the bank to release the funds to protect the bank from possible cross-border fraud. Fantastic! you say. Follow her on Twitter at @RebekahLSanders. After attending Loyola University School of Law, H. Dennis Beaver joined California's Kern County District Attorney's Office, where he established a Consumer Fraud section. 152 rentals available $141 - $929/night. Mexico Timeshares | RedWeek This happens because a significant portion of the purchase price goes towards paying the sales staff commission, the sales facilities and the free gifts used to lure vacationers into the timeshare tour. Also, be skeptical of any request to wire money in connection with your timeshare. Do you have a complaint against a business or government agency? Final Defendant Sentenced for Mexican Timeshare Resale Fraud Scheme more +, The New Milford Office Receive Investor Alerts and Bulletins from OIEA byemailorRSS feed. They will claim that some sort of fees will need to be wired to Mexico by the victim in order to continue on with the sale. If you have been the victim of a Mexico timeshare scam, you should file a police report, contact the Mexican authorities and file a complaint with PROFECO along with U.S. authorities at IC3.gov. Mexico Timeshare Scams & Complaints - Avoid a Timeshare Scam It is extremely difficult and often impossible to recover money wired abroad, and fraudsters with U.S. accounts can quickly transfer funds overseas. 4. Submit a Complaint Search Abrupt cancellation of reservation - no compensation - Resort Rental Pros Category: Timeshare Resort Company Name: Resort Rental Pros Posted: May 04, 2023 by Roberta McDade On March 1, 2023, I received confirmation for reservation # 37458071, for property #1978274. Your use of this website constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use, Supplemental Terms, Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. In many cases, the scammers who are based in Mexico use fictitious company names, toll free numbers and a random Colorado business addresses in order to gain the trust of their victims. The fine that Profeco charges to the resort for not attending the hearings or for not resolving the problem, is very small in comparison to the money that they make from not returning the clients hard earned money. Fax: (860) 927-4194, The Danbury Office If you liked this article, please help us to share this information to more people in order to avoid more timeshare scams victims, how? Even if your home state strictly regulates timeshare sales, those state statutes won't apply if you buy a timeshare in another country. Contact me using the button below, or any member of our team, and visit the real estate practice area page for links to content on other important real estate-related issues. Led by timeshare attorneys Michael D. Finn and J. Andrew Meyer with over 75 years of experience, the Finn Law Group is a consumer protection firm that specializes in timeshare related issues. These fraudsters may provide very official looking documents, including contracts and title paperwork. 20,648 reviews. Call the timeshare developer. Fax: (860) 868-9342, What to Expect from Our Attorneys and Staff, A Tribute to Founding Partner Henry B. FBI and OIEA Warn Public that Fraudsters are Targeting Owners of Colorado appears to be a fake hub for various scams targeting timeshare owners most are resale related. Now regional law enforcement agencies are on the lookout for these types of schemes after an Arapahoe County Sheriffs Office investigation revealed a local victim had lost $50,000 to a timeshare telemarketing scam. You don't want to be surprised later by unexpected charges or challenges when you try to book your timeshare or vacation club. Cancun, Mexico. The scammers knew the exact dates of his reservation, seemed to use real Arizona business names and brokers, and sent realistic-looking bank statements. I was trying to scam your reader out of $5,000 for the sale of his timeshare in Cabo San Lucas. In addition, the Colorado Attorney Generals Office has also previously warned consumers about Mexico timeshare scams. Learn more about escrow and why its important here. Once you pay those fees, the scammer will drag out the transaction, claiming delays and then later require more fees on top of what was originally requested. Generally, with Mexican timeshares, you'll receive the right to use one or more units for a specific number of weeks during a certain number of years. Always contact your resort or timeshare developer first before contacting a timeshare exit company. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Timeshare contract purchase scams owner out of $24,000 - azcentral.com Ridgefield, CT 06877, Telephone: (203) 403-4005 Normally, none of the false promises used in the sales pitch for timeshare scams are outlined in writing. 