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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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Fritz001
August 28, 2015
??? Resort Property Mgt. based in Atlanta, Georgia ??? are they a reputable company
Norman
September 04, 2015

In reply to by Fritz001

Their address is 1 Glenlake Parkway Ste. 700 Atlanta, GA 30328 and I found out by googling the address that many companies use that address. I called the management for that building Ste 700 and found companies use it as a "virtual" office. Resort Property Management does come there to pick up their mail every day. They said Resort Property management does pay Ste 700 for their services and had been doing it for as long as the manager of ste 700 had been working there (over 2 years) but were reticent to give any kind of recommendation - which is, in itself, rather negative.
PossibleScam
September 02, 2015
Has anyone been contacted by B&M Realty Investment to sell your timeshare? We were contacted by them with promises of a no upfront money sale. We received an Exclusive Sales Contract naming Omega Bay Del Pacifico S.A. de C.V an authorized law firm to hold the money. Before even agreeing or signing the Sales contract we received an email from Omega Bay. The email contained four attachments... SAT tax info, Beneficiary payout info, Financial Statement and Santander Funds disbursement. We have been called by Omega Bay from a Mexican number and through discussion have been asked to wire or show up in person and pay 25% of the sale price to an SAT bank. Once this "tax" is paid we would be able to sell our Unlimited Vacation Club package??? Has anyone else been contacted by Tony Kim of B&M Realty Investment and then from Carlos Sanchez of Omega del Pacifico???
FTC Staff
September 03, 2015

In reply to by PossibleScam

If you’re thinking of selling a timeshare, question the resellers — real estate brokers and agents who specialize in reselling timeshares.

You say the company first promised a 'no upfront money' sale, but now wants you to pay 25% of the sale price upfront to a non-US bank.

You can check for complaints about the resort developer and management company with your state Attorney General.

The American Resort Development Association (arda.org) has information for consumers, including a resale checklist.

Definite SCAM
September 25, 2015

In reply to by PossibleScam

Yes I was contacted by both Anthony Kim of B&M Realty Investment and Carlos Sanchez from Omega. It seemed legit at first because they knew about my membership. Anthony Kim made me an offer which I negotiated and they increased the purchase price. Carlos then contacted me to discuss the legal paperwork at which point he discussed the transfer fee of 10% and Omega legal fees if $935. Carlos then told me I need to pay these fees upfrontt. He sent wire transfer instructions which looked bogus to me. I decided to look on Mexico's Better Business Bureau but didn't find the firm or Carlos Sanchez. Looking deeper at the website for Omega,, you can tell it's a scam. The website is in English but when you look up the specialists, the company has a CEI, Account Manager...weird set up for a law firm. Then I noticed the biographies for the CEO etc is in Latin (according to google translate) and the English words in between the Latin don't make sense. I told Anthony Kim, they should deduct the fees and send me the balance to which he said they can't do because Mexico doesn't do Escrow accounts. I told him that there is no guarantee that I will get the money after I send their fees ($2,400) and I will get a Lawyer from the U.S to secure my interest. Needless to say he hasn't responded. B&M Realty's website is a scam too, they have the same personnel structure and why is it you can't get any staff or receptionists, you always have to leave a message. The address also seems to be a Burger joint. Don't send these scammers any money!!! Searching the company, it says it was opened in 2006 and has 2 employees...another RED FLAG!!!! Don't fall for their scam.
seattlefool
January 26, 2016

In reply to by Definite SCAM

Yes, I agree, they are running a scam. All have hispanic accents. I was contacted by email by Jonathan Castillo salesman and Steve Anderson,president of B & M Realty Investment with an offer for my timeshare at Marina Fiesta in Cabo for about twice what i paid for it. The greed set in, they took me for 10k. The fee set up was exactly what you described. I wrote 4 wires for 25% mexican tax, attorney fee, registration penaly, customs penalty. The attorney at Omega that I delt with was Jose Gutierrez. Works in the same office as Carlos Sanchez in Mexico. Can't believe i fell for this.
Wkiddles
June 26, 2017

In reply to by seattlefool

Wow, wish that I would have saw this before. Been working with All American Real Estate, LlLC Chris McClain and American International Investments Group Nina Law with the escrow account and now believe that I am being scammed. Have sent them four wires and still no money for timeshare. Tired calling number tonight and it wont go through which tells me for sure a scam. Will be reporting them.
hog88
December 19, 2015

In reply to by PossibleScam

Yep. A scam. I have been getting phone calls from a guy who says his name is Michael Goodman but he definitely has heavy Spanish accent. They provide business info but that looks sceptical too. How do I report these bozos??
FTC Staff
December 22, 2015

In reply to by hog88

You can report scams to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint. The information you give will go into a database that law enforcement uses for investigations.

