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How to avoid being scammed on selling my TS

W

whistler

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 10, 2025
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Selling Time share
I have an advertising of my time share(TS) on TUG and get a call to offer to buy my TS.
They just told me that they want to buy my TS and no sign of asking upfront fees or any payment yet.
They told me that the are travel agency and want to buy my TS to rent out.
They will have the offer on through my email . Do they have to go through TUG for comunication?
Any advice that could be a Scam or not?
I am new to TUG forum. Appreciated any help/advice on selling. Thanks
 
sadly thats a very common scam.

you will be lured in with the promise of a big payday and then asked to pay some sort of legitimate sounding fee. this scam has been around for many years.

Was I contacted by a Scammer to Sell or Rent my Timeshare?

A checklist for owners to determine if a Timeshare company is legitimate or a scam
tug2.net
 
Thank you for your advice. How am I get rid of them . Just don't reply to any calls i might miss a real.potential.
Do they have to contact me through TUG or not required as my contactnis out there?
I read all.TUG articles about scammer on selling/buying TS and confused about how to getting/recognize a authentic purchaser for my TS.
Any hints/advice on signs/tips of recognize an authentic purchaser
Thanks
 
whistler said:
Thank you for your advice. How am I get rid of them . Just don't reply to any calls i might miss a real.potential.
Do they have to contact me through TUG or not required as my contactnis out there?
I read all.TUG articles about scammer on selling/buying TS and confused about how to getting/recognize a authentic purchaser for my TS.
Any hints/advice on signs/tips of recognize an authentic purchaser
Thanks
Click to expand...
You advertise your timeshare, most are worth $0, then wait for a prospective buyer, get their information, contact LT Timeshares at readylegal@gmail.com, tell them you are TUG member, you have a buyer for your timeshare, and they take it from there. They send a contract. If the people refuse to sign the contract, you don't have a legitimate buyer.

To add to this information, you should also find out what your timeshare is worth. You can look at Free Timeshares, which is part of the TUG forums, and see if anyone has given away a timeshare similar to yours. IF that is the case, you might have to offer to pay closing costs. I have paid many a closing cost to give away timeshares we cannot use.

It's important to realize what you own has not increased in value, no matter what the salesperson says.
 
note that anyone can contact you thru your marketplace listing, though they are not provided with your email address until you reply.

most scams like this make it obvious in the first contact its a scam, others may not.

the point is that every scam that will target you will EVENTUALLY try to get you to send them money.
 
Thanks so.much for your advice. I will follow your wise recomerndation. I realized that TS that would definitely worth less than my cost .i carefully check the ebay, TUG advertising TS for sale or free to donate and don't find anything similar to price my TS.. it os not easy to price if i had no similar . Most similar TS are for rental.only.
Thanks again fir the legal referral..I will definitely use them as TUG member.
Have a great day
 
just looked at your listing, im not current on grand luxxe vidanta options, but ive yet to see one be sold for anywhere near your asking price of 25k, especially with the reports of vidanta charging huge fees (like 5x your annual maint fees) to transfer the ownership. Usually listings like this are prime targets for the scams you encountered because the scammers already know you are looking for a large payday and thus their scams are far more effective.

I doubt you would need to hire a closing company for the transfer of a mexican timeshare as there is no deed involved.

id start reading the TUG mexico forums for other vidanta owners and their experiences trying to sell.
 
Thank you again for your wise recommendation. I didn't use this TS for long time due to health issue and try to get our of it. I kniw Vidanta wanted 5X the maintenance fees to transfer the ownership.
I try to get out but the fees are high as I am Canadian paying in US $ are costly for me.
Do.you have any member with si.ilar experience.please provide the lonk as you see their posts better than me.
Thanks
 

Mexico Timesharing

Discussion of Mexican Timeshare Resorts and Timesharing activities, tips and advice for vacations in Mexico!
tugbbs.com
 
whistler said:
Thank you again for your wise recommendation. I didn't use this TS for long time due to health issue and try to get our of it. I kniw Vidanta wanted 5X the maintenance fees to transfer the ownership.
I try to get out but the fees are high as I am Canadian paying in US $ are costly for me.
Click to expand...
Since what you have and are trying to get rid of, your best bet might just be to stop paying MFs or membership fees and let your membership lapse. Vidanta will eventually terminate the membership.

