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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.

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Carlos
October 15, 2019

In reply to by Gloria

Y procediste de manera legal o de alguna otra manera?. Me contactaron las mismas personas.
Eve
December 06, 2019

In reply to by Gloria

Hola Gloria, ha logrado iniciar una demanda penal? Visualiza recuperar algo de lo que le estafaron?
Monyk
November 06, 2019

In reply to by Manu

A mi me acaban de contactar en octubre/2019 .... suena extraño pero te emocionas que te vayan a comprar a un super precio , mas del doble de lo pagado, pero algo no estaba bien... mi instinto me informaba que no era real que alguien comprara a mas del doble. A mi me llama el que se hace llamar ALEX JIMENEZ de la empresa: Realty Development Co. Inc. 320 Camp St. New Orleans, Louisiana 70130 Phone: (504)-358-0239 Email: proposals@realtydconic.com contract@realtydcoinc.com Website: www.realtydcoinc.com Realmente lo tienen bien ejecutado. Ojalá nadie más caiga en esto.
NENE MALO
August 19, 2019
ESTOY POR VENDER MI TIEMPO COMPARTIDO , Y ME PIDEM UN DEPOSITO DE 3.100 DOLRES PARA ANOTARME CON INVERSOR EXTRANJERO, QUE LUEGO ME LO REINTEGRAN CON EL TOTAL DE LA COMPRA, EL QUE ME LLAMO ES MARIO GARCIA DE TRAVEL RIGHT, NO LE HE ENVIADO NADA, DADO QUE MI BANCO NO ME LO PERMITE, Y ESTA GENTE INSISTE, CUALES SON LOS PASOS A SEGUIR, GRACIAS
tomtom
October 10, 2014
James Strana was the guy at Property Connect that I was dealing with.... I doubt that the Chicago address/phone is anything but a call forwarding number. I suspect they are all in Mexico....enjoying our money!? Glad I could be so stupid if it helps anyone else.
Adriana
August 27, 2019
Me contactaron de World Travelers en Atlanta una tal Michelle Martinez para rentar mi tiempo compartido por 10 semanas, luego me contactaron de NSC Holding Corporation un tal John Deniz, en Wisconsin que eran los encargados de manejar el fideicomiso, hasta que empezaron a pedir US2.990 dólares para convertirme en inversionista en México, y luego están pidiendo US6.720 dólares para pagar los taxes de una plata que no he recibido. El fideicomiso se encuentra según ellos en Banorte. Llamé a la SAT en México y ellos mismos me dijeron que no piden plata para volverse uno inversionista en ese pais. Tienen respuesta para todo, no sé porqué estas personas les gusta hacer tanto daño.
Wolfeycan Vict…
October 11, 2014
I am so grateful I checked. It seems that I have also fallen prey to Property Connect llc and James Ross, Broker. Their timing was perfect. I was just wondering how I was going to manage my debt load when I got this fortuitous phone call offering to buy my time share at Dreams part of UVC. I'm excited about this offer! Well negotiations have been going on for a while. The first time they called they told me the value was 36,700, next time they told me it was 37 500 and when they sent the letter of intent it said 32,000. After yet another conversation with Lucy, James Ross's personal assistant, she said I'm just going to send you the contract, sign it, scan it and email it back to me. Well I had trouble with my scanner, (1st obstacle) I asked a friend if she could help me with the scanning (2nd obstacle) So I went to Office Depot, although they could do what I wanted they couldn't have it until the next at 3 P.M. (3rd obstacle) They told me to go to another place around the corner, I couldn't find it, (4th obstacle) so I went home. My plan was to go to the P.O. and fax it to them. I had to look for their fax number. (5th obstacle) I just want to share that I am not usually a suspicious person and I'm not one for details or checking. The next part is kind of interesting because for some reason when I came to my desk I decided to check into them. There it was. The first thing was a report on BBB Illinois. Hmmm I thought to myself, "all these obstacles were for a reason." Now I'm just so grateful that I checked and that the "obstacles" were there for a reason. I think my intuition kicked in and I was saved! Thank you Universe!! I'm so sorry some of you got caught up and lost money. Once again the warning of "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn't true." prevails. These people have gone to a great deal of trouble to come off as legitimate, obtaining a Brokers License and all.
socalgal
October 12, 2014
Thank you all for your constant updates. Estate exchange group Ltd contacted my boyfriend via phone and sent me the email. All sounded too good to be true so I Google them and nothing came up. After digging a little further I found this trail. I got the email on Oct 8th so they are definitely on the move under a new name...beware all.
Uvar6
September 05, 2019
buenos dias! saben de alguien que si haya logrado cobrar la devolucion del dinero ?? ya hasta nos hemos endeuda por todo lado :(
Another Guy
October 13, 2014
I too received a call from James Strana Of Estate Exchange Group LLC in Chicago. He emailed me a letter of intent which I signed and returned. I'm expecting the same progression as all of you, but thanks to Google won't get scammed in this deal. I'm actually quite happy with my UVC membership, but the potential of selling it for more than I paid was intriguing. Luckily I'm suspicious enough to do some homework and glad I found you.
Armando
September 10, 2019
Tengan Cuidado con una compañía que se hace llamar New York Twin Cities Power te envuelven con el cuento de que te van a ayudar a rentar tu propiedad y que no tienes que hacer ningún pago por adelantado o como anticipo para segurar la operación. Cuando ya firmas el contrato de aceptación te salen conque hay que cubrir la cantidad de 6000 DLLS que luego el comprador te los va a reembolsar si no lo haces te amenazan conque te van a demandar y tendrás que cubrir el 50% de la cantidad pactada inicialmente como renta de tu propiedad por cancelación de contrato ya que según ellos estas incumpliendo en la clausula de cubrir los gastos de mantenimiento y que supuesta mente te van a reembolsar una vez que hayas hecho el deposito. Entonces para que te piden dinero si te lo van a regresar, esto es un FRAUDE aquí y en China.
Andrés
July 10, 2020

