Acquisition Realty Group - Scam Warning

[TUGBrian]

Just another run of the mill upfront fee scammer, but getting the name out hopefully will allow potential victims to find this warning before losing money!

BBB Warning: Consumers report losses in selling timeshares with Acquisition Realty Group

Consumers report to BBB St. Louis that they gave Acquisition Realty Group money to cover fees and taxes for a timeshare transfer, but the deals have not been consummated.

www.bbb.org

kudos to the @STLBBB for continuing this fight!

 

[LannyPC]

kudos to the @STLBBB for continuing this fight!

Fair enough. Good for the BBB to put out this warning. But it continues to boggle my mind why the BBB continues to allow such companies. Yes, I understand the good old American way of innocent until proven guilty, but doesn't whoever at the BBB who has the authority to accredit these companies not see a pattern with companies who are timeshare associated?

It just seems (at least from my personal observations) that there is a pattern of scam TS-related companies who join the BBB, get a lot of negative reviews and complaints because they scam TS owners, then the BBB issues warnings. Am I missing something here?

 

[RX8]

Fair enough. Good for the BBB to put out this warning. But it continues to boggle my mind why the BBB continues to allow such companies. Yes, I understand the good old American way of innocent until proven guilty, but doesn't whoever at the BBB who has the authority to accredit these companies not see a pattern with companies who are timeshare associated?

It just seems (at least from my personal observations) that there is a pattern of scam TS-related companies who join the BBB, get a lot of negative reviews and complaints because they scam TS owners, then the BBB issues warnings. Am I missing something here?

Most companies don't “join” the BBB. Some may pay to be accredited and in return they are required to meet certain standards, such as respond to customer complaints. If they are not accredited then they may or may not even have a BBB profile. It is my understanding that the BBB doesn’t even build a profile unless the business specifically requests it or in response to complaints. Doesn’t look like Acquisition Realty Group was accredited.

In this case there were only three complaints on this company* before the BBB began an investigation which then led to the BBB issuing the warning. Sounds like they were on top of this one.

While the warning is out about Acquisition Realty Group all that is going to happen is that these scammers will simply create a new name, or hijack the name of a real company, create a new website and start cold calling. It is a guarantee that we will read a future news story about how another timeshare owner lost thousands of dollars to this new company.

* I use the word “company” but in reality they are not a company. Like all the other “companies” running the same scam everything about them is fake (in this case they simply used the name of a real company).

Acquisition Realty Group | Better Business Bureau® Profile

This organization is not BBB accredited. Real EMOs in Saint Louis, MO. See BBB rating, reviews, complaints, & more.

www.bbb.org

 

[TUGBrian]

Believe they have also explained in the past that all the regional BBBs are separate entities.

 

[davidvel]

Fair enough. Good for the BBB to put out this warning. But it continues to boggle my mind why the BBB continues to allow such companies. Yes, I understand the good old American way of innocent until proven guilty, but doesn't whoever at the BBB who has the authority to accredit these companies not see a pattern with companies who are timeshare associated?

It just seems (at least from my personal observations) that there is a pattern of scam TS-related companies who join the BBB, get a lot of negative reviews and complaints because they scam TS owners, then the BBB issues warnings. Am I missing something here?

BBB does not have any "authority" to accredit anyone anymore than you or I do. Too much faith is put into BBB ratings/accreditation.