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The FTC and state consumer protection agencies have shut down dishonest timeshare resellers for bilking timeshare owners out of millions of dollars. If you’re selling a timeshare, listen carefully for the promise of lots of money quickly and a request for an upfront fee. Those are two key signs of timeshare resale scam — and someone you don’t want to do business with.     

In one recent case, Vacation Property Services claimed to represent big-name companies eager to buy timeshares for business travel and events. The company guaranteed timeshare owners hefty returns if they moved quickly on the offer. But first, the company said the owner had to pay from $500 to $2,000, via credit card, in “registration” and other fees to seal the deal.

Timeshare Resale Scams Infographic

Timeshare Resale Scams
Infographic

The company’s promises of ready buyers, fast sales, big profits and money-back guarantees turned out to be lies. What’s more, the timeshare owners were stuck with debt on their credit cards from paying the “fee” after the company told them that the sale would be complete — and that they’d have their money — by the time the credit card bill came.

If you own a timeshare, question any offers to help you resell it. Be skeptical of companies that:

  • claim the market in your area is “hot” and that they’re “overwhelmed” with buyer requests
  • say they have buyers ready to purchase your timeshare — or promise to sell your timeshare within a specific time
  • guarantee you’ll get big returns on your resale
  • require you to pay fees upfront — even if there’s the promise of a “money-back guarantee”
  • don’t provide a contract — or provide a contract that doesn’t accurately reflect conversations you had   

Read about buying and selling a timeshare, or check out our infographic to see how timeshare resale scams typically work.

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The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.

  • We won’t post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions.
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  • We won’t post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity.
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We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission.

ebm
August 30, 2019

In reply to by Jorge Argentina

hola estoy en la misma situación me gustaría comunicarme con vos, soy de argentina
sandra
August 07, 2019

In reply to by Grace

hola buenas noches de donde sos ? soy de argentina estoy en la misma situacion
PABLO
August 24, 2019

In reply to by Grace

Estimada Grace estoy en igual situación con TRAVEL RIGTH LCC Y ECSG , soy de Uruguay, me interesaría contactarnos a fin de ver la forma de recuperar el dinero que nos defraudaron. Cuento con buena información del SAT de México. pablochocho52@gmail.com
Ronny R
December 10, 2019

In reply to by Grace

Yo igualmente fui victima de Travel Right y Equity Closing Services Group. Si alguien tiene la posibilidad o la intención de establecer una demanda colectiva me pueden contactar 506 7101 0602. Gracias
Carrascal
August 23, 2020

In reply to by Grace

Por favor ,estamos en las mismas condiciones .como nos contactamos ?
Fighter2
August 22, 2014
Property Connect, Chicago and Transfer Group Inc, Carpentersville (Escrow company) seem to be involved in a SCAM. They offered to buy my Unlimited Vacation Club membership for more than I paid for. They definitely know all the details about the contract! Agree with Patty - someone inside UVC, or former UVC employees must be involved. These people MUST be stopped!! DO NOT wire any money!!! DO NOT believe them, even if they sound very professional and give you Broker License No., etc., etc. It is a SCAM! Please complain to UVC and also send a complaint to the Attorney General and to BBB. Let's stop them!
Preocupado
March 08, 2019
Igual que todos, una buena propuesta, CONOCEN toda la informacion que diste al comprar, y actuan igual, te exigen pagos y si no lo das amenazan de litigio internacional, sus pantallas de informacion de sus empresas en USA , sus paginas y presentaciones estan bien estructuradas, pero JAMAS presentan datos de quien trabaja ahi, OJO no creas que alguien te pagara mas de lo que vale, pide identificacion y que te mande de inmediato su ubicacion por whatsApp con eso dejaran de molestar si fueran falsos
Juan
March 20, 2019
Al igual que la mayoría de los comentarios en este Blog, a mi tambien me contactaron con el mismo tipo de fraude de las empresas Kansas City Brokerage Inc. y de la compañia Title Accounting Services Co. de Chicago, para que tengan cuidado!
Curious
August 25, 2014
I got the same offer as patty. The salesman on the phone was obnoxious (high pressure). They keep calling me, but i don't answer. The offer is nice, but it seems to require 6% from me; conditions are unclear at this point (they have asked me to sign a letter of intent, which I have not done. Has anyone out there actually gone through with the offer? Did you get scammed?
KNLP
September 16, 2014

In reply to by Curious

Yes - my husband and I went through with Property Connect. It's absolutely a scam. We are now out over 10K. We're following up with the Attorney General and the FBI.
juank
September 18, 2019

