Timeshare Resale & Exit Scams: How Cold-Callers Target Seniors with Fake Buyers

Your phone rings. The caller ID displays an out-of-state number.

A cheerful, professional representative introduces himself:"Hello, Mr. Henderson. I’m calling from International Vacation Asset Group. We have an executive corporate client who is acquiring multiple points packages at your resort in Orlando. Our buyer has formally offered $32,000 for your timeshare interval. Would you be interested in selling?"

You can barely believe your ears. You have been paying $1,800 a year in maintenance fees for a timeshare your family hasn't visited in a decade.

He emails you an official "Purchase and Sale Agreement." You sign it and send it back.

The next day, your phone rings again:"Great news! The contract is finalized. To release the buyer's $32,000 escrow funds, Mexican tax regulations require a foreign transaction registration fee of $2,400. You need to wire that fee to our escrow agent today. Once received, the full $34,400 will be wired to your account within 48 hours."

You send the wire.

Two days later, they call back: now there is an "inter-bank customs clearance tax" of $3,800. Then an "international title translation fee" of $1,900.

You keep paying, desperate to recover your money.

By the time you realize no buyer ever existed, you have wired $18,000 of your retirement savings into an overseas criminal syndicate.

The Harsh Reality of the Timeshare Resale Market

Here is the single most important truth every timeshare owner must accept:The Reality: There are NO buyers waiting to pay tens of thousands of dollars for your used timeshare.

Because timeshares carry perpetual maintenance fee obligations, thousands of owners list their timeshares on eBay and owner forums for $1.00 just to give them away.

Any cold-caller claiming they have a buyer willing to pay thousands of dollars for your timeshare is 100% a telemarketing scammer.

Federal Prosecution: The William O'Hanlon Takedown

In May 2025, federal prosecutors in New Jersey convicted telemarketing kingpin William O'Hanlon and his wife Karen Stefanowski for orchestrating an enterprise that stole over $2 million from more than 800 timeshare owners over age 55 through companies like Williams Andrews Burns LLC (WAB).

The syndicate cold-called seniors with fake buyer offers, took upfront fees, and then hit the same victims a second time—posing as "government recovery agents" claiming to hold FTC restitution checks!

How to Safely Exit a Timeshare for Free

You never need to pay an upfront "exit company" $5,000 to get rid of your timeshare:

• Call Your Resort Developer Directly: Major developers (Wyndham, Marriott, Hilton, Disney) have official Deed-Back / Surrender Programs. If your mortgage is paid off, they will take back the deed for free or a nominal recording fee.
• Give It Away on TUG: List your timeshare for free on the non-profit Timeshare Users Group (tug2.net), the oldest and most trusted timeshare community in the world.
• Never Wire Upfront Fees: Legitimate real estate brokers take their commission from the sale proceeds at closing—they never demand thousands in cash upfront.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Are timeshare exit companies legitimate?

Most commercial "exit companies" charge $4,000 to $10,000 upfront and simply send standard hardship letters to the resort developer—something you can do yourself for free by calling your resort's owner surrender department.

Can a timeshare company sue me if I stop paying maintenance fees?

Yes. Defaulting on maintenance fees can lead to negative credit bureau reporting, collection agency harassment, and foreclosure. Always exit through official developer deed-back programs rather than casually abandoning payments.

Download the Free Timeshare Exit & Scam Defense Guide

Download the Timeshare Owner Safe Exit Playbook (PDF)

About the Author

Mark Druckmiller is a licensed REALTOR® and Customer Care Coordinator at Real Estate One in Michigan. He is the founder of Wounded Duck Studios LLC and SCAMREALESTATE.COM, dedicated to educating consumers and property owners on real estate security and fraud defense.

Disclaimer: This guide provides general consumer education and does not constitute formal legal or timeshare contract counsel. For specific contract disputes, consult a licensed consumer protection attorney.