American Financial lifeline- Scam?

[Hawaiibarb]

I'm among those who have been scammed, trying to sell my timeshare. Now I'm being approached by American Financial Lifeline (such a nice name.....surely they must be on the level, right?). I'm still gaining info from them, but I already know that they keep 40% of the money recovered. Same pitch as other companies I've read about here.....we're lawyers and para-legals, etc). The one name I have is Dwane Martin who is identified as head of the para-legals.

Does anyone have any info or experience with this group? Even 60% back would be better than nothing, but I don't want to be stupid again.

Thanks!
Barb

 

[DeniseM]

This type of company is just the latest TS scam - don't do it! MORE INFO.

 

[Hawaiibarb]

A different twist

Thanks, Denise. This company specifically focuses on getting the money back that you lost from the scammers. I'm not sure how they get our names. Honestly, their voices even sound so much like the original companies that scammed me. This twist, however, doesn't ask for any money up front, which I found interesting.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Thanks, Denise. This company specifically focuses on getting the money back that you lost from the scammers. I'm not sure how they get our names. Honestly, their voices even sound so much like the original companies that scammed me. This twist, however, doesn't ask for any money up front, which I found interesting.

The reason they sound so much like the original companies is that they are the original companies. Or more accurately the people from the original companies who are now operating under a new name. That's how they they got your name; it's the same people. Or the people from the company that suckered you in before sold your name and contact info to someone else running this operation.

This is simply the latest twist by these shysters. They took your money once promising that they would sell your unit. Now they're trying to play you again by posing as someone who can get back the money that they took from you the first time.

*****

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

 

[foreverloves]

They won't get any of your money back, but I'm curious about the no-upfront fee. That's one I haven't read yet. I wonder if they'll just have you sign a fancy marketing agreement or try to rent it? Bottom line is, they won't get your money and what was already said stands: They know you because they scammed you before under a different name. They think you are an easy mark - don't let them get away with it!

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

This twist, however, doesn't ask for any money up front, which I found interesting.

I suppose there is little problem with continuing as long as you don't pay them anything, give them a CC #, etc.

I think it's given, though, that at some point they are going to ask for money to complete the transaction. My hunch is that they will come back to you with good news - they've got your money back, they have a check in hand in your name, but before they release the check to you they need to get paid their 40%. As soon as you give them their cut, the check will be in the mail. If you protest they will say that since the check is made out to you, this is their only way of being sure that they actually get paid.

If you do play these shysters further, be sure to report back on how far you get before they ask for money and what the ruse is to get the upfront money.

 

[richardm]

Don't forget..

Often these new groups that "pop up" are in reality nothing more than lead generation. They operate for about a year or two, collect a ton of personal data- and then sell that data as lead lists.. They'll try to hit you up for some type of fee within a few weeks.. If you don't pay- it doesn't matter as they can then sell your lead on the back end.

 

[azhansel]

Just got off the phone with yet another affiliate! Someone is making public records requests of the Florida Attorney Generals office, getting information on those of us who have been violated, and using that information for marketing purposes. I recently received an e-mail from the Fl AG office advising that my information had been made available through a public records request, but there seems to be no way to find out from the AG office who is making these requests. Without a doubt it is yet another scam, figuring that those who succumbed before could be gotten again. Same approach as the timeshare re-sellers, but now they have a different game. There has to be a way to put an end to this.

 

[TSAdvocate]

Perhaps...

For the most part your correct. The majority of these companies are simply former owners of resale companies who are "cleaning" their data via the new scheme. Most of the companies who are charging a fee AFTER they secure a refund from the timeshare resale companies take this fee from the provisional credit typically provided during the dispute/ investigation process of the issuing merchant. Once the provisional credit is recieved to the owners credit card the company is then funded and "IF" the resale company responds to the dispute they simply take away the provisional credit and recharge the customer. The customer still gets taken for a ride.

Visa / MC rules are very funny and VERY time sensitive when issuing any type of dispute or chargeback. The services not rendered clause as well as product not recieved are only vaild for x amount of time. If you don't have someone who has does this right the first time then the probability of winning a dispute is comes few and far between. The companies issuing these temporary judgements or provisional credits are simply taking it on the front end again and giving it to the client in the rear again...