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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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STLouis BBB
August 02, 2018

In reply to by lo-tek

I work for St. Louis BBB. We have received several calls about ARCX. We do know that they are not operating that the location listed on their website, a location which is basically next door to our office.
Jgo
August 16, 2018

In reply to by STLouis BBB

We have an appealing offer from them too, but sounds too good to be true! How do you trust any of these people!!!?
Captain Canada
August 17, 2018

In reply to by STLouis BBB

I have been contacted by ARCX as well. The offer is very good. Obviously from what I've read in the few comments that I saw this is a scam. I'm wondering if you can tell me if you know how they got any information about my timeshare property?
Stefan
September 14, 2018

In reply to by Eva

I have also ben contacted by ARCX. The contact information for the agent is as shown below: Daniel K. Ball Junior Broker 500 North Broadway 12th Suite St. Louis, Missouri 63102 (888) 510-3020 ext. 1006 From the other responses above I assume that they are scammers (par excellence!) Does anyone have more details on this please?
Pierre
July 27, 2018
Has anybody heard of Paradise Travel Services? They made me an offer for my timeshare and said they'll send me a draft contract. Not asking for an money...yet Then got a cll from Hudson Holdings Group. No offer but asked that I sign a non-binding Appraisal Authorization Form to make an offer... How did these guys get my cell phone number and know about my time share?
KC
July 30, 2018
Hello, I've just been contacted by Laike Propety Management and everything seems legit, I've researched them everywhere for any signs saying otherwise but I am still a little hesitant. They want to do everything through Santander bank and am also thinking of calling Santander to confirm all the accounts I've been given before going forward.
Buck
August 03, 2018
Toddmcl123 have you heard anymore back from masters international. We’ve been getting calls for two months from them and the last one came from a person who is superior to the original agent who was offering us a price. They sent a letter of intent which we did not sign and now have raised their purchase price. They have asked for documents outlining all of the extras we have in our membership.
Patty
August 08, 2018

In reply to by Buck

I've been 'working' with Master International for about two months. Now they are telling me I need to apply for a temporary naturalization to sell my "property" in Mexico. My research indicates there is no such thing! Not going to move forward with the sales agreement. Such BS
bessie
November 16, 2018

In reply to by Patty

I have been requested to pay the Naturalization fee as well, and they sent me copies of the Mexican Constitution to show that this is legitmate. They say that if I do not pay they can start court proceedings since I signed Sales Agreement. Is this possible?
JAT84
August 07, 2018
Received a contact from prestige title in denver, CO as well as request to buy my vacation plan from corporate travel consultants, inc in colorado springs, CO... anyone else heard of these companies and are they legit?
jbdnvr
August 09, 2018
Has anyone complained about a company called Agoda? They somehow got my phone number, and offered me way more than I paid to purchase my timeshare in Mexico. Of course, I'm suspicious!
Macman
October 23, 2018

In reply to by jbdnvr

Yesss this is true some 1 called About my timeshare and they mention agoda. and I Google Agoda and it a travel agency for international resorts hotels in the Philippines, Indonesia, Far East stuff and I spoke to a representative and they said. they dont get involved selling timeshares Macman
dmack
August 15, 2018
Has anyone ever heard of the company San Diego Real Estate Dynamics. They said they have buyer for our time share and it's over double what we paid. Not sure if this is legit
MattyB
August 16, 2018
I was wondering if anyone has dealt with 1st choice realtor out of Tennessee. (Broker Anthony Burgio)Just got an offer for triple what we paid for our timeshare.
Marie, british…
February 14, 2019

In reply to by MattyB

Yes,anthony Burgio,send me a contract,but very uneasy about it, he offer me very good offer,almost to good to be true,,,,,,did any body has dealt with him before, ?
Marathi
August 16, 2018
IHAVE BEEN BOMBARDED PHONE CALLS FROM. "AGODA TRAVEL.." from Mexico ..TO SELL MY TIMESHARE PACKAGE AND MUCH HIGHER PRICE.MY FIRST INSTINCT WAS RIGHT " WHAT IF' SURE IT WAS .THERE ph# is 18669787219/18662177241 one of the worlds largest. Holiday hotel bookin g company..wondering if they are using AGODAS name.there are handful of Mexican nationalities who are connected to RICHARD B SMITH law firm out of "NewJersey."USA.thete seems to be connection between them so called agoda. And the law firm.they are tied to time share sales .FRAUDER THAN THE $3 BILL. CAREFUL.FROM THESE CORONIES AND CROOKS. HOPE LAW PUNISHES THEM AND PUT THESE CRIMINALS BEHIND BARS
Huggermugger
September 13, 2018

