Timeshare Recovery Scams

Tell us your story here!Think you've escaped your timeshare nightmare? Think again. This episode of Scams, Hacks, and Frauds exposes a devastating timeshare recovery scam operation that targeted timeshare owners not once, but multiple times over — proving that falling for one scam can make you a target for many more.What You'll Learn:The bait: How "Williams and Burns," posing as a real estate broker, lured timeshare owners with false promises of $2,100/week rental income — for a $1,899+ "membership fee"The false urgency trick: Fake conventions and fabricated deadlines designed to pressure victims into quick decisionsPhase two of the recovery scam: How "Scam Collections and Sales" then targeted the same victims, posing as a legitimate recovery service to help them get their lost money back — for another feeThe fake chargeback scheme: Why claiming an authorized charge is "unauthorized" doesn't work, and what chargebacks are actually forThe final blow: A fraudulent FTC settlement scam demanding a $3,999 upfront fee for a payout that never existedThe takedown: How New Jersey's 2021 civil suit and a 2023 federal case finally caught William Hanlon and his co-conspirators — and what happened when his bail was revokedKey Recovery Scam Red Flags Covered:Promises of "something for nothing"Upfront fees for money you're "guaranteed" to receivePressure to act before you've verified a claim independentlyRecovery services contacting you out of the blueChargeback Tips: Learn the real rules on when you can (and can't) request a chargeback — including unauthorized charges, undelivered services, and defective products — and why acting quickly matters.We (usually) publish new content every other Monday. The short time our episodes save your wallet, and help protect your family.If you like shows like "The Perfect Scam" or "Darknet Diaries" then this show might be for you.  On our website you’ll find more computer hacking, identity fraud, impersonation, consumer rights and Romance Scams.  To find these and to access our transcripts, visit us at www.scamshacksandfrauds.com.The transcript and spoken audio are available under the Creative Commons, Share Alike, With Attributions license. For more information on this visit creativecommons.org.