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WARNING! THERE ARE SCAMMERS TRYING TO RIP YOU OFF!!
Hello,
Just want to post this as a warning for any unsuspecting person trying to rent their timeshare. I had a 'Doctor' say he 'was on a Navy Ship' and needed to send me a check for my rental. Only thing was he said he was sending a check for more than my $950 rental, and that I needed to 'take my fees from the check, and then wire the balance to another person' to assist with 'his friends travel plans'.
I thought this sounded funny, but since he was 'serving our country' and according to him 'had limited access to email', etc... I thought, ok, maybe he is legit, and I will help him out.
Well, after he sent the check he emailed me letting me know that he had sent it, 'AND AS SOON AS I RECEIVE THE CHECK TO WIRE THE BALANCE TO ANOTHER PERSON IMMEDIATELY AS TIME WAS OF THE ESSENCE'. Well, since I am not as gullable as some poor souls have been in the past, and the future, I smelled something VERY fishy with this guy and his tactics.
So, I emailed him and told him I wouldn't send ANY money until the check was converted to cash, which takes 7-10 business days minimum.
Well, my suspicions were correct. I immediately took this 'check', that was from a 'Trust National Bank', to a National Bank, and before he even tried to run it he noticed some of the same things I did. The ink on the check was RUBBING OFF. And other things were suspicious. So, the teller called the automated bank system and found the check was fraudulent, and counterfeit.
BEWARE, THESE SCUMBAGS will try to tell you to take your $950 or $1000 or ? out of the $6000 check! Yea, that's right $6000. !!! AND then send the remaining $5000 to someone else to help with the remainder of 'their friends' travel arrangements. If I would have been foolish enough to take $5000 out of my account immediately after receiving this check, as he stated I needed to do, I would now be out $5000 !!!
I hope this is read by ALL Timeshare Owners trying to rent their timeshare here and any other site, as the teller stated this is a very common tactic for these SLIMEBALLS.
Key is making sure you get whatever they sent you cashed, may take weeks in some cases, BEFORE you put the reservation in their name.
Hope this Helps!
Joe
Joe L.
joel382 wrote:Hello,Just want to post this as a warning for any unsuspecting person trying to rent their timeshare. I had a 'Doctor' say he 'was on a Navy Ship' and needed to send me a check for my rental. Only thing was he said he was sending a check for more than my $950 rental, and that I needed to 'take my fees from the check, and then wire the balance to another person' to assist with 'his friends travel plans'.
I thought this sounded funny, but since he was 'serving our country' and according to him 'had limited access to email', etc... I thought, ok, maybe he is legit, and I will help him out.
Well, after he sent the check he emailed me letting me know that he had sent it, 'AND AS SOON AS I RECEIVE THE CHECK TO WIRE THE BALANCE TO ANOTHER PERSON IMMEDIATELY AS TIME WAS OF THE ESSENCE'. Well, since I am not as gullable as some poor souls have been in the past, and the future, I smelled something VERY fishy with this guy and his tactics.
So, I emailed him and told him I wouldn't send ANY money until the check was converted to cash, which takes 7-10 business days minimum.
Well, my suspicions were correct. I immediately took this 'check', that was from a 'Trust National Bank', to a National Bank, and before he even tried to run it he noticed some of the same things I did. The ink on the check was RUBBING OFF. And other things were suspicious. So, the teller called the automated bank system and found the check was fraudulent, and counterfeit.
BEWARE, THESE SCUMBAGS will try to tell you to take your $950 or $1000 or ? out of the $6000 check! Yea, that's right $6000. !!! AND then send the remaining $5000 to someone else to help with the remainder of 'their friends' travel arrangements. If I would have been foolish enough to take $5000 out of my account immediately after receiving this check, as he stated I needed to do, I would now be out $5000 !!!
I hope this is read by ALL Timeshare Owners trying to rent their timeshare here and any other site, as the teller stated this is a very common tactic for these SLIMEBALLS.
Key is making sure you get whatever they sent you cashed, may take weeks in some cases, BEFORE you put the reservation in their name.
Hope this Helps!