In reply to by Marathi

I too have received many calls from Agoda offering 4 times what I paid for my UVC membership. I contacted a law firm yesterday and they said they would represent me for a $975 retainer fee. I hate to spend that kind of money on something that will probably turn out to be nothing. Has anybody got any information that might be helpful?
livinlife
October 16, 2018

In reply to by Huggermugger

I have been dealing with Richard B. Smith law firm and have come to the decision that it is a total scam. After call bank numbers etc. nothing pans out. I am going to cut my communication with them.
brenda
August 17, 2018
Has anyone been contacted by a company, supposedly out of New York...Master international Company, who are offering hefty prices for resorts purchased in Mexico.
Rusty
September 05, 2018

In reply to by brenda

Yes, Brenda. I've been dealing with them for a couple of weeks. They say "no upfront fees", and then later on they come up with a tax id fee and naturalization fee of over $4,000.00. I didn't send them anything and I'm waiting to hear their response. Probably a scam.
Rusty
September 25, 2018

In reply to by Rusty

Ever since I told them I was not going to send any money, and that they would have to handle the sale without that, I haven't heard back from them.
brenda
October 03, 2018

In reply to by Rusty

Thanks Rusty for responding. I just received the request from tem to pay the Naturalization/Tax ID fee. Have you had any further contact from them?
Rusty
October 29, 2018

In reply to by brenda

Hey Brenda: I haven't heard back from them after it was clear that I wasn't wiring them any money.
bugsy
October 25, 2018

In reply to by brenda

Yes, Master International Company, a (Mr David Penning) person is calling a couple times a week requesting i send all my ownership documents. Sounds like a scam to me. Cant find any reviews online or any information on them. big promises.....
jzzeygirl
August 21, 2018
My husband rec'd a voicemail from Armando Campos with Sea Trip Travels who wants to talk about buying our timeshare in Mexico. I'm glad I found this site. I googled "Sea Trips Travel." That's all it took for this link to this site to show up. Thank you!
SoCalSurf
August 22, 2018
Yet another new name scammer called me today. This one is Accelerated Sales and Marketing in Atlanta Georgia. Same thing as all the others, unsolicited offer to buy my unit. This time I even got him to say they will just rent out my units. Told me $3850 per week. I'm now awaiting their totally fake offer. Of coarse if you look up their street address, it's an office building, where they are not even a tenant. Their website has only been active in the last month or so. I'm just going to string him along until he gets tired of me. They say they are in Georgia, and yet list stock pictures of houses in New York on their website. And of coarse, no broker number anywhere. Be careful out there everyone!
sunnygirl
February 08, 2019

In reply to by SoCalSurf

what ever happened? Accelerated called and offered me an astronomical amount.
Coloradoguy
May 08, 2019

In reply to by SoCalSurf

I just received a "Letter of Intent" from Accelerated Sales and Marketing in Atlanta offering to buy my Vidanta timeshare. Has anyone figured out if they are legitimate?
Rosalinafromca…
August 23, 2018
I got a call today from Hudson holding group wanting to buy our timeshare in Mexico, they emailed a form for us to sign, came from George Kim, the y want to pay 9k more than what we paid, I don’t know how they got our information. Anybody have investigated this company?
iowaviking
September 28, 2018

In reply to by Rosalinafromca…

I received the same call and similar offer. I cant find anything online to determine if this is a scam or legit. Their website looks legit, but anyone can design a decent website. Anyone else have any info on this company?
DallasRose
October 05, 2018