You can also report to your state Attorney General’s office.

RetiredinMexico
September 03, 2015
It would be so wonderful if someone would list some reputable companies. We're all so paranoid we won't deal with anyone to sell our really great time share! Anyone with some "good" experience?
CM
September 03, 2015
I too received a Letter of Intent from Property Management + Inc. The office is also listed as 11601 Wilshire Blvd No 500, Los Angeles, CA 90025. The name of this Broker Agent is Frederic David Ross and the phone number that he keeps calling me from is 1-866-978-7973. I have not felt comfortable about this since the very first call he made to me. There has been no mention of me having to pay any money, but I knew something was up when the offer I received was for more than I paid 20 years ago. I'm so glad I found this blog! You all just saved me lots of time and money!
kalika60
September 08, 2015
I am so happy to read this blog. I too was contacted by a company in TN-ABI Realty Inc who turned the transaction over to Realty Assets Inc in MA for the "closing." My timeshare is in Cabo. Just like the stories above, everything seemed legit until I got a random call from Carolos Rivera telling me he was with the Mexico Department of Tourism and I needed to wire a 10% payment in order to proceed with the sale. Realty Assets Inc then sent me copies of BANAMEX checks from the buyer that they are holding for me until I pay the fee, because it is illegal for the buyer to pay the Mexican government directly. Duh, the Mexican government should be demanding that the buyer pay the fee. I have asked Realty Assets Inc to deposit the funds into my attorney's trust account first. No response yet. I guess I need to do more digging because Realty Assets Inc is legit, registered in MA since 1992. Another odd call I received was from Veronica, who stated she was the attorney for the buyer in Mexico, yet caller id revealed the same phone number for Realty Assets Inc. Thank you for saving me over $2K!!
Dave
September 09, 2015
I was contacted by a guy by the name of Anthony Flores representing a company named A.B.I. Realty. The other person in the office (his boss he said) was a guy named Zack Madrigal. He said his company was prepared to offer me 20% to 30% more than the original purchase price for my Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach timeshare in Cabo. I am 9 years into a 30 year timeshare so the deal was very attractive. This guy wqs knowledgable about the new golf course which just opened on the property. He said he represented a Mexican firm that repackages timeshares to sell as business trips. I went so far as to send him a copy of my contract and certificate of ownership. It sounded legit and the website looked fine. I could not find any complaints online until today. Needless to say I am shutting this down. Thanks to everyone who posted their stories to help me reach the conclusion that this is indeed a scam. The fact that they claim to work through an escrow company and that the ownership transfer will not occur until they send me a certified check led me to believe that this was legit. After researching it further, I can foresee that the escrow company will likely be a scam and that I would end up losing money at some point if I followed through.
Chase
September 09, 2015
Has anybody ever heard of an outfit called Resort Travelers Intl.? They want to rent my "getaway Weekends" from Bluegreen. They say I get 4/year and will pay $5200 for them. They re-use them in blocks for corporate events. The catch: $1275 upfront for a membership fee. Legit or no??
Chris D
May 02, 2016

