This is why you MUST report scammers to attorneys general ...

Second raid by SWAT Team in Orlando .... Upfront Fee Timeshare Resale scam company

This should get the message out loud and clear .... if this doesn't scare the bejeejus out of the scammers, nothing will.

SWAT Team Raids Building In Timeshares Bust

3 In Jail After Timeshare Business Raided Three people accused of running a bogus timeshare office in Orlando are being held in jail Thursday. (02/03/11)

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Two people accused of running a bogus timeshare office in Orlando are being held in jail Thursday.

SWAT officers raided Time Share Express in the 2000-block of S. Hiawassee Road (see map) in Veranda Park Wednesday in reference to an ongoing economic crimes investigation related to illegal activity involving the sales of timeshares, officers said.

Investigators said when officers stormed in Wednesday, employees began throwing cell phones and paperwork out of the office window.

Investigators said workers called the owners of time shares and claimed to have buyers. The owners would send money to sell the time share but after the money was transferred, the buyers would disappear.

Orlando Police arrested Michael Malgesini and Dominion Crupi after detectives spent hours examining paperwork at the time share office.

Crupi said, "Get away from me," when WFTV's Ryan Hughes asked him if he was a part of the alleged illegal activity.

Earlier in the day 11 people were detained and questioned including Malgesini and Crupi.

Tony Graham witnessed the raid.

"I heard the battering ram go through the door, walked outside, probably 50 to 60 police," Graham said.

Police said each fake transaction would cash in $500 to $1,000.

"You do see some pretty suspicious people coming in and out of that building," said Aaron Thomas an eyewitness.

Orlando Police also searched and hauled away a BMW as part of the investigation.

Malgesini and Crupi are charged with scheming to defraud and unlicensed telemarketing.

Two other employees were arrested on unrelated charges.

The names of the other people detained were not released Wednesday night but police told WFTV charges are likely to be filed against them.

It is the second raid on a time share telemarketing business in Orlando in less than one month. The police department told WFTV that Wednesday's investigation involves a scam similar to one that was busted in downtown Orlando in January (read that report), but involves a different group. Reply to This Message | Edit This Message jayjay

2 days ago Feb 15, 2011 08:58 AM

SWAT Raids Two Orlando Timeshare Businesses

Police raided two timeshare businesses right next to each other, and both have the same owners. (02/14/11)

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Two neighboring timeshare telemarketing operations were raided on Monday, Orlando police told WFTV. A SWAT team executed a search warrant on the two South Magnolia Avenue.

The search warrants indicated that the businesses had the same owners. Police said the company bilked hundreds of people all over the country out of at least $1 million over the last six to eight months.

Orlando firefighters were backed by a swarm of Orlando police investigators with the economic and property crimes units. They used a sledge hammer and a crow bar to rip the door off at the nondescript office space that was no bigger than a studio apartment.

Warrant information confirms they were looking for Lisa Canada and Max Chilson of Lake Mary. Instead, they found boxes of files, paper shredders, mafia posters and enough computers for 15 employees. Investigators said they were operating a sham timeshare company under two different names: "M and l Marketing Concepts" and "Maximum Properties."

"It's a huge rip off!" said Barbara Jones of the Orlando Police Department.

Investigators said, somehow, they got the names of people who owned timeshares at places like Disney, Wyndham and Westgate resorts, and offered to sell the properties for them. Police said they convinced the customers to send between $1,800 and $2,200 for closing costs, but they pocketed the money and timeshares were never sold.

Investigators found a board inside that shows exactly how much they were making: $82,000 just last week.

"That's small potatoes. I've gone into rooms where they are making $200,000 a week," consumer investigator Sasha Velez told WFTV.

WFTV found that Orlando and Palm Beach counties are hot spots are for the illegal set-ups.

"How big of a problem is this in Orlando?" WFTV reporter Daralene Jones asked Velez.

"It's huge." Velez said. "We have over 40 to 50 cases unlicensed right now that we are looking into. That's just the ones we know of."

Investigators also recovered $169,000 from nine different accounts at Bank of America.