Joe
Hi Joe,
Did this person contact you through RedWeek.com? If so, we would like to know who it is so we can investigate this matter further. Please email support@redweek.com with any information that you can provide to us.
Thanks, Marty

Marty F
marty8084 wrote:joel382 wrote:Hello,Just want to post this as a warning for any unsuspecting person trying to rent their timeshare. I had a 'Doctor' say he 'was on a Navy Ship' and needed to send me a check for my rental. Only thing was he said he was sending a check for more than my $950 rental, and that I needed to 'take my fees from the check, and then wire the balance to another person' to assist with 'his friends travel plans'.
I thought this sounded funny, but since he was 'serving our country' and according to him 'had limited access to email', etc... I thought, ok, maybe he is legit, and I will help him out.
Well, after he sent the check he emailed me letting me know that he had sent it, 'AND AS SOON AS I RECEIVE THE CHECK TO WIRE THE BALANCE TO ANOTHER PERSON IMMEDIATELY AS TIME WAS OF THE ESSENCE'. Well, since I am not as gullable as some poor souls have been in the past, and the future, I smelled something VERY fishy with this guy and his tactics.
So, I emailed him and told him I wouldn't send ANY money until the check was converted to cash, which takes 7-10 business days minimum.
Well, my suspicions were correct. I immediately took this 'check', that was from a 'Trust National Bank', to a National Bank, and before he even tried to run it he noticed some of the same things I did. The ink on the check was RUBBING OFF. And other things were suspicious. So, the teller called the automated bank system and found the check was fraudulent, and counterfeit.
BEWARE, THESE SCUMBAGS will try to tell you to take your $950 or $1000 or ? out of the $6000 check! Yea, that's right $6000. !!! AND then send the remaining $5000 to someone else to help with the remainder of 'their friends' travel arrangements. If I would have been foolish enough to take $5000 out of my account immediately after receiving this check, as he stated I needed to do, I would now be out $5000 !!!
I hope this is read by ALL Timeshare Owners trying to rent their timeshare here and any other site, as the teller stated this is a very common tactic for these SLIMEBALLS.
Key is making sure you get whatever they sent you cashed, may take weeks in some cases, BEFORE you put the reservation in their name.
Hope this Helps!
Joe
Hi Joe,
Did this person contact you through RedWeek.com? If so, we would like to know who it is so we can investigate this matter further. Please email support@redweek.com with any information that you can provide to us.
Thanks, Marty
No, it was from Craigslist, but could have easily been from here. But you brought up a good point, and I will post this same warning on Craigslist. Only problem they don't have a 'Forum' area to warn everyone. Maybe I will send it to the Craigslist 'help desk' to post to a general area of their site.
Joe L.
joel382 wrote:marty8084 wrote:joel382 wrote:Hello,Just want to post this as a warning for any unsuspecting person trying to rent their timeshare. I had a 'Doctor' say he 'was on a Navy Ship' and needed to send me a check for my rental. Only thing was he said he was sending a check for more than my $950 rental, and that I needed to 'take my fees from the check, and then wire the balance to another person' to assist with 'his friends travel plans'.
I thought this sounded funny, but since he was 'serving our country' and according to him 'had limited access to email', etc... I thought, ok, maybe he is legit, and I will help him out.
Well, after he sent the check he emailed me letting me know that he had sent it, 'AND AS SOON AS I RECEIVE THE CHECK TO WIRE THE BALANCE TO ANOTHER PERSON IMMEDIATELY AS TIME WAS OF THE ESSENCE'. Well, since I am not as gullable as some poor souls have been in the past, and the future, I smelled something VERY fishy with this guy and his tactics.
So, I emailed him and told him I wouldn't send ANY money until the check was converted to cash, which takes 7-10 business days minimum.
Well, my suspicions were correct. I immediately took this 'check', that was from a 'Trust National Bank', to a National Bank, and before he even tried to run it he noticed some of the same things I did. The ink on the check was RUBBING OFF. And other things were suspicious. So, the teller called the automated bank system and found the check was fraudulent, and counterfeit.
