Direct answer - NOT legitimate!
This is one of two types of "scams" out there:
- A true scam with them saying "We have a buyer willing to pay $XX,XXX and all you need to do is wire a refundable fee before you get your money". These scams are run by criminals who create fake business names and websites and cold call victims promising them that they have buyers or renters for their timeshare. They will create fake reviews and shills will post glowing reviews on TUG and other forums. Their goal is to steal as much money as they can then they disappear only to resurface under a new business name and website. They are in "business" for only a few months before starting the scam all over again. The scammers are generally outside of the US and target Mexican timeshares.
- An Advertising/Marketing Company, which Resort Options International is one of many out there. These listing/marketing companies have a legit website and in some cases real corporate entities. Like the scam above, they will cold call timeshare owners and lie by saying they have buyers and renters ready to pay thousands of dollars for their timeshare. They may also "guarantee" (really lie) that their timeshare will sell or rent. They mislead timeshare owners into thinking that their timeshare is worth thousands of dollars above real market value because their real purpose is to get a large upfront fee for "marketing" the timeshare on their website. No one would pay a huge fee if they knew their website was worth less than the upfront fee. Once paid, this company would place the timeshare ad on their poorly designed and hard to navigate website. It will sit for months or years along with hundreds of other similarly overpriced timeshares. Once they have the upfront fee that have zero incentive to do anything else and could care less if the timeshare ever sells. Like the true scam above, they will also create fake reviews and shills will also post to forums. They will generally stay in business for only a few years before they fold.
#1 are true scammers.
#2, the advertising listing companies are legit in that they provide a service, although a poor service. The service only exists to keep on the right side of the law. In my view though they
toe the line of scamming and in many cases step over that line when they lie by stating that they have buyers or renters lined up or by posting false reviews. Their real business purpose is simply to collect as many upfront fees as possible. The website is an afterthought.
Looking at Resort Options International, they have been in business since September 2017. One would think that a timeshare marketing company's website would cater to the
public looking to buy or rent a timeshare. Nope, not this company. Their website is more about attracting the upfront fee than providing details about what they have to buy or rent. In fact, they even include a page for people to pay that upfront fee directly from their website.
This is from their terms and conditions:
"Resort Options International, LLC (“ROI”) is a for rent by owner advertising company. ROI uses numerous advertising techniques to bring buyers, renters and sellers together, and offers a service to timeshare owners who wish to rent out or sell their timeshare properties. The Resort Options International advertising package rate is $3995.00 (USD) Per Property. Advertising fees are due upon activation of services."
"Resorts Options International markets, advertises and promotes available timeshare units, on behalf of the owners, directly to large corporations, corporate event planners and executives who are accustomed to spending top dollar on hotel accommodations on a frequent basis."
This is an outright ripoff at $10 let alone $3995. Their claim of renting directly to corporations is also a bunch of BS. Corporations do not rent timeshares. Just another lie.
