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Summer is over and you could be thinking about selling your timeshare. Maybe you turn on the radio, check your feed, or get a call and find what sounds like an easy way to sell your timeshare. But is it? Or is it a scam?

Getting out of a timeshare can be tough, but that’s not what scammers tell you. They’ll guarantee they can easily sell your timeshare. Sometimes they say they have interested buyers…but you’d need to pay a few thousand dollars upfront for taxes or closing costs. Which they say they’ll refund later. Only there’s really no buyer and if you pay, you’ll lose your money.

We’ve also heard from people who paid for help in selling their timeshare who mostly got excuses for delays with the sale. If the seller asked for a refund, they didn’t get one. Instead, the scammer convinced them to keep paying — maybe for a lawyer to either “complete the sale” or sue to get their money back.

Unfortunately, these kinds of timeshare tales are all lies. So, before you pay anyone to help you sell your timeshare:

  • Research the timeshare resale company or expert online. Look up the name of the timeshare resale company or individual who contacted you plus the words "scam" or "complaint." See what other people are saying about their experience.
  • Ask about fees. If you want to work with a reseller, try to deal with one that takes their fee after the timeshare is sold.
  • Get everything in writing before you pay or sign a contract. Make sure it matches any verbal promises, including what they’ll do, plus any fees you have to pay, and when. And don’t assume you’ll get back what you paid for your timeshare.

Check out Timeshares, Vacation Clubs, and Related Scams to learn more. Suspect a timeshare resale scam? Tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov

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