In reply to by Juan

me esta contactando Kansas City Brokerage por un tiempo compartido que tenia y que cancele hace como 3 años Yo digo que es fraude que podrían decirme
KNLP
September 16, 2014

In reply to by Curious

A brief update. My husband just spoke with James Ross (his contact information is easily located through the real estate company that sponsors his license)- he does not work for Property Connect and has never worked for Property Connect. If anyone else has been scammed by Property Connect, please call the FBI, the FTC, and the Attorney General. These people need to be jailed. Not only have they stolen money, but they have stolen an identity. This is not okay.
Jagerhaus
September 04, 2014
I got the same thing last week from Property Connect LLC from Illinois for my UVC membership. The agent, Candice Cole, even offered me their Illinois Secretary of State business license number (which exists). I got the whole story about the Hong Kong company and how I just needed to sign the letter of intent. My funds would be held in escrow until the due diligence was complete, then I would receive my money MINUS the 6% commission. Sounds easy. No cost to me. But, now thanks to this forum I know that they will tell me my money won't be released from escrow until I send some fees or taxes. I had been contacted the week prior by another company, Property Management & Advertising Consultants Inc. from Mobile Alabama. The agent was David Gomez. I had mentioned to Candice at Property Connect LLC that I had a better offer from David at MAC Inc. and she insisted that I should check on their business and brokers license in Alabama because she is sure they are a fraud. I checked. They are registered in Alabama just like Property Connect LLC is in Illinois. The Alabama outfit had the EXACT same story as the Illinois outfit; even a Hong Kong buying company and no cash upfront with commisions taken from the escrow final sale. They are all aggressive and seem super sketchy. So, we all know about Property Connect LLC in Chicago. Has anyone dealt with Management & Advertising Consultants Inc. from Mobile, Alabama?
tomtom
September 05, 2014

In reply to by Jagerhaus

Very interesting......and frustrating. I have been dealing with Property Connect and Transfer Group for the past several weeks -- trying to sell a UVC contract to a Chinese buyer. They have sent lots of official looking docs, including a form purportedly from the Mexican SAT (tax) office to cover a 16% sales tax, and an insurance invoice (on AIG letterhead) for a premium of $3528 to cover Banco de Mexico "underwriting" risk associated with their approval of the wire transfer of funds to me. They claim that all this is being reimbursed by the Buyer and they are supposed to be sending me a bank statement today to verify the funds. I have already wired $1750 to Transfer Group, which is supposed to cover a 10% transfer fee to UVC, and an additional $1850 to cover a portion of the 16% SAT tax. Now they are asking for the insurance premium mentioned above. While I would love to get rid of this contract, I don't feel very smart right now! Anyone else?
KNLP
September 16, 2014

In reply to by tomtom

Exact same thing for us. Don't send any more money.
Scammed 2
June 22, 2015

In reply to by tomtom

Tom Tom: Sounds like a carbon copy of what I just went through. Everything you said is exactly like I experienced. I wired over $5000to these idiots and now I am fighting to get them back. I had another company call last week from Minnesota and I told them to go scam someone else.
Dare-to-care
September 05, 2014

