Bluegreen Corporation offers timeshare vacation resorts throughout America, Aruba and the Bahamas. In many cases, the fraudsters will take the money and run, leaving the timeshare owner with a worthless contract and no way to get their money back. By continuing your browsing, you agree to the use of cookies. The property is usually managed by the resort in which it is located. - examines patterns of customer complaints, dollars spent and lost, customer reviews, related scams and more to show how predatory companies and scammers take advantage of consumers hoping to score deals on travel. If you suspect that you might be falling victim to fraudulent business practices here in Pinellas County or elsewhere, reach out to your local consumer protection or economic crimes office for help and guidance. Many clients ask whetherowning a timeshare puts you at risk. - If you want an idea of the current value of the timeshare, consider using a licensed timeshare appraisal service. FBI.gov is an official site of the U.S. Department of Justice. Timeshares generally have very little value on the secondary market. Receive Investor Alerts and Bulletins from OIEA byemailorRSS feed. Some say their timeshare became unaffordable after several years of ownership due to increased fees. International: 1-603-516-0200. Newton Group. In most cases, there is no need to pay a commission for a real estate broker's services, when you can easily find a buyer yourself. Whether youve been contacted by a dubious timeshare resale company, or youre simply looking for answers and options to best utilize your vacation ownership investment, the Westgate Legacy Program is here to help. The Resort Owners' Coalition, a program of industry group the American Resort Development Association, has an online resource center for time-share resales with step-by-step advice for consumers. There are so many resale companies out there, as well as lawyers or businesses that they will cancel your ownership. A timeshare involves joint ownership of a propertyusually located within resorts in vacation hotspots (i.e., Florida, Colorado, Mexico). Your owner dashboard is your command center when selling your timeshare. Newton Group can offer multiple options to help you get out of your timeshare contract. Brian Oglesby with the Better Business Bureau told the media that The company would come to them (the victims) and claim that they had a buyer for their land, or they had a buyer on the spot and all they had to do was pay upfront fees.. What you owe will simply be taken out of the buyer's purchase price during the closing process. In truth, no buyers had actually been arranged. Worse, they may still be stuck with a timeshare mortgage that needs to be serviced. Follow this simple process to sell your timeshare ownership hassle-free: SellMyTimeshareNOW offers more than just timeshare resale advertising. One of the leading companies is currently under investigation by the Washington State Attorney Generals office. The AG also permanently banned Scott from engaging in any Florida business related to land and timeshare sales. Sending a contact form message through this website does not create an attorney-client relationship with Finn Law Group. As you can tell, the timeshare industry is its own unique ecosystem. Be wary of high-pressure tactics, which are often indicative of a scam. all fees upfront until services are rendered. Final Defendant Sentenced for Mexican Timeshare Resale Fraud Scheme Press Release. We deal with all major resort developers, and when you buy a timeshare resale you will save huge! BBB tips for anyone considering a timeshare or exit company: timeshare properties, vacation clubs or exit companies and thoroughly read contracts for language about lifetime commitment, heirs' obligations, maintenance fee increases or guarantees. Talk about options! Since timeshares rarely appreciate in value, timeshare resales are often listed for a fraction of the retail price. These company representatives promised a quick sale, often within 60-90 days. Try These Topics How to Execute a Quite Claim Deed Timeshare Transfer, 2023 Westgate Resorts. As part of the conditions of that settlement, the defendant agreed to stop engaging in unfair and deceptive trade practices. Most of these contracts are not investments and may return considerably less than you paid. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. A timeshare resale is a timeshare available for sale by the current owner, rather than by a developer, resort, or other entity. Send us your ownership documents and your most recent maintenance fee bill to ensure your advertisement is as accurate as possible. "We would have never purchased this had we known how much it would really cost.". One of the most common timeshare scams is the timeshare resale scam. This is where a licensed agent can really help, since the only way a timeshare resale can be legally priced in states such as Florida is either by the owner or a licensed agent. Scammers are calling people and using the names of two companies everyone knows, Apple and Amazon, to rip people off. When the buyer failed to complete the sale, Sell My Timeshare NOW was ready to relist the property and find another buyer. . By calling out and denouncing substandard marketplace behaviors of businesses and scammers, this study intends to make consumers smarter and businesses better. Timeshare Resort in Mexico (Photo: Kirt Edblom via Flickr/ CC BY-SA 2.0). If the resort enforces their right, they will buy back the timeshare. Be careful if someone claims they have been provided with a special permit from the SEC there is no such thing. While it may seem like a daunting task, we strive to make the resale process as simple as can be by storing all your documents and correspondence in one convenient location. After being investigated by the Florida Attorney Generals Office, Scott entered into an Auto Voluntary Assurance Agreement (AVC) in 2010. Please select a check-in and check-out date, Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Water Park, River Terrace Resort and Convention Center. 