In reply to by Armando

Que tsl buenos días, una pregunta te demandaron?
Andrés
July 10, 2020

In reply to by Armando

Que tal Armando buenas tardes, estoy en la misma situación, por favor me puedes decir si te demandaron?? En qué va tu caso?
mElv
July 27, 2020

In reply to by Armando

Te estafaron? Cuéntame por favor me están llamando exactamente por el supuesto contrato...depositaste algo?
Josua
September 11, 2019
NO SE DEJEN ENGAÑAR, son todas empresas de fraudes originarias de México. No existe la reventa de tiempos compartidos a menos que sea personalmente en el hotel y llevando a quien desea comprarla.
IrritatedCanadian!!
October 14, 2014
I have now received two phone calls and an email from Estate Exchange Group LLC and one from Vacation Resort Experts. Both companies actually had the audacity to call me in the same day. When I told the first one I wasn't interested he insisted on sending me an email. When I told the 2nd caller that someone else had just called me she said that was from an imposter company but they were legit. When I continued to grill her on how they got my contact information the caller, simply put her hand on the receiver instead of putting me on hold and said to someone beside her "she's asking me how I got her information and sh*t like that". The person beside her said, "don't worry about it and tell her you will call her back". Received the 3rd call from Estate Exchange Group today and when I told him I was currently reading about him on the internet, he denied it was their company. I hung up on him and he called me right back, claiming the call had been lost. I told him I hung up and he was not to call again. He still continued to talk right through me about how the offer for my UVC membership was a once in a lifetime offer that I shouldn't refuse. I just hung up. Don't get sucked in!
Almost taken
October 23, 2014

In reply to by IrritatedCanadian!!

Vacation Resort Experts called me too. I actually went as far as talking to the "attorney" in Mexico. It sounds very legit. EXCEPT the "Mexican Lawfirm's" website was all in English - no option for Spanish. Strange... I couple days prior to VRE, I had a "broker" From Investment-Entreprises call me with a similar deal. He had a current broker license and even gave me the contract info of the title company. Amazingly enough, both the investment company and title company had similar websites. With VOIP, phone numbers from different states are not hard to get. I am glad I did the research.
ConcernedinCanada
January 20, 2015

In reply to by Almost taken

I recently recieved a call from Vacation Resort Experts offering me $5,000 more than what I paid for my UVC membership. I went as far as speaking to the "lawyer" in Mexico. They wanted a 10% transfer fee plus closing costs which equalled almost $2,000. I googled scams and came across this thread. Thank goodness I found this. I have since blocked all their numbers on my phone. I will be calling UVC as well to let them know.
UVC GUY
October 14, 2014
I was contacted by the Estate Exchange Group LLC who also sent me a letter of intent for a little more than double what I paid for it. On top of that I got a call from another guy on Friday from Chicago named Yvonne that was a broker looking to buy time shares both within a couple days of each other? Must be scamming is good right now.
inda
September 11, 2019
Hola a alguien lo ha contactado travel & property investments? Alguna referencia? saludos
Israel
January 09, 2020

