June Newsletter Q&A: Scammed Again

Timeshare Crusader Lisa Ann Schreier answers the following question in this month's newsletter:

I read your forum here on RedWeek.com and you're always going on about staying away from companies that call or send letters about having a buyer for my timeshare. Is there anything really wrong with these companies?

Read Lisa Ann's response »

Want to discuss? Post your comments below.

When they say they have a buyer ..... they're lying, it's a scam ... all they want is your upfront fee then you're history to them.

A sales manager at Raintree Vacation Club (Cabo) referred a broker (James Stevenson of HK Holdings in Miami FL) who said he can sell our timeshare (Playa Del Sol 1bedroom float) within 90 days for $9200, but wants us to sign a release form to agree for him to conduct title search. Is this ligitimate? has anyone ever heard of this company or businessman? Any advises/opinions would be greatly appreciated. Amy of california

amyd261 wrote:

A sales manager at Raintree Vacation Club (Cabo) referred a broker (James Stevenson of HK Holdings in Miami FL) who said he can sell our timeshare (Playa Del Sol 1bedroom float) within 90 days for $9200, but wants us to sign a release form to agree for him to conduct title search. Is this ligitimate? has anyone ever heard of this company or businessman? Any advises/opinions would be greatly appreciated. Amy of california

Why would he need a title search since no one can own a timeshare there ..... all Mexcian timeshares are 'Right To Use' for a certain amount of years.

He doesn't have a buyer .... all he wants is a large upfront fee in the premise that it's for a bogus title search. Also, I don't know of any Mexican timeshares that are selling for $9200 in this economy.

This is just another of a long list of upfront fee timeshare scam parasites out there with more popping up everyday.

thank you, Jayjay, it confirms my suspicion. I also looked up HK Holding website (hkholdingsltd.com), it looks very suspicious as well. What made me even more upset is Raintree sales manager who pressured us to sign the document - fortunately we didn't. Hope these message exchange can help to save some others from being victimized. again, thank you. shuli

amyd261 wrote:

Hope these message exchange can help to save some others from being victimized. again, thank you. shuli

These boards (and others like these) have indeed saved at least a few individuals from falling for these scams.

So it doesn't hurt to ask if you're not sure about some fishy-sounding offer. Even if it doesn't save you, it might save someone else who is reading or Googling these boards.

I recently received a phone call from a slick talkin fellow in Orlando who asked if we were interested in selling our time share. I told him I was. He said he was showing similar units this weekend and thought he would be able to find a buyer. He said he would get back with me . He did with a call telling me he had a buyer from England. He emailed me a intent to purchase letter. Besides having the wrong type of unit listed a two bedroon vs a one bedroom. It looked like a document that any 10 year old could of put together on a computer. It did not even have the company's lettterhead on it. Of course he wanted me to send in the closeing fees up front. I questioned the salesman about his company and asked him to send me some info on it. I investigated them on the internet and BBB. Found nothing. As one who has already been skammed by a timeshare listing co. also loctaed in Orlando, I am much wiser now. My question is how is it these leeches are allowed to operate and pary on people? When it comes to selling a timeshare.......Seller beware!

robertp445 wrote:

My question is how is it these leeches are allowed to operate and pary on people!

With so many complaints concerning timeshare scams in the state of FL the FL attorney general has acted, raided and has shut down several, however there are so many scams that it takes time to shut them all down .... many scam companies are run from locations with no physical address, so it's hard to track them all down.

The best thing you can do is file a complaint with the attorney general in the state the scammers are located. In most cases you can do this online.