In reply to by Jagerhaus

I think they will call back and offer you more money! - same happened to me. These people call under different company names and they change their own names frequently. I got calls from a James A. Ross Property Connect LLC in Chicago. I checked his Broker License no. and it exists…?? Got also calls from a Tim or Jim Clarke, Property Connect LLC. Don't know anything about Management & Advertising Consultants, - but received calls from Mark Mendoza of Mid-West Global Advisors several weeks ago with a similar offer. According to other comments on the internet, they might be involved in the same scam. A note to Unlimited Vacation Club (UVC) members; Received 2 calls from an apparent UVC agent last week inquiring membership details, etc. Called UVC to check if they did initiated the call, they said NO.
Federico
March 21, 2019
Me llamaron de New York City Brokers. Me dijeron que hay una cartera de un inversionista interesado en comprar 40 tiempos compartidos en México. Me hicieron una buena oferta. Me enviaron una carta de intención. Me habló un representante de Prestige Title and Closing en Missouri, según esto resguarda una cuenta ESCROW o fideicomiso y ya tiene depositado el dinero del comprador y el pago del traspaso. Todo parece bien, hasta que me enviaron el contrato ( QUE POR SUPUESTO NO FIRME ) en donde me dicen que deposite la comisión en una cuenta. Por adelantado nunca, les dije. Jamás hay que dejarse llevar por la emoción de un negocio fácil y jugoso. Tengan mucho cuidado y no caigan..
dougmn
September 07, 2014
I'm in the middle of the same deal with Property Connect and Transfer Group. It all sounds too good to be true (they're offering double what I paid for my timeshare). It was supposed to be no money up front, but now they want the penalty fee that I'll be charged for selling by UVC, which they claim they will reimburse to me. This thing has seemed fishy all along and given the thick accents and clearly fake names the reps are giving me, plus the sketchiness of their company's physical presence, I'm going to pull the plug. Too bad I already spent $600 on lawyer fees to check this out before they asked for money up front.
Redeye
September 08, 2014
PHONE NUMBER BEING USED BY PROPERY CONECT LLC IS (872)225-0748. I agree with they must be calling so many they can't keep their info straight. They do call persistently. Hong Kong company is legit but probably doesn't even know they are being used. UVC insider sounds correct as they have every bit of my info. I had researched earlier but not found this blog. The last call sounded to be overseas and the information was confused, so it was time to check further. Thanks everyone..didn't lose a dime to this and with my way of speaking they won't be calling back after our next contact. They are criminal it's no holds barred now.
RJRamírez
March 22, 2019
Estoy en la misma situación con 2 compañias domiciliadas en EEUU. Si fuera posible lo ideal sería organizarnos como grupo y tratar de establecer la demanda grupal como estafa ante las autoridades competentes en EEUU.
Guillermo
March 18, 2020

In reply to by RJRamírez

Hola si tenemos que organizarnos. hablemos, te paso mi telefono comercial 011 4764 4920 si no estoy dejar mensaje.
Rosa
September 07, 2019

In reply to by RJRamírez

Estoy en la misma situación. Creo que es conveniente que nos unamos para hacer la denuncia ante las autoridades competentes.
Rosa
September 09, 2019

In reply to by RJRamírez

Me interesa la propuesta. Estoy denunciándolos ante la Interpol y el FBI en estos momentos.
NINOSKA PACHECO
October 21, 2019

In reply to by Rosa

POR FAVOR DIME COMO TE CONTACTO, SOY NINOSKA DE VENEZUELA ESTAFADA CON UN MONTO DE 80.000 DOLARES, ESTOY CONFORMANDO EQUIPO PARA TRABAJAR EN ELLO Y RECUPERAR NUESTRO DINERO POR FAVOR. MI INSTAGRAN ES : ninoskapa. ME URGE EL MAYOR APOYO, gracias
NINOSKAPA
July 15, 2020

In reply to by Rosa

UN PLACER ESCRIBIRLE. PUDO LOGRAR ALGO CON ITERPOL Y FBI RESPECTO A LOS ESTAFADORES DE TRAVEL RIGHT Y EQUITY CLOSING SERVICES GROUP. MI ISNTAGRAM NINOSKAPA, SI PODEMOS COMUNICARNOS POR AHI, SE LO AGRADEZCO.
gbowers
September 09, 2014
Thanks for the information. I have called UVC and they said that the owners of the membership is public knowledge by law so Property Connect can get your information by requesting it. I looked at the Property Connect web site and the bbb of Illinois and there was nothing about them positive or negative. I am glad that I did more research and will not do business with them. The last thing I want is to fall for a scam. I am wondering if there is any place to sell my UVC membership without getting a scam.
Ernesto
March 28, 2019
Pues miren que yo he intentado realizar la venta de mis tiempos compartidos en el hotel que lo adquirí (tanto el mio como el de mi padre), me dijeron que debía esperar a que se presentara la oportunidad de venderlo pero que mientras tanto debía seguir pagando las cuotas de mantenimientos. Luego de 2 años insistiendo con el hotel Royal, me contacto la empresa de New York, me hicieron una oferta que no podía dejar pasar, me explicaron como era el proceso y decidí confiar en ellos. Gracias a Dios, he recibido mi dinero intacto, ni un peso mas, ni un peso menos. Solo tuve que pagar una comisión por medio de una compañía de títulos en Missouri, la cual me hizo el deposito en mi cuenta a los 2 días de haber realizado el pago. Me quitaron dos problemas económicos de encima, ya que adquirir tiempos compartidos es de lo peor, si uno puede vacacionar por otros medios y mucho mas barato.
Zigli use su d…
June 29, 2019

In reply to by Ernesto

Hola Ernesto como contactas a la empresa para vender la membresía? Y si te pagan todo?
Mariana
August 21, 2019