In reply to by FTC Staff

I need to speak to a FTC Representative about steps I need to take re. someone stealing almost US $190,000 that belongs to me from the sale of my property. An urgent call is requested to my telephone, (301) I do live near the D.C. Metro area, close to the FTC National Headquarters at DC. Thanks.
Rickster2925
September 10, 2015
I have been contacted by It's Time to Go Luxury Destinations out of Dallas re selling them some weeks from my Vacation package. 3030 Lyndon B. Johnson Fwy Dallas, TX 75234. Checking with the building management they're no longer there and have been gone for about a year. They're associated with a Chicago company called Forward Thinking. Anyone had any dealings with Forward Thinking at 401 N. Michigan Avenue, Ste. 1940 Chicago. Il 60611
lopfin
September 16, 2015
I have a client now getting calls from B$M Investments out of California by a very heavily spanish accented gent named Mike Goldman. They are offering to buy the UVC membership for 5500.00 more them what was paid. I have a contract and a conference call with their attorney in Mexico. Lets see where this goes.
Jakester
September 18, 2015
Has anyone heard of Property Management Plus, Inc our of LA or an escrow company Third Point Captial out of LA? I have been approached to buy my timeshare and feel that a scam is lingering? The only request for money thus far is to acquire an RFC number (90 day temporary visa for non-citizans to sale property) to the tune of $4350.00. Of course, I can acquire this by going to the Mexican consulate myself or traveling to Mexico to obtain this number. Anyone have a similiar experience?
Jakester
September 23, 2015

In reply to by FTC Staff

I have verified all licenses and see no compliants on file with their licensing boards. Has anyone had any experience or actually done a transaction with them (Third Point Captial or Property Management Plus, Inc)?
Zarth
September 23, 2015

In reply to by Jakester

Yes, I've been contacted by the same two companies, though the cost of the RFC was quoted at $3750, to either be wired to a bank account in Mexico, to be taken to that bank in person or to be obtained through the Mexican Consulate here (in Denver). I am awaiting a response from the Consulate but I think this is pretty clearly a scam, though I am so very tempted to believe otherwise. Have you found out anything else about either of these companies?
hv
October 19, 2015

In reply to by Jakester

Believe me it's a scam, sorry to say I didn't find this Web site earlier.
MG
October 12, 2018

In reply to by hv

Here is the latest 'fake' company offering to buy timeshares. Property Owl Incorporated 136-7 37th Avenue, Flushing, NY 866-864-5368 Micheal Silverman - sales person, Lucy Coleman Executive Assistant. Same generic website design as others who have called me. Their address traces back to the Congressman Rosenthal Place which seems to currently be a Chase bank. Same form letter offer and con story.
starry
February 01, 2019

In reply to by MG

add Steve Harris to this list with Property Owl Management
DNA
February 21, 2019

In reply to by MG

I have been contacted by Property Owl recently, are you saying it is a scam? What is the scam?
JHS
April 04, 2019

In reply to by MG

I have been contacted by Property Owl Inc and they are using American Corporation Of Finance in Rochester, NY. When I Googled the Rochester address I see a different business. Anyone else checked on this operation?
Sandra
May 02, 2019

In reply to by JHS

My husband and I have been contacted by Property Owl saying they have a buyer for our timeshare at Private Residence Club in Nayarit. Where is your timeshare?
KKK
June 09, 2020

In reply to by JHS

Checked with management company at address for American Corporation of Finance in Rochester, NY that no such business exists. The same is true for Property Owl Inc in Flushing, NY. It is a total scam.
Vegas
June 25, 2019

In reply to by MG

Omg I’ve been contacted by both organizations. Michael king. Everything seems so legit. My gut says it’s a scam. I’m not sending anyone I have never met any money. What a waste of time. I have been dealing with him for weeks. They have nothing better to do.
Definitely scam
May 25, 2020

In reply to by Vegas

Don't agree to anything even if the offer sounds good or too good to be true. You'd be sorry if you do. You are asking for trouble!
Vegas
June 25, 2019

In reply to by MG

Omg I’ve been contacted by both organizations. Michael king. Everything seems so legit. My gut says it’s a scam. I’m not sending anyone I have never met any money. What a waste of time. I have been dealing with him for weeks. They have nothing better to do.
Time share fan
September 21, 2015
I was recently contacted by Monica Alexander with Brokerage Consolidated Group Inc. in Mn. at 333 Washington Ave. North. Has anyone dealt with them? No mention of upfront money yet, though I am sure it is coming. She did go back and re-negotiate for me coming up with more $$.
cmuffin
September 22, 2015
Has anyone heard of Western Resort Sales? They claim they are not a timeshare resale company, but a property locating service. They buy vacation properties for those who are looking to purchase vacation property. There are fees: money transfer fee, city & county transfer fee, and a title search fee. Scam or not?
r shaw
October 16, 2015