BEWARE, THESE SCUMBAGS will try to tell you to take your $950 or $1000 or ? out of the $6000 check! Yea, that's right $6000. !!! AND then send the remaining $5000 to someone else to help with the remainder of 'their friends' travel arrangements. If I would have been foolish enough to take $5000 out of my account immediately after receiving this check, as he stated I needed to do, I would now be out $5000 !!!
I hope this is read by ALL Timeshare Owners trying to rent their timeshare here and any other site, as the teller stated this is a very common tactic for these SLIMEBALLS.
Key is making sure you get whatever they sent you cashed, may take weeks in some cases, BEFORE you put the reservation in their name.
Hope this Helps!
Joe
Hi Joe,
Did this person contact you through RedWeek.com? If so, we would like to know who it is so we can investigate this matter further. Please email support@redweek.com with any information that you can provide to us.
Thanks, Marty
No, it was from Craigslist, but could have easily been from here. But you brought up a good point, and I will post this same warning on Craigslist. Only problem they don't have a 'Forum' area to warn everyone. Maybe I will send it to the Craigslist 'help desk' to post to a general area of their site.
Hi Joe,
These things can happen on RedWeek.com but are rare. There is one big difference between us and a free site like Craigslist, we require that all communication comes from paying members, which means we've received a good credit card or check. Our site is unique in this, and most thieves will simply find an easier site to target.
To read more about scams to watch out for please click on this link http://www.redweek.com/help/scams/419-overpayment-scam
Thanks, Marty

Marty F
marty8084 wrote:joel382 wrote:marty8084 wrote:joel382 wrote:Hello,Just want to post this as a warning for any unsuspecting person trying to rent their timeshare. I had a 'Doctor' say he 'was on a Navy Ship' and needed to send me a check for my rental. Only thing was he said he was sending a check for more than my $950 rental, and that I needed to 'take my fees from the check, and then wire the balance to another person' to assist with 'his friends travel plans'.
I thought this sounded funny, but since he was 'serving our country' and according to him 'had limited access to email', etc... I thought, ok, maybe he is legit, and I will help him out.
Well, after he sent the check he emailed me letting me know that he had sent it, 'AND AS SOON AS I RECEIVE THE CHECK TO WIRE THE BALANCE TO ANOTHER PERSON IMMEDIATELY AS TIME WAS OF THE ESSENCE'. Well, since I am not as gullable as some poor souls have been in the past, and the future, I smelled something VERY fishy with this guy and his tactics.
So, I emailed him and told him I wouldn't send ANY money until the check was converted to cash, which takes 7-10 business days minimum.
Well, my suspicions were correct. I immediately took this 'check', that was from a 'Trust National Bank', to a National Bank, and before he even tried to run it he noticed some of the same things I did. The ink on the check was RUBBING OFF. And other things were suspicious. So, the teller called the automated bank system and found the check was fraudulent, and counterfeit.
BEWARE, THESE SCUMBAGS will try to tell you to take your $950 or $1000 or ? out of the $6000 check! Yea, that's right $6000. !!! AND then send the remaining $5000 to someone else to help with the remainder of 'their friends' travel arrangements. If I would have been foolish enough to take $5000 out of my account immediately after receiving this check, as he stated I needed to do, I would now be out $5000 !!!
I hope this is read by ALL Timeshare Owners trying to rent their timeshare here and any other site, as the teller stated this is a very common tactic for these SLIMEBALLS.
Key is making sure you get whatever they sent you cashed, may take weeks in some cases, BEFORE you put the reservation in their name.
Hope this Helps!
Joe
Hi Joe,
Did this person contact you through RedWeek.com? If so, we would like to know who it is so we can investigate this matter further. Please email support@redweek.com with any information that you can provide to us.
Thanks, Marty
No, it was from Craigslist, but could have easily been from here. But you brought up a good point, and I will post this same warning on Craigslist. Only problem they don't have a 'Forum' area to warn everyone. Maybe I will send it to the Craigslist 'help desk' to post to a general area of their site.
Hi Joe,
These things can happen on RedWeek.com but are rare. There is one big difference between us and a free site like Craigslist, we require that all communication comes from paying members, which means we've received a good credit card or check. Our site is unique in this, and most thieves will simply find an easier site to target.
