Avoid losing thousands of dollars, why canceling your timeshare might be your safest option.

Timeshare scams in Mexico are increasingly being linked to organized crime groups involved in drug trafficking. A recent El Informador report reveals how these groups target foreign owners, especially retirees from the U.S., through sophisticated schemes that promise resales or rentals—but end in financial loss.

If you own a timeshare in Mexico, this could directly affect you.

Key Takeaways

• Drug trafficking-linked groups are using the timeshare industry to run scams targeting U.S. citizens.
• Victims are often approached with unsolicited offers for resale, rental, or “exit” services.
• Scammers request upfront “fees” and “taxes” that are never recovered.
• Between 2019 and 2023, U.S. victims reported nearly $300 million in losses from Mexican timeshare fraud.
• Canceling your timeshare contract is the most reliable way to avoid these risks.

Table of Contents

1. Why Timeshares Are a Target for Criminal Scams
2. How the Fraud Works
3. Financial and Legal Risks for U.S. Timeshare Owners
4. Warning Signs You May Be Targeted
5. Why Canceling Your Timeshare Is the Best Protection
6. FAQ – Timeshare Fraud in Mexico
7. How to Get Professional Help to Cancel Your Timeshare

Why Timeshares Are a Target for Criminal Scams

The Mexican tourism sector generates billions of dollars each year. Drug trafficking organizations see this as an opportunity to diversify income streams, moving into timeshare fraud because it targets a specific demographic—wealthy retirees and frequent travelers.

These groups use the legitimate image of the tourism industry to hide their operations, making it harder for victims to detect the scam until it’s too late.

How the Fraud Works

Authorities have documented a clear pattern in these scams:

1. Data Collection – Criminals obtain lists of U.S.-based timeshare owners.
2. Fake Offers – Victims are contacted with proposals to sell, rent, or invest in their timeshare.
3. Upfront Fees – They are told to pay “closing costs” or “taxes” before receiving their funds.
4. Continuous Pressure – Even after paying, victims are asked for additional fees.
5. Disappearance – The scammer vanishes, leaving the victim with no payment and more financial loss.

Definition: Timeshare resale fraud is when a third party offers to buy or rent your timeshare for a high price, but requires advance fees and never delivers on the promise.

Financial and Legal Risks for U.S. Timeshare Owners

• Monetary Loss – Once funds are transferred internationally, recovery is almost impossible.
• Identity Theft – Providing personal information can lead to further fraud.
• Legal Exposure – Some scams involve falsified documents, putting victims at legal risk.

The U.S. Treasury has tracked over 250 suspicious transactions in 2024 alone, totaling $23.1 million sent from U.S. citizens to Mexico.

Warning Signs You May Be Targeted

• You receive unsolicited calls or emails offering to buy or rent your timeshare.
• The offer sounds too good to be true (above market value).
• You are asked to wire money to a foreign bank account.
• The “company” refuses to provide verifiable references.
• You feel pressured to make a quick decision.

Why Canceling Your Timeshare Is the Best Protection

Reselling or renting your timeshare might sound like a way to cut losses, but these options expose you to high fraud risk. Canceling your timeshare contract legally and permanently eliminates:

• Ongoing maintenance fees.
• Liability for special assessments.
• The possibility of being targeted by organized crime-linked scams.

FAQ – Timeshare Fraud in Mexico

How do timeshare scams linked to drug trafficking work?

Criminal groups pose as brokers or lawyers, offering to buy or rent your timeshare but requiring advance fees. Victims never receive payment.

Who is most at risk?

U.S. retirees and high-income property owners are prime targets due to their financial stability.

Can I recover my money after being scammed?

Recovery is difficult, especially with international transfers. Prevention is the best strategy.

What is the safest way to avoid these scams?

Cancel your timeshare through a trusted, no-upfront-fee cancellation service.

How to Get Professional Help to Cancel Your Timeshare

If you own a timeshare in Mexico, the safest way to avoid becoming a victim is to cancel your contract entirely.

At Mexican Timeshare Solutions, we:

• Offer a free consultation with a timeshare cancellation expert.
• Do not charge any upfront fees—you pay only when your contract is canceled.
• Have experience dealing with fraudulent timeshare situations.

WhatsApp: +52 333 239 6589
Email: info@timesharescam.com
Mexico Phone: +52 334 162 5467
U.S. Phone: +1 714 277 3662
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Don’t wait for a scammer to call you first. Take control of your timeshare situation today, speak with a specialist and protect your finances.