The AG also permanently banned Scott from engaging in any Florida business related to land and timeshare sales. They may also use fake testimonials and false promises of quick and easy sales to lure people in. This alert represents the views of the staff of the Office of Investor Education and Advocacy. Timeshare Exit Team has a well-documented history of defrauding owners, which has landed it in the crosshairs of Washington's attorney general. IC3 has identified some instances where people involved with the recovery company have a connection to the resale company, raising the possibility that victims were being scammed twice by the same people. Another thing I commented on in 2012 was that Premium Timeshare Exchange was an advertising company. Bluegreen has also proven to be uncooperative while partnering with other businesses. Be wary of hiring lawyers recommended by third parties who make unsolicited offers, as they may not be impartial. Please call: 407-347-6515 Marriott Timeshare Point Resale | TBA Take a closer look at some of the most common timeshare scams and what you can do to protect yourself. FTC Action Halts Timeshare Resale Scheme FBI and OIEA Warn Public that Fraudsters are Targeting Owners of - SEC Follow our Consumer Watch Team on Twitter. As in the above-mentioned Miami case, the FBI can become involved when theres evidence that the fraud extends across state lines (usually wire or mail fraud on the part of the perpetrators) and/or involves a large number of victims, large dollar losses, and an organized criminal enterprise. And unlike general auction sites like Ebay, we focus on one thing: selling timeshares. Timeshare Obligations, Regulations, and Challenges This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. If someone offers you investment products or services, such as offering to act as a. New Timeshare Directive to come into force - GOV.UK Now, If this buyers waiting scheme sounds similar to a timeshare resale scam, thats because it is. Buying from an individual owner versus a property developer or resort often leads to a better price, as you can avoid some fees. U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of California, Domestic Violence, Child Exploitation, and Human Trafficking Prevention, Final Defendant Sentenced for Mexican Timeshare Resale Fraud Scheme, Former Financial Advisor Sentenced for Scheme to Steal Funds from Elderly Bank Customers, Connecticut Woman Sentenced for Social Security Benefit Fraud Scheme in Stockton, East Bakersfield, Delano, and Elsewhere, Former State Employee Sentenced to 12 months in Prison for Role in $2 Million Scheme to Defraud the Office of AIDS. Bluegreen Corporation offers timeshare vacation resorts throughout America, Aruba and the Bahamas. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew G. Morris prosecuted the case. If you own one of these timeshare properties, the fraudsters may promise to pay you a significant sum of money for your timeshare. In this scam, a company contacts timeshare owners and claims to be a network of timeshare resale companies that can help them sell their property quickly and easily. They kept me informed the entire way. Be aware that scammers may be located far away from where they pretend to operate. First, report the incident to your local police and to the regional Better Business Bureau or consumer protection agency. DALLAS Eight residents of Florida were arrested or self-surrendered over the past few days on charges outlined in a federal indictment returned by a grand jury in Dallas last month and unsealed last week. One benefit of buying a timeshare resale is the immense amount of money you can save. Sign up to receive the latest deals and updates! The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. Moreover, our partners, such as Google Adsense, will collect data and use cookies for ad personalization and measurement. Over the past few years the number of so-called timeshare resale companies under investigation has exploded as numerous state governments and the FTC have taken notice of these new timeshare resale scams proliferating in the marketplace. If you need to sell timeshare, dont wait. There are many factors that will influence the resale of your timeshare including location, resort quality, flexibility of usage, season, demand and, of course, price. Office of Investor Education and Advocacy, Be suspicious of any uninvited offers regarding your timeshare, particularly those that seem too good to be true.. An investigation is usually triggered by an unusual volume or pattern of consumer complaints filed against a timeshare company. And then, as time went on and no sales were made, victims tried reaching back out to the companies, but their phone calls and e-mails went unanswered. Individuals who have been victimized by this type of scam are encouraged to file a complaint with the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center by visiting https://www.ic3.gov. Newton Group can offer multiple options to help you get out of your timeshare contract. American Resort Development Association (ARDA), , timeshare trade association - email customerservice@arda.com. YouTube sets this cookie via embedded youtube-videos and registers anonymous statistical data. Most of these contracts are not. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The timeshare developer industry has worked for many years to advise owners of the fraud, taken legal recourse against disreputable exit companies and worked with state regulators to strengthen consumer protection policies. Subscribe No one can accurately determine a specific length of time within which your property will sell. For additional info regarding The Legacy Program, please call 800-351-0461, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time. Are you ready to part ways with your timeshare or get rid of it as soon as possible? We deal with all major resort developers, and when you buy a timeshare resale you will save huge! 2626 E Oakland Park Blvd. There is a lot of misinformation and confusion about the timeshare resale market and exit process due to increasing fraud by marketing firms soliciting owners and consumers with false advertisements to help end their timeshare contracts. We were given this picture of traveling the world in the easiest, cheapest way possible. The victimsmostly owners trying to sellwere scammed by criminals posing as representatives of timeshare resale companies or by actual employees of companies that were committing fraud.