Please report upfront fee scammers to Attorney General ..... there's power in numbers

Have you tried this law firm:

http://www.aconsumerfraudlawyer.com/html/class_action.html

I was looking on the internet and fould in the santa rosa gazette that the attorney generals office has file a lawsuit with resales buy owner, It was dated on march 12, 2010. I hope for all of the consumers this is true. I will find a lawyer this will be my second one contacting the first one looked at the contract and never called back. LIke I said I will not stop until all these scammers are out of business,I told them not to screw me over or I would be their worst nightmare.

Hi Jayjay, I've been scamed by couples of thoses up front fees companies and want them out of business too, to prevent others from being cheated. But do you think that timeshares developpers shouldn't be in the same package? They still pitch sale you that it is real estate, sure value that's worth several tousands, knowing that once you own it, you won't be able to sell it for a buck or so... And we're talking about many of us being trapped like this by those developpers that charge you maintenance fees that grows more quicker that the sale pitch said...My question is, why not stopping thoses like Westgate, Orange lake or anyones like that making over $10k every times they sell a week that is not worh a dollar? and those cie will never help the owner they sold to, to sell his week pretending they sell new ones!!

I received a phone call from a company (I'll withhold the name for the time being) saying that it is a company going after these "resale" companies (by the way, yes I am a victim). He knew which company scammed me. He says that he can work on my behalf but he asked for (you guessed it...) an upfront fee of $289.

Is this a scam? Is it legit? Has anyone else received such a phone call?

lancec13 wrote:

I received a phone call from a company (I'll withhold the name for the time being) saying that it is a company going after these "resale" companies (by the way, yes I am a victim). He knew which company scammed me. He says that he can work on my behalf but he asked for (you guessed it...) an upfront fee of $289.

Is this a scam? Is it legit? Has anyone else received such a phone call?

This is hilarious .... another upfront fee scam supposedly going after timeshare upfront fee resale scammers (I actually laughed out loud). How did these people get your phone number and personal information ???? That would concern me.

How did these people get your phone number and personal information ???? That would concern me

I'm guessing from my "ad" in this resale company's website?

Kind of like spamming, one entity gets your info from public records (Deeds), someone matches the deed to free information searches, another entity collects info from making inquiries on FSBO and FRBO websites (people who inquire online but don't include phone number and you reply via e-mail with your phone number). Then the spam e-mail begins to farm any responses, plus any company using a list probably repackages the list and resells to others... and before you know it you're on everyone's list!

I just listed my time share with realty Properties for $1490. Is there any way I can take my time share off the market and get my money back.

As I posted in this thread http://www.redweek.com/forums/messages?thread_id=16677&page=last&utm_source=forum-alert&utm_medium=email&utm_content=topic

IT IS BEST TO CALL THE FL ATTY GENERAL to verify this is legit. Although there appear to be 20 DA's in FL so check these site to choose which one you want to call: http://sa18.state.fl.us/general/saolist.htm http://public.findlaw.com/library/state-district-attorneys/FL.html

But Antonio Pardo with First Choice Advocates 954-741-5243 and 866-611-4750 called me about a month ago. He said he's part of an organization working to contact timeshare owners who were called by the scam companies. Antonio said the FL DA office is initiating investigations which would lead to convictions but of course the companies settle. One part of the settlement is providing call records of all the peole each scam company calls.

Antonio stated he works for one of the companies making the calls to determine how many owners were scammed.

I have not called the Atty Gen to verify this since I haven't been scammed, athough I appear to be the only person who sucessfully sold a block of timeshares to one of the scam companies.

I just got called by an automated system offering to list my timeshare for $499, the number was 603-214-3339. Now they are using automation to more efficiently call us!

royinec wrote:

I just listed my time share with realty Properties for $1490. Is there any way I can take my time share off the market and get my money back.

About the only thing you can do is report them to the attorney general in the state the scammers are located. Once they get that upront fee that's all they want and you and your timeshare is history to them.

You should have researched upfront fee scams before handing over your credit card number for such a large amount .... expensive lesson learned.

I was contacted by First Choice Advoctes about getting money back from these companies - any truth to thier actions?

philliph32 wrote:

I was contacted by First Choice Advoctes about getting money back from these companies - any truth to thier actions?

Unless proven, I know of no legitimate company that will help get your upfront fee back .... looks like just another upfront fee scam .... I assume they ask for an upfront fee.

if this is Jay, I was scammed by Universal company and was told they had a buyer. stupid me, wanting to sell so badly sent them the money. I tried the site for lawsuit but nothing came up. can u send any more info for me. i would like to do what I can to stop these people and ifr in process get some of my money back that would be great. also the people who sell the timeshares, some of them lie when u are at the presentation and then when u go to sign papers it isn't as u were told but they talk u into it again. thanks sue Lockwood-mskdrfirst@yahoo.com

how to u get to the place to put your scam on the books for the refunds that they say they might give back? Sue Lockwood

suel160 wrote:

if this is Jay, I was scammed by Universal company and was told they had a buyer. stupid me, wanting to sell so badly sent them the money. I tried the site for lawsuit but nothing came up. can u send any more info for me. i would like to do what I can to stop these people and ifr in process get some of my money back that would be great. also the people who sell the timeshares, some of them lie when u are at the presentation and then when u go to sign papers it isn't as u were told but they talk u into it again. thanks sue Lockwood-mskdrfirst@yahoo.com

In most cases state attorneys general have a website and you can file a complaint online .... look up the attorney general in the state the scammers are located. These suits take a while to render so don't give up and keep sending your complaint over and over.

What state are the scammers in?

We are looking at selling our timeshare in Mexico-has anyone had any success selling their timeshare and with what company without paying any "upfront" fees?

Thanks, D. White

debbiew212 wrote:

We are looking at selling our timeshare in Mexico-has anyone had any success selling their timeshare and with what company without paying any "upfront" fees?

Thanks, D. White

You can sell it just as easy yourself by posting it on timeshare ad sites such as Redweek, however you must ask a reasonable price in this economy (some timeshare weeks can't even be given away) .... it's all depends on the supply and demand of your week and resort.

Another timeshare upfront fee resale scam raided and shut down for the second ..... thank all of you that's contacted the attorney general in Florida concerning these scam operators.

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. -- Only WFTV was there Wednesday as state investigators raided a timeshare call center in Volusia County on South Atlantic Avenue in Ormond Beach.

Investigators said Buy Owner Resort Marketing in Ormond Beach promised to help customers sell their timeshares and then took their money.

WFTV confronted one employee about the claims. The employee claimed she had no idea what was going on. She said they weren't doing anything illegal.

State agents raided the call center and seized boxes of records and computers. The company is under investigation after dozens of people claimed they were being scammed by the timeshare company.

The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shut down the company in March for being an unlicensed telemarketing company. The state reopened its investigation and then served a warrant when it learned the company was still operating.

Victims all over the country filed complaints with the State Attorney General's Office. They said the company promised to sell or rent out their timeshare properties, but never delivered.

Victims said they paid thousand of dollars in upfront fees, appraisals and even closing costs. WFTV tried to talk to the owners, but no one came to the door. Employees denied any wrongdoing.

WFTV learned the Better Business Bureau gave the company an “F” rating and said there are at least 20 unanswered complaints.

Officials are unaware of any timeshares ever being rented or sold.

The company is once again shut down. The state would not give WFTV any other details and said it is an ongoing investigation.

So far there have been no arrests.