In reply to by Ernesto

Hola Ernesto. Me podes informar cuál es la empresa que te compro la membresia? Yo también tengo membresia de Royal y me contactaron de P.O.M. International Associates para comprarla. Quisiera saber si se trata de un fraude.
Andrés
March 27, 2020

In reply to by Mariana

Hola Mariana, qué tal! Quisiera saber cómo le terminó yendo a usted con la oferta que le ofrecieron de parte de POM International Associates. A mi papá le están ofreciendo una oferta muy atractiva por una acción en un hotel aquí en Costa Rica. Según lo hablado con la representante de la compañía, él le tiene que mandar una copia de la acción y la cuenta bancaria; luego ellos proceden a realizar el depósito y una vez que el dinero ingresó, empezar a hacer el proceso de traspaso. De momento no han indicado que se deba hacer algún depósito a la compañía. Según su experiencia ¿estamos ante una empresa confiable o se trata de un timo. Le agradezco mucho su respuesta, saludes.
EduardoCR
May 07, 2020

In reply to by Mariana

Buenas Mariana,lograste averiguar algo de esta empresa P.O.M? Me están ofreciendo comprar mi tiempo compartido y quería saber si es una estafa
Armando
September 05, 2019

In reply to by Ernesto

La compañia que mencionas se llama New York Twin Cities Power Hiciste algun pago anticipado?
Armando
September 10, 2019

In reply to by Ernesto

Cuanto fue la comisión que tuvo que pagar, la compañia es New York Twins Cities Power? A mi me están pidiendo que les deposite 6000 dlls que según esto despues me los van a rembolsar
rosy
September 17, 2019

In reply to by Ernesto

hola que empresa te contacto podrias darme los datios
Adriana
September 26, 2019

In reply to by Ernesto

Y como fué ese proceso? No le pidieron plata antes de cerrar el negocio? Con ese comentario suyo, nos da a creer que esto no es un fraude. A mi ya me han pedido más de 9.000 dólares, son empresas fachadas para robar a la gente, a son de qué va uno a consignar miles de dólares a personas que ni dan la cara y mandan identificaciones tachadas.
I_Mundo
March 13, 2020

In reply to by Ernesto

Me puede indicar el nombre de la compañia que le compro su Tiempo Compartido.
Alexa
August 06, 2020

In reply to by Ernesto

hola también quisiera preguntarte si fue la empresa twin cities power me urge tu respuesta porque mi familiar se encuentra por realizar deposito, ojala me puedas contestar
Jagerhaus
September 22, 2014
Here is the wesite for Property Connect LLC
Doral
March 29, 2019
La semana pasada me contacto la empresa TRAVEL RIGHT en Wisconsin, interesada en 10 semanas de mi tiempo compartido, luego me llego de EQUITY CLOSING SERVICES GROUP LLC en Baton Rouge el contrato de compra/venta y un fideicomiso donde tenían depositado el dinero. Aun no firmo contrato. Les pedi que depositaran el 50% de lo que me ofrecen para yo poder firmar. Igual le envie una notificacion al risort, donde tengo membresia, que yo no he vendido ni traspasado mis semanas.
Jose
April 22, 2019

In reply to by Doral

Hola cómo estás Dora.. También me llamaron de la misma empresa y la misma modalidad con el fideicomiso!!! Voy a ser lo mismo que vos. Pedirle el 50 % para ver si lo hacen.. Estamos en contacto para ver cómo sigue..
rmendez
September 22, 2014

In reply to by Jagerhaus

We won't post the websites, per our commenting policy. But, you can file a complaint online with the FTC and provide all the information you would like to report, including websites you believe are promoting fraudulent practices.

Ronny Romero
May 10, 2019

In reply to by Doral

Travel Right me está contactando por renta de 10 semanas igual que usted, pero hasta tanto no reciba en mi cuenta y esté disponible Los fondos que ellos ofrecen no firmaré ningún contrato, ellos con mi membresía no tienen nada que perder pero yo con mi dinero si. No hay que dejarse llevar por la emoción por una ofrecimiento en apariencia fácil y jugoso.
JOSE M
June 05, 2019

In reply to by Doral

Doral , yo he recibido la misma propuesta de esa empresa. Me interesa que me comentes como te fue con la operacion, para saber si avanzo con ellos o no. Desde ya muchas gracias
Ernestina
June 08, 2019

In reply to by JOSE M

Hola yo también he recibido ofertas de esta empresa desde hace 15 días. Por favor si tienen más información, les agradezco.
MVNI
June 10, 2019

In reply to by JOSE M

Yo también he recibido una propuesta de TRAVEL RIGHT LLC, como les fue a ustedes?