In reply to by cmuffin

Short and sweet, yes Western Resort Sales is a scam. They got me for $150. I'm gonna file a complaint with Tennessee AG, consumer fraud division. If you want to hear more of my dealings with Jerry Butler, Western Resort sales, email me
Rooster
September 29, 2015
Has anybody have anything going on with Travel Associates Inc. out of Quincy, MA A fellow By the Name of Robert John Silverman Has being calling trying to get me to sell my Time Share in Mexico for 3 times what I have paid for it. I have googled the company and it seems to come up ok, Also they are stating that they have a buyer that has set up a Escrow account with the firm called True & Clear Title Inc. They are not asking for any money up front and only ask for a 5% fee after deal has being made. Has anybody dealt with either of these company's
Rueckert
October 09, 2015

In reply to by Rooster

We have been contacted by Travel Associates and True & Clear. They are listed in the BBB of MA but not accredited. The MA General Attorney said there are no complaints about them, they are both licenced and registered for business in the state of MA, but we just canceled all dealings with them, because they are very similar to several of the companies listed on this website. We FIRMLY believe they are a scam! Even though everything seems to show they are a legit company. They may have hijacked a real company or something. Both companies have a website, but they are both very vague and look like they were set up by the same person. We had them send us a contract, then we had them make changes to the contract. When the contract came back saying all parties had resigned the new contract, the signatures looked exactly the same. (signatures never look exactly the same) We signed a contract with them. We then sent them notice (by fax, email, and phone to both companies) that we were canceling the contract. They started to tell us that the buyer had to approve of us canceling (preamble to trying to make us pay cancelation fees) We said no they didn't and reminded them that both our state and MA law says we can get out of any contract within 72 hours. We haven't heard a word from them since.
Joseph S
December 04, 2015

In reply to by Rooster

Watch out for Travel Associates, Inc., 859 Willard Street, Suite 400, Quincy, MA (339) 526-1043 and True & Clear Title, Inc. 925 Concord Street, Framingham, MA, (508) 232-6381. They have created a very real looking timeshare purchase scam. These companies appear to have been stolen by the scammers so if you check BBB, State of MA registration and websites they appear very real. Their ultimate goal is to get you to wire money to a fraudulent account.
juamcd
October 01, 2015
Has anyone heard of Universal Realty Management out of Missouri. Can't find them on BBB website.They have contacted me to sell them my timeshare. They emailed me a proposal and says I would pay 8% at the end. Anybody else get a call like this and what did you do?
LJV
October 01, 2015
Pro Timeshare Resales of Deland, Florida. Must be something in the water there because I have become scammed by 2 companies in that area. PTR gets your phone number from a timeshare listing. They call you if your interested in selling your timeshare. They say they can sell it before your firs CC payment is due. Thats a lie, 2 years later and over $5000 in fees and still have my timeshare. Decided it's cheaper to own it than sell it. Tried submitting a fraud report with my CC company. They worked for me for a while but got scammed on Consumer Recovery Services who got 45% recovery fee. Was OK with that to get some of my money back. My CC refunded the money to my account, I paid CRS and all was good. Then the CC company charged the money back on my CC because I had have an electronic signature contract with them. My contract with CRS after 90 days I get a full refund if they can not recover my money. Trying to fight that one now, they were smart can't use a CC with them only a bank transfer. Moral to my story if you get suckered into a time share live with it, the cost is much less than trying to get rid of it.
Jbc
October 09, 2015
Does anyone know about marketing alliance group limited
dont be a victim
October 11, 2015
i was contacted by daniel nelson from denver colorado of Timeshare Closing management no upfront fee but legal closing cost $500, this sites i saw 1 problem with him i am so glad i found this site, anyone problem with him too?
precaution 100%
October 17, 2015

In reply to by dont be a victim

what is his real estate lic. number ?
Helping parents....
February 02, 2016

In reply to by dont be a victim

We have been contact my Timeshare Closing Management also - how did your interaction end? if it did? were they legit?
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