The scam/fraud begins with a phone call inquiring whether you are interested in selling the timeshare you own. Expressing interest, I will recieved an "Exclusive Sales Contract" with an attractive sales price of $25,780 and several appropriate legal provisions. Several days after sending Bayside the required notarized "Sale of Timeshare" document we recieved an email and phone call explaining that we must pay a substantial Mexican Federal sales transfer tax. David Bishop, Purchasing Director of Bayside, also emailed a document purported to be from the Mexican bank Banamex confirming that they hold a deposit amounting to over $475,000 USD to cover the purchase of our specific timeshare. I called the person at this bank in Mexico who confirmed this deposit for this purpose. I was assured that the purchase would close soon after I wired funds to Banamex for payment of the Mexican tax. I wired the funds to Banamex and several days later recieved an email copy of what purports to be an official reciept of this tax payment from the Mexican government.
I was then told by a Jonathan Fuller at Bayside, that they just recieved word that I must pay another sales transfer tax, this time to the Mexican state. This payment was required before closing. Bayside assured me in writing that each of these tax payments would be reimbursed at closing per the terms of the Sales Agreement. Before wiring any more money, I asked for contact information for people for whom they had concluded similar timeshare sales. I was given contact information for 3 parties in different states. I was able to reach 2 of them. Each person claimed they had successfully recieved the proceeds promised even though they were also required to pay these taxes in advance.
I then wired the funds for the second tax. I am now over $6,000 out of pocket.
The final straw was yet another request of payment of an"Escrow Tax" before the transaction would close.
Jonathan fuller explained that this was normal practice in Mexico. I reluctantly wired these funds thinking that this must be the final step. I believed the veracity of the 2 people I called.
Three weeks passed when I recieved an email from a Melissa Baker at Bayside requiring me to pay yet another fee, a "state" escrow fee. She guaranteed closing within 3 days of reciept, just as had been promised with previous payments. I have not paid this nor anything further. I have not heard from Bayside, nor do I expect to.
This is a sophisticated scam, using Banamex letterhead, Mexican government tax reciepts, persons to answer calls to the purported Banamex escrow department, and even lying individuals to serve as "references". Nevertheless, it is a fraud.
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