In reply to by iowaviking

I also got a similar offer. Offering 5xs what I paid for my membership. Can't figure out if they are real or not.
Foxy Lady
August 24, 2018
International leader Realty called me several times, asking to send copy of my timeshare contract. Michael Nicholson is the "broker" that contacted me, talks a lot, very polite, and nice on the phone, sharing family anecdotes, and telling his weekend plan. Of course I am not sending any copy of my timeshare, neither give any information, and will block his number. He have several timeshare, one of them in Cabo, years ago we were approach by one of those, he took us to the office, and they were offering a trade for a new one that was under construction, and because my husband wanting a unit close to the pier, took the bite. The deal was that the unit we will acquire was about $5,000 less than the price for the new one. They gave us a name of an escrow company close to our home, and said that they will fax all the necessary paperwork, To prove solvency they ask if he could pay with a credit card when paper sign, and they ask hi to call the credit card costumer service and ask if he was able to charge $20,000, of course the company said yes. It was fishy to me, because the timeshare is under both names, and they didn't ask for any of my info. Anyway the CC was charge about $19,000 that my husband still fighting with the bank. So, before anything I research, and thank you very much
Bill H
September 21, 2018

In reply to by Foxy Lady

I have the same company contacting me for the last month. Do you know for sure if it's a scam ?
Phoebe
September 30, 2018

In reply to by Bill H

Bill, I have been called by them as well, probably a scam... What is the name of the person who called you and if there is more than one could you please give all names? Just checking something. Thanks!
Bill H
October 01, 2018

In reply to by Phoebe

Noel MacDonald , Jacob Malik, a guy with the last name Hill, Jerry Delgado from Acquisition Strategies,LLC. Their escrow company. There are others. Any info would be helpful.
Felipe
August 26, 2018
Has anybody heard of a company called Agoda? They contacted me telling me that they can give me a large amount for my travel package! I told them that I would not give them a single penny until the promised money was on my hand, all they needed was for me to send them the front of my contract but that I can cross it saying void if I wanted!! I’m concerned since I paid a lot of money for this and never used it!
JoJen
September 21, 2018

In reply to by Felipe

Hey there - we had a lawyer look at the "contract" sent to us from Agoda. It's a total scam. Sorry for the bad news!
JKM68GT
August 27, 2018
We were contacted by Rodney Lewis from Master International Company. They promised a lot of money for our condo in Mexico, even though there is a 5 year 'No Resale' clause in our contract. He said that was no problem. Then he told us we would be working with Management Group International for the escrow and that the buyer would be putting money into our account as soon as we set up the escrow account. We got the 'application' from Management Group, but they asked for our birthdays and birth places, which raised a red flag. I tried calling, asking for 'Richard Shore', but the receptionist was very uncooperative but finally forwarded me to his extension ... but he never answered. Then Mr Lewis called and left a message asking when we would be completing the escrow account application. Based upon what I have read here, I am convinced that this is a scam.
brenda
October 23, 2018

In reply to by JKM68GT

Have you had any further dealings with Master International Company? Did you sign Sales Agreement? I am dealing with them now.
cmbb
October 28, 2018

