I live in Ontario, Canada. On Nov. 3, a person identifying himself as Mark Andrews telephoned me from Florida saying he wanted to buy my Timeshare property in Massachusetts. He offered to pay almost three times what the timeshare cost me when I bought it two years ago. He had all the factual information about the timeshare. I told him I had to discuss the potential transaction first with my wife, and look up my file on the timeshare. The next day he called and said he would call again the following day. The following day he again called and said he was licensed and his licence number was TP1721. He asked if I wanted to sell. I said yes. He said that the hard copy transaction papers would take about a week to get to me, and the proceeds of the sale could be deposited directly to my bank account: But first I would need to give him $875 as some sort of processing or transfer fee (he wasn't clear about why this money needed to be deposited first, but wanted it paid on my credit card). When I asked for further elaboration about giving him (an unknown stranger who wants $875 to start a deal, with no other support than a lot of talk over the phone, he disconnected the call). This person deliberately misrepresented his business with a torrent of verbiage, and without full disclosure. He said he was licensed and quoted a licence number, but did not tell me that his license was as a telemarketer, or what the meaning or significance of the licence was. He told me his name was Mark Andrews. He lead me to believe his surname was Andrews. My subsequent research with the Florida division of Consumer Service revealed that he has a direct marketing licence under the name of Mark Andrews Boring. So he was using a half-truth to misrepresent his full name. He gave me two telephone numbers at which he could be contacted: 1-800-380-6852 and 727-565-5675, but my call display indicated that his call came from 727-571-4298, a number that my reverse telephone search later revealed to be listed to a Patrick Schully at 10550 72nd St., Suite 107, Seminole, FL. He gave U.S. Vacations.org as his company name and WEB site. Chek it out. This is not his company. He indicated that he wanted to buy my property, and that he had a buyer for it. But this was a lie! Apparently he is a broker, and there was no buyer in sight. Therefore, I would be releasing my title on speculation that he could sell it. He did not make this clear to me. Fortunately, I did not release the $875 to him. During this time of economic strife, where many U. S citizens are troubled by plummetting real estate values, there are a lot of people who are susceptible to offers to purchase their tirme shares, particularly when the offer is higher than their purchase price, and particularly if they are unsophisticated or elderly. A person who says he will buy your property. Offers a dollar amount, and makes claims that suggest legitimacy (such as being a licence holder), and does not disclose the full truth is practising fraudulent misrespresentation. An honest person would use his full name, state clearly that he is only a broker who will search for a potential buyer. An hones person would not indicate an unrealistically hight price of purchase for your property, would not imply that the purchase is virtually a "done deal, " would not flaunt a licence as a claim to legitimacy (when iit probably involves little more than buying a dog licence), and would not demand an up-front $875. I know of no brokers who are paid prior to the consummation of a deal. This person is doing business across State lines, and across International borders. His methods not only could hurt people who succumb to his pitch, but also diminish the reputation of the State of Florida, where he operates and where he is "licenced." I request that you look into this case of fraudulent misrepresentation, and also forward my message to the Attorney General of Florida.
Thank you, Dr. Peter Banting, RR1,105 Filman Rd, Ancaster, ON, L9G 3K9Canada
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