To read more about scams to watch out for please click on this link http://www.redweek.com/help/scams/419-overpayment-scam
Thanks, Marty
Thanks for the heads-up, Joe. I have had two variations of this scam come to me. I think they were also connected to a listing on Craig's List.
MD
Mary D.
Have any of you had experience using Pay-Pal when renting a timeshare? I have an account, but have been doubtful about using it. I get so many fake e-mails about my account which pretend to be from Pay-Pal but are NOT!
The idea is to have Pay-Pal bill the person renting your timeshare. The payment will show up immediately on the website when it is made, allowing you to go ahead and secure the reservation/guest confirmation without waiting for a check to arrive in the mail and clear the bank.
Would you who are looking for a timeshare to rent feel comfortable about this?
Mary D
Mary D.
Last edited by adahiscout on Jan 27, 2010 11:05 AM
Hello, This just happened to me 3 days ago. Basically same storey with a few changes. My renter was on his honeymoon and wanted to secure my rental so a client that owed him money was going to send it to me. THEN by mistake the client sent the money orders to me in the entire amount owed to him instead of the rental amount. Which was thousands more. So then he began dictating to me how I was to handle the "extra" money that had been sent to me by accident along with a bunch of "I am counting on you to be honorable as I have always dealt with people on there word" It took me twice to read it and I knew it was out of line. He either got my name from TUG, MYRESORTNETWORK.com or REDWEEK. These are the ONLY places I placed an ad. It was only my second time so I am very glad I saw thru this scum scammer. I was demanded to cash and send back immediatly. BEWARE.
Debi H.
debih10 wrote:Hello, This just happened to me 3 days ago. Basically same storey with a few changes. My renter was on his honeymoon and wanted to secure my rental so a client that owed him money was going to send it to me. THEN by mistake the client sent the money orders to me in the entire amount owed to him instead of the rental amount. Which was thousands more. So then he began dictating to me how I was to handle the "extra" money that had been sent to me by accident along with a bunch of "I am counting on you to be honorable as I have always dealt with people on there word" It took me twice to read it and I knew it was out of line. He either got my name from TUG, MYRESORTNETWORK.com or REDWEEK. These are the ONLY places I placed an ad. It was only my second time so I am very glad I saw thru this scum scammer. I was demanded to cash and send back immediatly. BEWARE.
Hi Debi,
Glad you saw thru the scam. If the email came from RedWeek.com the message email would say on the bottom unless you included your email address within the posting or RedWish:
"This message was sent through RedWeek.com.
Your privacy is important to us. If you suspect e-mail abuse, please contact us immediately at abuse@redweek.com.
RedWeek.com"
If you feel this scam came from RedWeek.com please email us immediately and let us know the person's name so we can further investigate.
Thanks, Marty

Marty F
Hi!
I'm on the "rentee" side but have a lot of experience with PayPal -- all good.
The way Pay Pal works is that the individual has to use a valid credit card or Pay Via their checking account or by an E-check. The credit card or checking option is credited to your account immediately, but only if there are funds available. (No different than at Wal-Mart or any other merchant.) An E-check usually takes about 4-7 days to clear so allow ample time for that.
I sell and buy a lot from Ebay and always Pay / receive $$ via PayPal and have never had a problem.
Hope this helps!
adahiscout wrote:Have any of you had experience using Pay-Pal when renting a timeshare? I have an account, but have been doubtful about using it. I get so may fake e-mails about my account which pretend to be from Pay-Pal but are NOT!The idea is to have Pay-Pal bill the person renting your timeshare. The payment will show up immediately on the website when it is made, allowing you to go ahead and secure the reservation/guest confirmation without waiting for a check to arrive in the mail and clear the bank.
Would you who are looking for a timeshare to rent feel comfortable about this?
Mary D
Joan R.
adahiscout wrote:Have any of you had experience using Pay-Pal when renting a timeshare? I have an account, but have been doubtful about using it. I get so may fake e-mails about my account which pretend to be from Pay-Pal but are NOT!The idea is to have Pay-Pal bill the person renting your timeshare. The payment will show up immediately on the website when it is made, allowing you to go ahead and secure the reservation/guest confirmation without waiting for a check to arrive in the mail and clear the bank.
