(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong and Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull warned consumers of a scam targeting owners of Mexican timeshares. The Office of the Attorney General has received several complaints from Connecticut constituents who have received unsolicited calls from individuals offering to buy their timeshares at a substantial profit. The owners are told they must wire fees and taxes up front to Mexico in order to facilitate the transfer. The offers are fake and follow a similar pattern reported by other offices around the country.
"An unsolicited call from someone offering to buy your property is a major red flag. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Hang up the phone, do not send any money, and call the Office of the Attorney General or your local police department," said Attorney General Tong.
"If you own a timeshare, don't entertain a conversation with someone who cold calls you offering to buy it at a good price - it's almost always a scam," said Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull. "If someone will only do business with you if you act quickly, and pay them in an untraceable form like wire transfer or cash, hang up the phone, or close the email - and report it."
If you have been the victim of a scam and need assistance, please contact the Office of the Attorney General at 860-808-5318 or by filing a complaint online at www.dir.ct.gov/ag/complaint. You may also contact the Department of Consumer Protection at 860-713-6300 or file a complaint at https://ct.gov/dcp/complaint.
Below are additional tips compiled by the Federal Trade Commission to help spot timeshare scams.
If you own a timeshare, question any offers to help you resell it. Be skeptical of companies that:
- claim the market in your area is “hot” and that they’re “overwhelmed” with buyer requests
- say they have buyers ready to purchase your timeshare — or promise to sell your timeshare within a specific time
- guarantee you’ll get big returns on your resale
- require you to pay fees upfront — even if there’s the promise of a “money-back guarantee”
- don’t provide a contract — or provide a contract that doesn’t accurately reflect conversations you had.
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Media Contacts:
Office of Attorney General William Tong
Elizabeth Benton
elizabeth.benton@ct.gov
860-808-5324 (office)
Department of Consumer Protection
Lora Rae Anderson
lorarae.anderson@ct.gov
860-713-6019 (office)
860 247-8711 (cell)