46 West Street The current timeshare owners believe this and buy the Mexico timeshare, and later find out that they still own their current timeshare. AgainKittleson found the names of the companies were real. By James J. Ferraro, JD The blue chip index notched its first win in seven sessions even as Walgreens Boots Alliance spiraled. Mexico Timeshare SCAM Individuals who have been victimized by this type of scam are encouraged to file a complaint with the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center by visiting https://www.ic3.gov. I also consent to use of emails and the use of an automated dialing device and prerecorded messages. 2021 Finn Law Group | Contact: 855-579- 0925 | Powered by: Acute SEO, Finn Law Group maintains this website exclusively for informational purposes. Those yearly fees are pure gravy for management, and now, with COVID, this revenue source has mostly dried up due to unemployment and no one traveling. Federal government agencies and officials in some western states are issuing new warnings about scams targeting owners of timeshare properties, primarily in Mexico, following a rash of similar scams in 2019. Scammers count on your lack of knowledge, so take the time to educate yourself about any offer you receive. How to Cancel a Timeshare With Dreams Resorts? A document with a formal-looking government stamp arrived with what it claimed was his newtax ID. Offer = $31,000.00 USD. The consumer is directed to wire money to accounts in Mexico. TimeshareExitCompanies.com Satisfaction Guarantee, Cancelacin de Tiempos Compartidos en Baha Prncipe, American Resource Management Group Review. An experienced real estate agent is speaking out about a sophisticated scam a trap that ensnared him and could lureothers into paying thousands of dollars to sell their timeshare contracts or reservations. That money is gone forever. (One of my readers, a chiropractor in Toronto, wired $40,000!) A man who used to scam timeshare owners with fictional offers to buy them out comes clean with some inside information. If youre thinking of selling your Mexico timeshare, you should do so with the understanding that you will likely not receive any money for it. Be wary of hiring lawyers recommended by third parties who make unsolicited offers, as they may not be impartial. It is not a rule, regulation, or statement of the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission). The Commission has neither approved nor disapproved its content. Some sellers are even offering to pay the first years maintenance fees just so they can get rid of the timeshare, which would mean a free vacation for you the first year. The other issue is they are telling me that I need to register with Mexico to verify funds. Can Your Retirement Income Plan Cover Unplanned Expenses? 3 helpful votes Vidanta resorts is a scam!! 1994-2023, Mexican Timeshare Solutions is part of TRAVELERS PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANCY SERVICES. Timeshare Scams In Mexico (2023 Update) | Villa Group Scam Review the contract and documents with an attorney. It made sense," Kittlesonsaid. In reality, these are empty threats. Do not buy a timeshare! If you have been scammed by a timeshare resort, do not despair; contactMexican Timeshare Solutions today for a free consultation on how we can use our experience and expertise to negotiate with the resorts from a position of Strength. Representatives told Kittleson he needed tobuy abond for another bank. Be suspicious of any uninvited offers regarding your timeshare, particularly those that seem too good to be true.. I understand that my permission described herein overrides my listing on any state or federal do not call list and any prior listing on the do not call lists of our partners and is optional. Yes, You Can Be the Beneficiary of Your Own Life Insurance Plan, How Writing Your Own Eulogy Can Help With Financial Planning, Retirement Accounts You Should Withdraw From First. Fax: (203) 730-2500, The Ridgefield Office To receive more information about how to cancel your timeshare, send a WhatsApp to +52 332 510 7552, fill the contact or call us at +1 714 277 3662. Martino, who is also known as the Troubleshooter, has this advice for anyone thinking about selling their timeshare in one of these resale schemes: Dont do it! Sept. 17, 2020 The FBI Criminal Investigative Division and the Office of Investor Education and Advocacy of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") would like to warn consumers of a recent increase in fraudulent schemes targeting owners of timeshare properties in Mexico. And a lawyer specializing in helping those with debts they cant pay has some reassuring advice for those struggling to cover their maintenance fees. "They had an answer to everything I asked about," he said. "It was like, 'Oh, I just got scammed.'". PROFECO Is an administrative branch of Mexicos federal government whose purpose is to strengthen consumer rights. It is the equivalent of the Consumer Protection Agency in the U.S., and is quite helpful.
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