You might face a bunch of annoying collection calls and letters but those can usually just be ignored until Vidanta finally ends your membership.
 
Thank you so much for your advice and helpful information. However if i do that would i may be barred to enter into Mexico as a tourist since they might put my ID in flag with Mexican border. I never do anything like that such not paying my bills so i am a little bit concern of the legal consequences.
I will kept your suggestion in mind.
 
whistler said:
I try to get out but the fees are high as I am Canadian paying in US $ are costly for me.
Click to expand...
We dont own a MX timeshare, but I wonder if, since the timeshare has very little to no value, and you can not sell it, if you should just walk away. I know there is no credit impact for us Canadians from US debts (the financial computer systems for each country are not linked) and I would gather it is the same for a debt in Mexico by a Canadian.
I'm sure somebody more knowledgeable will chime in if that isn't the case.

~Diane
 
Thanks for your suggestion. I have no debt owning to US or Mexico only the maintenance fees from Vidanta
Also the maintenance fees is charged when making reservation. No reservation no MF charged.
However they did requested every 5 yrs a MF for renovation or reconstruction cost in 2025 which I don't want to pay again.
As you explain that I could walk away without any impact on my credit score as two credit systems not the same.
However would I have any legal problem crossing birder to Mexico in the future because of non paying fees.
Anyone could clarify it for me as I never have debts outstanding or not paid in
Canada or elsewhere .
Thanks
 
whistler said:
However would I have any legal problem crossing birder to Mexico in the future because of non paying fees.
Click to expand...
I know for sure that we Canadians have absolutely no trouble entering the USA with an outstanding debt in the USA as none of the financial institution's (or any other company's) computer systems are not in any way connected to the Govt Customs & Immigration (ie; border folks) computers. It also works in the reverse for Americans entering Canada. I would think the only way anybody would get caught is if it was a huge debt and there was a warrant issued for their arrest.


~Diane
 
Thanks so much for the clarification. Really appreciated it.
I can breath easy now.
 
TUGBrian said:
note that anyone can contact you thru your marketplace listing, though they are not provided with your email address until you reply.

most scams like this make it obvious in the first contact its a scam, others may not.
Click to expand...
I think it was coincidence. @whistler posts and it just happens that a scammer send an e-mail very close to the posting time.

TS
 
Just joined this group as I was looking up ArcBright and am now dealing with the knowledge I have been scammed; just the past 2 months. Out now about $2500 (it was put on credit card. I am 81 years old and 3 months post major surgery.,I am not sure if I could make a complaint of financial elder abuse. It is a Hyatt Vacation Club ;formerly Lawrence Welk.
 
chances are your only legitimate shot at restitution is if enough people file complaints with an attorney general and they pursue a judgement against the scammers.

sadly most just never report it and these people continue to rip owners off for years

here are some other options, though admittedly most of these are more for notifying other owners before they become victims than providing a legitimate chance at getting a refund.

Timeshare Scam Retaliation: Effective Options for Victims to Fight Back

Learn how to fight back against timeshare scams and reclaim your money. Explore effective strategies, free options, and expert advice to secure a refund and report the scammers!
tug2.net
 
Scsmmed Fish said:
Just joined this group as I was looking up ArcBright and am now dealing with the knowledge I have been scammed; just the past 2 months. Out now about $2500 (it was put on credit card. I am 81 years old and 3 months post major surgery.,I am not sure if I could make a complaint of financial elder abuse. It is a Hyatt Vacation Club ;formerly Lawrence Welk.
Click to expand...
Try disputing with your credit card.
 
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