The TCA have reported on several occasions regarding the numerous fraudulent exit and compensation companies popping up all over the place. These companies are claiming that they are legal experts in Timeshare law and have many years of claiming compensation or achieving exits for timeshare owners. These companies are destroying the confidence of the Timeshare Owner trying to exit their timeshares when there are genuine companies out there that really can help.
It has been brought to our attention, through the American news, that there have been further developments in respect of some of these companies. In one case in Orlando, Florida, a timeshare ‘Ponzi scheme’ company has stolen the identity of an authentic lawyer, also based in Florida, and is using his identity to scam timeshare owners out of their money.
The known attorney and college professor from Palm beach is known as George Ackerman, a family man with three children, a career in law teaching in the local college in Palm Beach teaching criminal justice. The crook company supposedly based in Mexico, advertising their ‘law firm’ in Orlando Florida, are using Ackerman’s Florida bar number and the name ‘Ackerman’ in their company name ‘George Ackerman Law Firm in Orlando’.
The attorney has been trying with every effort to bring this to an end but is finding it a lot harder than what he originally thought it would be. His identity has been stolen, as well as his career, and apart from the discreditation of his name and Florida bar number, the affected clients have started to contact Ackerman direct to reclaim their monies, which of course he knows nothing about.
The rogues have created a website to attract timeshare owners which places the company in Florida, a place that the real Ackerman has only visited on holiday with his family, and the scammers can be traced back to Mexico through the domain purchase for the website.
What the attorney is in disbelief about is how easy it is to steal someone’s identity, their profession, their title, but when it comes to getting it back and proving it, is one of the hardest things he has had to battle to date. He is in disbelief that after several reports to the members of congress and other law enforcement agencies, that the case has not been taken very seriously and there are not many bodies that are willing to help with his predicament.
The only body that he has said has been of any help at all are the Orlando police, whom are continuing the investigation.
We at the TCA are bringing this to the attention of timeshare owners once again to let them know the truth about some of these rogue companies, right down to the fact that there are lawyers’ identities being stolen to make some of these companies work. We would like to warn all timeshare owners to make sure that they are dealing with a legitimate company before making any down payment or signing any contract.
For more information regarding this article or assistance in any other timeshare related issues please contact the TCA on 01908 881058 or email: info@TimeshareConsumerAssociation.org.uk