1) Directive 2008/122/EC on the protection of consumer in respect of certain aspects of timeshare, long-term holiday product, resale and exchange contracts was adopted by the EU in January 2009 . Sell My Timeshare NOW can help you by advertising your timeshare on our dynamic website, and we can offer professional guidance through the whole resale process. I tried to sell it on my own on Ebay, but that certainly didn't work. Looking for Related Information? If you are ready to resell your timeshare, SellMyTimeshareNow is ready to assist you. In fact, every day we connect timeshare owners with buyers in more than 217 countries and territories worldwide. Remember that, as our own Michael D. Finn shared some experience with creditcardguide.com. So the sale of the resort timeshare doesn't affect banked weeks. These scams typically involve individuals alleging to be representatives of a brokerage firm, travel agency, title company, or . Images and descriptions depicted may include features, furnishing, and amenities that are subject to change at any time. But timeshares arent for everyonehence the large number of incredibly cheap timeshare resales on the market. He meanwhile would be running things from behind the scenes. Saint Petersburg, FL 33709. If you receive a phone call, an e-mail, mail or other communication regarding your timeshare, keep in mind the following tips and warnings: More information about advance-fee schemes and other online frauds can be found at www.fbi.gov or Investor.gov, the SECs website for individual investors. The vast majority of timeshare exit companies that claim they can get you out of your timeshare are scammers. The Federal Trade Commission has charged the operators of a timeshare reselling scheme with bilking at least $15 million dollars from timeshare property owners by imposing hefty up-front fees based on false promises that they would sell or rent their properties. Need Help With Your Ownership? Using advanced Internet marketing techniques, we target a global audience of consumers, driving thousands of qualified buyers to our site daily through search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. 1 Twitter 2 Facebook 3RSS 4YouTube Many of these companies are under attorney general investigation for allegedly deceiving owners, . And to add insult to injury, some of the complainants reported being contacted by a timeshare fraud recovery company that promised assistance in recovering money lost in the sales scamfor a fee. Scott, the alleged ringleader was also charged with money laundering. Timeshares Only has been helping buyers, sellers and renters of timeshare resale for more than 25 years. BEWARE OF THE MEXICAN TIMESHARE RESALE SCAM By Dennis Beaver | August 28, 2017 | UPDATED: July 30, 2018 - see this website at https://www . If someone offers you investment products or services, such as offering to act as a. SellMyTimeshareNow.com offers more than just timeshare resale advertising; we work with you to get your timeshare seen and sold. ", "When I decided to sell my timeshare, I had no idea about how to go about doing this and of course who to trust. The process could not have been easier. A Texas man paid nearly $3,000 upfront to a timeshare exit company he thought looked legitimate. The OAG will be seeking a court order requiring compliance. When you subscribe to our services, we work to get your timeshare seen and sold. Some timeshare-related businesses, however, treat consumers ethically, resulting in positive experiences for buyers and owners. The fee for this service is usually around US $25. I am not an expert but it appears that they should fall under the requirements of the relatively new Florida statute 721.20: 9)(a) Prior to listing or advertising a timeshare interest for resale, . "We thought we would be able to give it to our children someday or sell it for extra money for our retirement, and the (timeshare) sales team made us feel like all of this was possible," she said. Scott was also prohibited from operating his timeshare and land resale operation. For information regarding our accessibility policy, please review our Accessibility Policy. My husband and I were scammed by another timeshare resale company, Equity Financial Services. Let BBB help you resolve problems with a business, Research and report on scams and fraud using BBB Scam Tracker, Learn more about the value of BBB Accreditation, Timeshares and vacation clubs are often synonymous with high-pressure sales. In the IC3 complaints, perpetrators telephoned or e-mailed timeshare owners who, in many instances, had advertised their desire to sell in industry newsletters and websites. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Talk to an attorney in the state where the timeshare is located to learn about relevant laws. The victimsmostly owners trying to sellwere scammed by criminals posing as representatives of timeshare resale companies or by actual employees of companies that were committing fraud. Months and even years tick by with no sale in sight, however, as owners continue to pay annual maintenance fees. Typically, timeshare properties are located in resorts or condominiums in desirable vacation destinations. Scammers count on your lack of knowledge, so take the time to educate yourself about any offer you receive. Tuesday, February 15, 2022 . U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of California, Domestic Violence, Child Exploitation, and Human Trafficking Prevention, Final Defendant Sentenced for Mexican Timeshare Resale Fraud Scheme, Former Financial Advisor Sentenced for Scheme to Steal Funds from Elderly Bank Customers, Connecticut Woman Sentenced for Social Security Benefit Fraud Scheme in Stockton, East Bakersfield, Delano, and Elsewhere, Former State Employee Sentenced to 12 months in Prison for Role in $2 Million Scheme to Defraud the Office of AIDS. Once . 