In reply to by inda

Son gringos quienes ejecutan estas estafas, NO mexicanos
MNDude
October 21, 2014
That Guy hit the nail on the head! Go look at the Website for Property Connect LLC and Estate Exchange Group LLC. They are practically identical. Thanks for the heads up!
Juana
September 11, 2019
Y qué opinan de Benson consulting services?
Luis
September 23, 2019

In reply to by Juana

A mi también me contacto esa empresa? Alguien mas sabe algo de ellos?
fijiboy
November 20, 2014

In reply to by MNDude

Am I glad I found this blog! Got a call today from Estate Exchange Group LLC and decided to check them out. I also looked at the website for Property Connect LLC. The websites are similar and the text is identical. Clearly the Letter of Intent they want me to sign is the first step of a scam. Has anyone had experience with Mercury Property Management in St. Louis?
Carmen
December 12, 2019

In reply to by Luis

A mí también me contactó Benson Consulting Services. Alguien sabe algo de ellos? Es una estafa? no me han pedido dinero, me hicieron una oferta para vender mi tiempo compartido solamente.
Maz the Dog
April 16, 2015

In reply to by fijiboy

Stay away from MPM. I have been dealing with them since November 2013 and after 16 months they just told me that my property was overvalued and they would not continue representing the resale.
lorenzo
February 23, 2020

In reply to by Carmen

hola, esta empresa tambien me contacto y tengo una oferta, supiste algo de esta empresa?
Cheryll
October 21, 2014
Thank you all for sharing your stories. We've had 2 conversations and have a contract in hand they sent. All the same and matches everything you've shared, but a different company name...International Trading Group. Illinois. Thanks for saving me money and more heartache talking to them!
German espinoza
September 20, 2019
Hola me estan marcando de New York Twin Cities Power y me quieren comprar mi membresia del fiesta americana vacation club. Alguien sabe si es fraude? Me estan ofreciendo una buena cantidad de dinero $43500 usd.
UVCMember
October 23, 2014
To add to the thread, I was called out of the blue and e-mailed a Letter of Intent (LOI) from Estate Exchange Group, LLC for double as well. I've been investigating since. The company is an actual LLC in IL, but don't let that fool you! The Broker is named on the LOI; mine was Timothy M Clarke. I went to the IL Dept of Financial & Professional Regulation website and searched for his license under the Real Estate Board. It exists, but when I called his Sponsor listed in his profile, they stated he is not associated with the company. I wasn't the 1st to call either. I recommend going to this website and calling the Sponsor of the Broker listed on your LOI. They were happy to have me forward the LOI to them to further investigate; also, it's good to let a licensed individual know their license is being used fraudulently.
dab.clau
September 24, 2019
Hola a mi me contactó la empresa new York Twin Cites Power, para que les rente unas semanas de mi tiempo compartido, obvio ofreciendo 12 000 doláres por año. Yo me comuniqué con Fiesta Americana para saber que opinaban y les envié mi propuesta comentandome que la pasarían al jurídico.. así es que solo voy a seguirles el juego. Y no firmar ningún contrato, y mucho menos enviarles dinero
CarolRealtor
November 14, 2014

In reply to by UVCMember

You must have called Baird & Warner right after I did. When I called, Desiree took my information, then called me back like 45 seconds after we hung up and told me Tim Clark informed them about one year ago that he had been the victim of identity theft.
Don Agus
December 03, 2019

In reply to by dab.clau

Buen día, que le ha respondido el Hotel Fiesta Americana?
Ana
September 26, 2019
En este momento están ofreciéndome a nombre Vacation rentall llc de new Jersey Quiero saber su seriedad o es más de lo mismo
UVCMember
October 27, 2014

In reply to by UVCMember

Doesn't look like original post got on. It referred to me getting an offer from Estate Exchange Group LLC for double what I paid for my UVC Travel Club Membership. On the Letter of Intent was a broker's name, Tmothy M. Clark. I looked up his license on the above link and found an active license. However, when I called the sponsor listed, they stated he is not involved with the company at all, and his name is being used illegitimately. I recommend looking up the license of whomever is on your Letter of Intent and let them know their name is being used.
Pablo colombia
January 08, 2020