In reply to by brenda

Do not deal with Master International Company at 1090 3rd Ave, Suite #9b, in New York City! For the last month or so, I've been dealing with Michael Greco who offered to purchase our timeshare in Mexico. Other names associated with this scam were Amanda Gill and Richard Shore who worked for the alleged escrow company called Master Group International. We agreed that as soon as they asked for money, we were done. The documents they sent to execute this lucrative deal could've easily been replicated on Microsoft Word. As others have noted, they asked for $4,720 for a temporary naturalization certificate and tax id which would be reimbursed by the buyer at closing. In fact, a new sales agreement was sent almost immediately after this request showing the buyer added $4,720 to the sale price as a "reimbursement." I will admit, Michael was very personable and seemed like a nice guy. I just happened to be in New York City, so, I told Michael I wanted to pay his office a visit. He told me he would call me the next morning at 8 am and would set-up the visit for 10:30 or 11:00 am. The next morning, he didn't call, and I went to 1090 3rd Avenue. A CitiBank takes up most of the block, but on the left of the block I found 1090 above a glass door and entered. It was a sales office for DDG...a company selling units for a condo tower under construction. I spoke with the nice woman there who begin to help me locate Master International Company. I walked around the block and checked with several businesses and residential units. None of them heard of the company. I sat on the sales office couch and called Michael. It rolled to his voicemail. I called back the main number, and I spoke with the receptionist. I said to her I was downstairs and would like to come up and wait in the reception area. She immediately got nervous and asked who my broker was. I told her it was Michael, and she put me on hold. After about a minute, I was disconnected. I tried calling back the receptionist and Michael, but kept getting voicemail. I left a message for Michael saying I would leave in 10 minutes if he didn't call back and the deal was off. He called back and said if I sent him a copy of my license, he would provide it to security and make an appointment. I countered that he could come downstairs and get me, I would be happy to show my license to security, and he could bring me to his office. He countered that he couldn't do that because it was against New York law. By this point, I knew they weren't located here and this was a scam. Michael started saying I was questioning his integrity, we signed a sales agreement, and I should be honorable. I flat out told him if he didn't come downstairs in 5 minutes, I was done. He said he needed to ask his boss if he could come down, and he would call me in 5 minutes. Sure enough, I never received a call. I did receive an email an hour and 10 minutes later from Michael saying he couldn't find his boss, and he was standing outside CitiBank waiting for me (probably the time it took him to grab an Uber from the scam business' real address to Citibank). I was long gone. I left a message telling Michael I was filing a complaint wth the Attorney General, Better Business Bureau, and DDG was also filing a complaint with the Attorney General for this company fraudulently using their address.
bessie
November 16, 2018

In reply to by cmbb

I have been dealing with Master Int'l. I am now on my third broker, and they all seem nice. Once I read comments here, I became worried. They said that because I signed the Sales Agreement, thy would initiate court proceedings if I do not pay. Can they do this?
ES
December 14, 2018

In reply to by cmbb

If you did these complaints do you know why they are still up and running? They have been dealing with us for about 5 months.
Laura
August 30, 2018
I have received several calls from Travel Start Mexico about purchasing my UVC membership. They are not an approved vendor with UVC but have all my information. Has anyone actually sold membership to them or is this just one more Fraud attempt. Thanks in advance for your comments.
Edgar
August 31, 2018

In reply to by Laura

they are all scams, i just received an offer for my UVC membership. they used a law office of Brian Smith who died four years ago. they just change the address and phone number. they wanted me to send a wire transfer to mexico to complete the title transfer and thats when i realized it was a scam. the company was Travelstart.mx with is fake. dont let them sucker you.
Edgar
August 31, 2018
i was contacted by a company called Travelstart.mx offering to buy my UVC membership for 23k. They used a NJ law firm of Brian Smith and provided a face BAR number. After looking up the attorney i found he had been dead for four years. the scammers are using real companies but changing the phone numbers and addresses. Travelstart is a real travel company but Travelstart.mx does not exist. they said the law firm was going to hold the money in escrow until the title transfer was completed and said someone from UVC was going to contact me. the next day someone claiming to be from UVC contacted me and even emailed me documents that looked legit but after cross checking the phone numbers and emails to the real UVC the did not mach. they wanted me to wire $4k to mexico to complete the title transfer. dont fall for this scam.
Jesse
September 17, 2018

In reply to by Edgar

This doesn't accurately reflect my experience with travel start.mx My wife is talking to them (she really hopes it's legit but I have concerns and will obviously not be sending any money anywhere). They are saying similar things. There is a law office acting as an intermediary who is supposedly holding onto the money until the sale is completed. They have not asked us for money/fees/etc. The most recent info has told us that we need to pay off the account before it can be sold. But if we are able to do that (the cost is about 5k), no money would go to travelstart. We would give it straight to UVC. So I'm really wondering how this 'scam' would net them any money.
UVC Sucker
September 18, 2018

In reply to by Edgar

I wanted to thank you Edgar, for your detailed description and due diligence in your research. We got a pretty flyer sending us an offer of $22K to buy our membership today. I found nothing online for the travelsmart.mx business site, but your review was the most helpful. This offer was more than double what we paid, and when my husband got the call from the fake UVC, he told them we only had 8 of 10 years left, and of course they said, no problema! If it's too good to be true....
dleeb
August 31, 2018
Has ANYONE successfully sold their timeshare with honest results?
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