2023, International Association of Better Business Bureaus, Inc., separately incorporated Better Business Bureau organizations in the US, Canada and Mexico and BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust, Inc. All rights reserved. In Business Since 2003 - Work with one of the industry's oldest and most trusted timeshare resale companies. DON'T GET SCAMMED BY THIRD PARTIES! Please upgrade your browser. SellMyTimeshareNOW.com is an active timeshare resale marketplace and the best place to sell a timeshare. To avoid being scammed, its essential to do your research and choose a reputable timeshare exit company. Our advertising and marketing efforts have resulted in offers and successful timeshare sales for our customers time and time again. We lost about $2200 in upfront fees. With so many scams targeting unsuspecting consumers, its more important than ever to be vigilant and informed when making decisions about your real estate property. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience and save your preferences. These fraudsters can be persistent. We want you to be aware of a growing number of timeshare exit companies that are inundating owners with direct mailings, telemarketing, and seminar invitations. Several timeshare resale companies have come under investigation for fraudulent practices in recent years. In one version of the scam, you get a call and a recorded message that says it's Amazon. Customize your images, text, ownership details, and more! Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Timeshare scams are a growing concern in the industry. If you need clarification on whether a company is legitimate, do your research and ensure that you understand the contracts terms and conditions before you sign anything. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. Owning a timeshare comes with many perksprimarily access to a swanky resort in a place that you love. Let one of our friendly real estate professionals help you buy, sell, or rent your timeshare. Be realistic about what you can get for your timeshare. If you make the deposit, the fraudsters will likely devise additional reasons to demand money in advance of the closing, which never occurs. In some situations, timeshare owners are told that, to obtain the promised payments, the owners must pay a tax or fee. Feel free to contact us for a free consultation and to speak with an attorney. For those who prefer it, broker assistance is available through our affiliate Timeshare Broker Services. In cases where the fraudsters pose as stock brokers, they may assume the identities of real registered brokers without the true brokers knowledge. American Resort Development Association (ARDA), , timeshare trade association - email customerservice@arda.com. Hassle-Free Closing Process - Expert assistance to finalize your timeshare sale. Contact your timeshare resort, developer, or manager, who may be aware of a new or ongoing scam and may have resources to help you determine whether a particular person or entity is legitimate. We were given this picture of traveling the world in the easiest, cheapest way possible. With the sun out and their guard down, vacationers can quickly find themselves on the hook for a life-long commitment. This website uses cookies to improve your digital experience. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. The study - Unpacking timeshare and vacation club sales- examines patterns of customer complaints, dollars spent and lost, customer reviews, related scams and more to show how predatory companies and scammers take advantage of consumers hoping to score deals on travel. In a first of its kind investigation, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) discovered 10 timeshare exit companies in Missouri scamming . Be aware that scammers may be located far away from where they pretend to operate. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you. But some skilled sellers continue to talk buyers into unfavorable deals that often worsen when desperate investors try to offload purchases through the timeshare exit industry. DALLAS Eight residents of Florida were arrested or self-surrendered over the past few days on charges outlined in a federal indictment returned by a grand jury in Dallas last month and unsealed last week. An investigation is usually triggered by an unusual volume or pattern of consumer complaints filed against a timeshare company. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. AddThis sets this cookie to ensure that the updated count is seen when one shares a page and returns to it, before the share count cache is updated. A Maryland woman told BBB years of previously undisclosed maintenance fees and better vacation options led her family to want to sell their timeshare. Your form has been successfully submitted. Led by Attorneys Michael D. Finn and J. Andrew Meyer with over 75 years experience, the Finn Law Group is a consumer protection law firm that specializes in timeshare related matters. The Commission has neither approved nor disapproved its content. Thats what consumer protection investigators uncovered after a two year investigation into a coordinated criminal telemarketing operation. Be cautious of companies that use high-pressure sales tactics, require upfront fees, or make false promises. If they do not, you can sell your timeshare privately, or through a resale company. Leading up to and after the 2016 settlement, Scott allegedly took steps to conceal and disguise his involvement with another telemarketing operation as he set up new companies under the names of his employees. We researched the best companies from which to buy and sell timeshares based on fees, reputation and services. And complaints to BBB reveal exit companies often fail to honor money-back guarantees. Complaints about timeshare resale companies in Florida jumped from 800 in 2007 to more . Read through these frequently asked questions to see how easy reselling timeshare can be when you work with a smart and reliable timeshare resale advertising company like Sell My Timeshare NOW. This website uses cookies to ensure that you get the best experience on our website. Privacy Policy CA Privacy Policy | Accessibility Policy | Do Not Sell My Personal Information | Terms & Conditions. This guide will take you step-by-step through where to start, what to avoid, and how to get your timeshare sold with ease. Set by addthis.com to determine the usage of addthis.com service. As in the above-mentioned Miami case, the FBI can become involved when theres evidence that the fraud extends across state lines (usually wire or mail fraud on the part of the perpetrators) and/or involves a large number of victims, large dollar losses, and an organized criminal enterprise. Founded in 2003, SellMyTimeshareNow was created to help owners sell their unused timeshares. . Before you agree to any service that promises to reduce your maintenance fees on your vacation property, make sure you understand the terms and conditions of the agreement and that you are comfortable with the companys reputation and process. - Ask if the resellers agents are licensed to sell real estate where your timeshare is located (verify this with the states real estate commission), and get references. Timeshare resale companies will make you believe that your timeshare has value, and all you need to do is pay them an up-front "listing" or "advertising" fee to sell the timeshare. "The creditor doesn't care that you bought a timeshare," Rogers says. Bluegreen Corp. Read 808 Reviews. From unforgettable getaways to exclusive events, we help members make a habit of breaking from their routine. The answer is uncertain, but you can minimize the risk by consulting your lawyer before signing on the dotted line. SACRAMENTO, Calif. Juan Carlos Montalbo, 59, of San Antonio, Texas, was sentenced today to two years in prison for a conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a timeshare fraud in Mexico, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. 3.) You can report timeshare resale scams to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Federal Trade Commission as follows: Federal Bureau of Investigation Minneapolis Office 1501 Freeway Boulevard Brooklyn Center, MN 55430 (763) 569-8000 www.fbi.gov. They work on a flat fee with no money upfront - low monthly payment options available. It is important to verify the identity of the person who contacts you by independently searching for the persons or firms website and checking that the contact information listed there is consistent with the contact information the person provided you. In March of 2013, Bondi's office sued multiple Florida timeshare resale companies for unfair and deceptive trade practices. Timeshare scams are a growing concern in the industry. 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. At the FTC's request, a federal court temporarily halted the operation and froze . Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew G. Morris prosecuted the case. Get Started. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. And, while they're easy to get intothese contracts are incredibly difficult to escape, according to a. - Ask about fees and timing. It is extremely difficult and often impossible to recover money wired abroad, and fraudsters with U.S. accounts can quickly transfer funds overseas. Most of these contracts are not. Stop paying. Help us protect your privacy, please do not include in your message any sensitive personal information such as credit/debit card number, bank/checking account number, social security number, driver's license number or equivalent data. They kept me informed the entire way. ", "We contracted with SellMyTimeshareNOW in DecemberSellMyTimeshareNOW was very honest with us regarding what we could realistically expect to receive in terms of selling price, and we successfully sold our unit in Maywe are grateful to SMTN for their efforts on our behalf. With over 18 years in business and 2.6 million registered users, we have facilitated thousands of rental and sale transactions. If so, SellMyTimeshareNow.com can help you sell your brand-affiliated timeshare in a quick and efficient manner. Thank YouYour form has been successfully submitted. Donate to ROC. The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) is a trade association that represents the timeshare and vacation ownership industry in the United States. Whats the FBIs role in these kinds of cases? It does not store any personal data. They may also use fake testimonials and false promises of quick and easy sales to lure people in. Additionally, calling your developer is a great way to see if they have any in-house options or recommendations for legitimate timeshare resale companies.
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