In reply to by Ana

me están contactando de RESORT PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, INC ofreciendomen una cantidad de dinero . caterin sandoval loc ual envian un documento donde uno firma aceptando la oferta. me imagino que de ahi en adelante vendra la pedida de dinero.
PoorBob
October 24, 2014
I'm reading through all these scams and they sound very similar to a call I just got from a company called Corporate Event Planners. Any one else receive a call from this company. Story is the same ... they have a buyer and will post money to an escrow account in my name. Haven't gotten any further than that yet. I noted that several of the phony companies discussed are from Chicago, which is the same location for CEP.
susy_h
March 18, 2020
Estimados, Fui victima de una estafa, de dos empresas denominadas "GLOBAL CORPORATE TRAVEL LTD" y " CLOSING SOLUTION LLC", las cuales me pidieron transferencia bancaria hacia un banco Mexicano para pagar registro en el SAT y demas costos de cierre de venta.
antdee
October 27, 2014
I am also being told that someone in mexico wants to purchase my timeshare.i am going through capital management corp on new york.they are willing to pay me a large sum of money for my timeshare,the only thing i sent was a letter of intent.and they sent me a contract which i have not sent back.does anyone one know if this is a scam.PLEASE HELP
ALFONSO MUÑOZ
October 23, 2019
Travel Right de Appleton Wisconsin por medio de Alejandro Chávez y Equity Closing Services Group, LLC de Baton Reouge Luisiana por medio de Verónica O Farrel nos contactaron y nos ofrecfieron la venta de una propiedad vacacional en México. Nos fueron pidiendo dinero por un concepto luego por otro y cuando les dijimos que ya no teníamos mas dinero dejaron de comunicarse, su teléfono está desconectado y no contestan el correo. Son una estafa. Por favor si alguien sabe como hacer la denuncia comuníquese con nosotros
RRRIOS
October 25, 2019
Buenas Tardes, alguien tiene conocimiento de esta empresa international real estate connections llc, ofrecen lo mismo, comprar una membresia de Fiesta Americana
Shamooo
October 29, 2014
Had several calls from Corporate Event Planners too. Received offer and procedure via email. Promised to close quickly and get my money within one week. Researched my resort on timeshares for sale and found numerous similar units for a fraction of what I was offered. When CEP called back I suggested they were a scam and with no argument at all they simply hung up.
ItsaScam
October 31, 2014
Shame on Property Connect LLC, supposedly purchasing for Cheung Kong Holdings, Ltd. It's obvious we know your game, time to run before the Feds catch up to you.
Ser winter
October 27, 2019
Algien que me esplique no estafaron noz isieron creer queuna Mobil home era real property I es personal property de otra persona en land numero es El telefono del dueño como es possible que ago ayuda por favor
Moyaneth
November 09, 2019
Me contactaron de una supuesta empresa llamada ZANADU tratando de comprar mi membresía: 1. La empresa es china y en su pagina confirma que no está haciendo negocios en latinoamerica. 2. Te dicen que debes pagar un % a tu club por transferencias y posterior te llama alguien haciéndose pasar por representante de tu club y te envía una carta donde te dice donde consignar. 3. Ni la cuenta, ni la dirección son del club. Llame al club y me confirmaron las cuentas oficiales y la dirección URL, ellos simulan una muy parecida pero colocan el simbolo de guion (-), pues tratan de dejarla lo más parecida posible 4. Ahí es el momento en que te estafan: pagas y no fue a tu club, al final ellos no están ni enterados.
teefnee
November 10, 2014
I got the same call and letter of intent from Estate Exchange Group, LLC. James Strana, Frank Castillo, Timothy Clarke...check, check, and check. I separately got a call from Houston International Title Transfers. They offered me about double, they knew what I paid for my UVC membership. They haven't asked for any money up front, but I would pay 5% for transaction expenses after receiving the payment. I've been searching for any information on Houston International Title Transfers and/or Henry Lopez. Has anyone dealt with them? Is it a scam? Are ANY of these real, valid deals/companies???
New York City 1
March 04, 2015

In reply to by teefnee

I just started to research that Houston International, did you sing the contract I am concerned I want to sell the timeshare but they want money upfront for the tax
FTC Staff
March 04, 2015

In reply to by New York City 1

If you own a timeshare, be cautious about offers to help you resell it. Be skeptical of companies that require you to pay fees upfront — even if there’s the promise of a “money-back guarantee.” A request for a fee upfront is often a sign that it's a scam. Read about buying and selling a timeshare.

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