Timeshare buying scam- watch for "Albert Brown" or "Judy Boulay"

Some of you may be contacted by "Albert Brown" or "Judy Boulay" about buying your timeshare. IT IS A SCAM! Albert, aka Judy, will negotiate with you but will readily agree to your asking price. What will follow is this e-mail:

"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

elir2 wrote:

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. 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.

This person also inquires as John Byrne and Daniel Dorbin

Beware of two management companies, Intermedia Events, Inc in Los Angeles represented by Anthony DiMarco and Jim Bailey and George Triggs. They want to "rent" weeks at Club Velas Vallarta, then want you to pay part of maintenance fee and Mexican taxes. Another company, Investor Management Services of San Antonio, with a Ms. Puccini have similar proposals. Both companies have nice websites and look legit, but are NOT!!!!

They are using a new name now... Paul Kelleher. So be very careful and mindful people.

We have also been contacted by Investor Management Services, Mark Knight, saying that he has a buyer for our timeshare in Mexico. Today, we were contacted by Lincoln Services Group in Chicago as well. I believe that this is a scam and want to know if there's anything we can do about it. Thank you.

Ignore the scammers.

I was contacted by this Paul Kelleher and as soon as he requested personal information, it sounded fishy. Of course, I told him that personal information should not be exchanged since everything was going to be done through a broker. Anyway, haven't heard from him since. Just a tip, the person obviously doesn't think that many people know what an escrow account is and what a broker actually does. Need to educate ourselves. I actually believe in the saying "if something sounds to good to be true, it is because it is to good to be true".

Christina Williamson is another! I received the same email today! Beware!

I received an email message asking if my unit was still available and what the asking price was and some other information - that is on the RedWeek posting. I'm not sure if they got my information from the RedWeek posting, and if so why they would be asking the same questions that is on the posting. The email is from Barbara Giorgio (barbaragiorgio286@yahoo.com). Not sure if it is legit, anyone have any contact from this person?

It looks like Barbara Giorgio is a scam too, just received back an email with the same "offer", "disability"...etc...etc... FYI..

I just got a series of email from "Barbara Giorgio" but they did not come thru the Redweek channel. She wants to close within a couple of days. When I asked her to call me, she said she had a hearing disability and her broker would be in touch with me. She offered to send me a $500 deposit and asked for all my details. Thanks for the warnings!

I got the same inquiries and offer from Barbara Giorgio starting on May 26. I am so glad I decided to google her and found these and other postings all with the same MO. Shew did get my info through Redweek.

so what happened because all I gave her was my second home address and my and wifes name which was on ad already? Should I do anything at this point?

markt338 wrote:

I just got a series of email from "Barbara Giorgio" but they did not come thru the Redweek channel. She wants to close within a couple of days. When I asked her to call me, she said she had a hearing disability and her broker would be in touch with me. She offered to send me a $500 deposit and asked for all my details. Thanks for the warnings!

thanks for all the heads up on these newest scams. I do have my timeshare up for sale on a free ad places and only one inquire came in. I reply to them that I only wanted to deal with someone local and if they are not in the US I am not interested. I asked them to send me their phone # never heard from them again. You have to keep on testing and do not beleive what they tell you get feedback and check out the info they give you. Do not give out any of your personal info EVER!!!!

received the same from "Chrisitina Williamson", I went as far as getting the check mailed to me. Had my bank look it over just to confirm it was a bad check. Now my bank and the bank they used to write the bad check are investigating. I even talked to "Samuel Kaplan" on the phone. He talks a good game. I also was surprised by his Indian accent and his seemingly normal american sounding name. Just beware out there.

Me too! I got suspicious as soon as I got the scam email that she was hard of hearing and traveling and was going to send me a check that I had to forward to Samuel. So I looked here and sure enough another scammer. ugh..

Add another name fo the list of fraud: BARBARA GIORGIO.

Just got this;

Sorry for my delay in getting in touch with you as I have been away from home and just had access to my email. I was instructed to contact you by my client Ms Barbara Giorgio to arrange the sale and transfer procedures for your timeshare. I am informed that the agreed sales price for your timeshare is 55,000 dollars. Ms Giorgio has also informed me that an initial deposit of 500 dollars is already on its way to you along with my fees of 2,400 dollars as soon as funds are deposited and available. Please note that we shall be making use of First American title transfer company which is a national title transfer company with license to effect title transfer in all states. The process which I shall be undertaking is explained clearly in 7 steps as below 1- As soon as I get my fees, I will contact First American title to begin the process. When I pay the title transfer and escrow costs, we will be issued with a title transfer agent or contact person who will handle the process. I will provide the contact information of that person so you can be in touch with him or her if you like.

2- Broker(Samuel Kaplan) initiates the closing process with First American title by completing simple online forms. 3- Buyer and seller receives an email from First American title (with username and password) requesting that he or she complete the online buyer and seller forms for the timeshare details and verify information. 4- Seller and buyer receive an email that includes the escrow number. 5- First American title prepares and emails escrow instructions, the transfer deed and closing documents to seller and buyer. Seller and buyer review documents, provide necessary signatures, and return documents to First American Title per instructions. 6- First American title emails or faxes an estimated closing statement to the buyer and requests the funds necessary to close escrow. You have the option to verify and confirm that your balance funds have been paid into the escrow account by the buyer. When funds are received, First American title closes the transaction. 7- First American title notifies all parties of the closing (including the proper resort management company or HOA), provides funds to the seller, and sends all necessary documentation to both the seller and the buyer. Please be aware that I am currently in Cairo to attend an international timeshare auction seminar as well as take a vacation and will coordinate the Sale and title transfer from here. This would not affect the closing as my input is minimal. Please answer below questions so I can determine how best to proceed. 1- Do you have a clear title or do you owe on the property? If yes, How much do you owe? 2- Are your maintenance fees up to date? If no, how much is the maintenance fees for 2013? 3- Please provide a phone number and indicate the most convenient time to reach you so I can get in touch with you as soon as I get payment. Please answer the above questions, when I hear from you, I will provide wire details so you can wire my fees to me upon receipt of the check. When I receive funds, I will proceed immediately. Closing time would take anywhere between 15-20 working days using the expedited option. I have copied my client on this email so he can follow up accordingly. You can reach me on +201117344942. Reply soon. Sincerely, Samuel Kaplan

Since I have dealt with this guy and he ticked me off so much, did not get my money by the way, I say you string him along and get the authorities (local police, fbi, whoever will listen) and get this clown (and his cohorts) arrested. That is just my opinion, I wish I would have gone about it a different way when I had the bank check out the check before I deposited it. Just my .02