Watch for the recent timeshare scam: "Albert Brown" or "Judy Boulay"

If you receive a request to buy your timeshare from "Albert Brown" or "Judy Boulay", IT IS A SCAM. The scammer will "negotiate" with you by e-mail but eventually agree with your asking price. Eventually, you will get the following e-mail- DON'T FALL FOR IT:

"Thank you for your patience. Just to let you know that I had to travel and will be away from home for the next 6 weeks. I do not know if I have mentioned this before but I have a disability. I was informed by the hospital which I am registered with that a new hearing aid which is supposed to be able to restore 30% of my hearing ability has just been delivered and they would like to test run it with me. This is impromptu so I had to make speedy arrangements. I tried to reach my broker yesterday and today but I got an auto response that he is currently out of the country on business. I have however sent him numerous email messages along with your contact information and expect him to be in touch with you as soon as he receives my messages. Because I was unable to contact Samuel to send his brokerage fees, title transfer fees and escrow fees, I visited my bank and got a cashiers check for $2900 which I have also mailed out to you. Upon receipt, I would need you to deposit the check, funds should be available immediately, I would need you to deduct your Ernest deposit of $500, this is to affirm my willingness and seriousness to buy this property and fend off other offers while closing processes are arranged by my broker. Then, forward the balance $2400 to Mr Samuel Kaplan as his fees for your timeshare closing and escrow charges whenever he gets in touch with you. It is my assumption that Samuel will provide additional instructions on how to get the fees to him. He is my personal broker and would be responsible for all the documentation and deed of transfer. Samuel will work with Chicago title timeshare transfer company who would be handling the closing. Please note that the balance for your timeshare would be held in escrow. As soon as Samuel gets in touch with you and finalizes the sale, the balance will be released to you before you transfer the title deed. Please notify me as soon as you receive contact from Samuel. Do watch out for any mails to your address and also notify me as soon as you receive my check. Although I am away from home, I would still have access regularly to my email and would be in touch throughout the process. Thanks for your understanding and sorry for the minor inconvenience. Please respond to this email so I am aware that you have received my message.

Albert

This is a new form of timeshare scam similar to the Nigerian scam. If anybody buys this hogwash then they get what they deserve.

I have had many calls from timeshare scammers. I receive approximately 2 per week and have actually been documenting each and every step of their scams, including contracts, phoney SAT forms asking us to pay Mexican taxes, and a large variety of other false monies to these scam companies and I am outraged by them. I live in Florida and recently saw an article in the paper regarding a timeshare scam company that was recently "busted" by Federal authorities for having scammed $3.3 million dollars from 22,000 people.

I subsequently spoke to the reporter from the newspaper and one of my timeshare holdings which is The Grand Mayan (The Grand Bliss). The Grand Bliss is just as anxious to hold these scammers responsible and we need YOUR help. If you have been scammed, PLEASE contact me at: chilisue128@comcast.net and advise me of who you dealth with, including Company name, phone numbers, contacts at Company and details.

TOGETHER with your help and the support of all these resorts, the reporter I am dealing with as well as the Resort are MORE THAN willing to expose these dispicable "so-called" companies and have them held accountable for the monies they have stolen!!

This is a scam being posted in a lot of rooms today. Ivan is trying to lure new victims into his scam promising them he can recover their money. It's just a way to bilk you out of more money. He will claim that there is a " fee " that has to be paid before he can complete the transaction. Don't fall for his scam. This scam has been going on for a while out of Mexico. Once your money goes south of the border it's gone.

We fell for a total scam that passed all my very complete background checking...I only didn't call the resort to ask the process of selling--stupid me! The "company" I worked with is Fidelis Title and Escrow. I found customer reviews through International Resort Source that supported this company as having completed their sales. There was nothing on the Chicago BBB in complaint nor on any scam alerts.

Their agents Gene Schroeder, Dave Wilson, Mark Del Rio all sent much supporting documents, stated that an escrow company was the way to sell as all your money was safe...on and on. I even recieved a copy of the "wire" that later got held up in the Mexican Federal Reserve for money laundering....and on and on to the total of $20,000!!! I can't believe it still as I am not a stupid person but I believed them hook line and sinker.

The Mayan had me send the signed contract and some paperwork to them but I have heard nothing. I didn't send all the emails yet until I do. I filed a Internet Fraud Complaint.

They also work with Luis Sanchez, a holding company called JP Holdings, and another title company called Steinberg and Ross. Fidelis has been in the Chicago yellow pages for years--no wonder I believed them to be real.

At least they didn't get my property and maybe I can rent some of the weeks I own and recover a bit of this.

Worked with Gene Schroeder and Dave Wilson and they took $550 to pay taxes in Mexico then wanted $900 more for closing costs and transfer fees. They stated that if we pay the $900 and let them keep the receipt that they would reimburse us the money---total scam. Didn't give them any part of the $900 but there was something we could do to get our money back!

sharonl428 wrote:

Worked with Gene Schroeder and Dave Wilson and they took $550 to pay taxes in Mexico then wanted $900 more for closing costs and transfer fees. They stated that if we pay the $900 and let them keep the receipt that they would reimburse us the money---total scam. Didn't give them any part of the $900 but there was something we could do to get our money back!

You can report them to Profeco .... the consumer advocacy agency in Mexico .... google for contact ino .... the fact that they wanted you to send them the first $500 for taxes should have raised a big red flag with you.