Would you who are looking for a timeshare to rent feel comfortable about this?
Mary D
Mary I use my PayPal account exclusively for renting out my timeshares. It is fast, convieient and PayPal protects both you and the renter from fraud. This also allows the renter to use a credit card, further securing and providing piece of mind on their purchase. I like my renters to feel as secure as possible since there are soooo many scam artist out there.
Lance G.
lanceg wrote:adahiscout wrote:Have any of you had experience using Pay-Pal when renting a timeshare? I have an account, but have been doubtful about using it. I get so may fake e-mails about my account which pretend to be from Pay-Pal but are NOT!The idea is to have Pay-Pal bill the person renting your timeshare. The payment will show up immediately on the website when it is made, allowing you to go ahead and secure the reservation/guest confirmation without waiting for a check to arrive in the mail and clear the bank.
Would you who are looking for a timeshare to rent feel comfortable about this?
Mary D
Mary I use my PayPal account exclusively for renting out my timeshares. It is fast, convieient and PayPal protects both you and the renter from fraud. This also allows the renter to use a credit card, further securing and providing piece of mind on their purchase. I like my renters to feel as secure as possible since there are soooo many scam artist out there.
So how do you get your money from PayPal? Will they transfer it to your bank? (I have a Verified Account, so they know who this is.) Guess I'm not sure how this makes the other party feel more secure. PayPal isn't escrow. They certainly don't know what resorts I own.
Do you just tell the person who wants to rent your timeshare to send money to your e-mail address at PayPal or do you ask PayPal to bill them on your behalf? And what IS an E-check? (Sorry to be so dense on this whole subject.)
MD
Mary D.
Last edited by adahiscout on Mar 17, 2007 10:18 PM
marty8084 wrote:joel382 wrote:Hello,Just want to post this as a warning for any unsuspecting person trying to rent their timeshare. I had a 'Doctor' say he 'was on a Navy Ship' and needed to send me a check for my rental. Only thing was he said he was sending a check for more than my $950 rental, and that I needed to 'take my fees from the check, and then wire the balance to another person' to assist with 'his friends travel plans'.
I thought this sounded funny, but since he was 'serving our country' and according to him 'had limited access to email', etc... I thought, ok, maybe he is legit, and I will help him out.
Well, after he sent the check he emailed me letting me know that he had sent it, 'AND AS SOON AS I RECEIVE THE CHECK TO WIRE THE BALANCE TO ANOTHER PERSON IMMEDIATELY AS TIME WAS OF THE ESSENCE'. Well, since I am not as gullable as some poor souls have been in the past, and the future, I smelled something VERY fishy with this guy and his tactics.
So, I emailed him and told him I wouldn't send ANY money until the check was converted to cash, which takes 7-10 business days minimum.
Well, my suspicions were correct. I immediately took this 'check', that was from a 'Trust National Bank', to a National Bank, and before he even tried to run it he noticed some of the same things I did. The ink on the check was RUBBING OFF. And other things were suspicious. So, the teller called the automated bank system and found the check was fraudulent, and counterfeit.
BEWARE, THESE SCUMBAGS will try to tell you to take your $950 or $1000 or ? out of the $6000 check! Yea, that's right $6000. !!! AND then send the remaining $5000 to someone else to help with the remainder of 'their friends' travel arrangements. If I would have been foolish enough to take $5000 out of my account immediately after receiving this check, as he stated I needed to do, I would now be out $5000 !!!
I hope this is read by ALL Timeshare Owners trying to rent their timeshare here and any other site, as the teller stated this is a very common tactic for these SLIMEBALLS.
Key is making sure you get whatever they sent you cashed, may take weeks in some cases, BEFORE you put the reservation in their name.
Hope this Helps!
Joe
Hi Joe,
Did this person contact you through RedWeek.com? If so, we would like to know who it is so we can investigate this matter further. Please email support@redweek.com with any information that you can provide to us.
Thanks, Marty
Nancy S.