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[2010] Is this a scam?

KDD

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Anyone hear of 'Time share vacations Only' ?
He is asking for $100 back from us after we receive a cashiers check from his client for a week we are renting out.



Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave M
The scam is that he will send a "certified check" or "cashier's check" for more than the amount of the rental, asking you to wire the difference to a third party as a commission (or for some other reason). You might wait a few days to ensure the check clears and then, following instructions, you'll wire the difference to the third party. Only weeks later will you get a call or letter from your bank telling you that the cashier's check you deposited has bounced and you owe the bank that amount and the bounced check fee. So you're out the bank fee and the amount you wired to the "third party" (the scammer).

This scam is discussed in numerous threads on this forum and in the "how to sell" and (by reference) "how to rent" articles located at the top of the list of topics for this Buying, Selling, Renting forum.

Edited to note that it took me longer to write my response. I'm glad we agree!
 
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timeos2

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Anyone hear of Kenneth Carter 'Time share vacations Only' ?
He is asking for $100 back from us after we receive a cashiers check from his client for a week we are renting out.

ANYTIME a "customer" asks for cash back you can be certain it is a scam. Don't do it.
 

deedman

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I know that deep down you already know this is a scam. pat yourself on the back for not taking the bait no matter how good it looked. If he calls back tell him to have his "renters" get him a new cashiers check that is $200 less, and tell him the other $100 is for his excellent work.
 

KDD

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Thanks

Well, we just looked at the order of things and we got to thinking how strange a set up that was, why on earth would a broker not be honest with his client and get his money up front from his client. This guy has a website that looked straight. http://timesharevacationsonly.com/
 

deedman

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when a website doesn't have any tabs, and the site looks like it took 20 minutes to create, I wouldn't call it straight. And I like how the Marriott ocean pointe and Marriott ocean watch resorts have the same exact picture ... very professional

"We will spot light your unit in ad compaigns"

can this guy even spell?

i take it back, you shouldn't pat yourself on the back for this, you should smack yourself for even thinking twice about it
 
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Talent312

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Some of these scam-artists actually do a semi-legit rental or resale business on the side. After obtaining rights to a TS by ripping off some poor soul, they'll turn around and rent or sell it to another who stumbles upon the obscure listing by accident and has no idea he's overpaying for stolen property. Of course, the original owner won't see a dime of that.
 

Patri

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We receive hundreds or inquiries per week

That's another quote from the pro!
 

deedman

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ya this scammer should realize a little proofreading goes a long way when you are trying to rip people off that have more than a few braincells left.
 

fezziefez

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I wish I would have found this last week....Yes this is a scam! He told me we had a place to rent and I was waiting for the contract. It took him three days to tell me the owners rented to someone else behind his back. Really?? Who he was trying to scam on the other end probably didn't fall for "send the money back to me" trick. But all of a sudden there is another unit available for more money!! No money ever exchanged hands, but what a piece of work.
 
S

ssmith

Worked for me. Great Customer Service

[Posted by a shill - DeniseM]

-------------------------

I purchased a trip with the help of [link deleted] and I was more than satisfied with the process. Ken provided all details about our trip. NO surprises at all. We got a really good deal and we had a great experience. No scam at all. I will recommend this company to anyone!


Originally Posted by Dave M
The scam is that he will send a "certified check" or "cashier's check" for more than the amount of the rental, asking you to wire the difference to a third party as a commission (or for some other reason). You might wait a few days to ensure the check clears and then, following instructions, you'll wire the difference to the third party. Only weeks later will you get a call or letter from your bank telling you that the cashier's check you deposited has bounced and you owe the bank that amount and the bounced check fee. So you're out the bank fee and the amount you wired to the "third party" (the scammer).

This scam is discussed in numerous threads on this forum and in the "how to sell" and (by reference) "how to rent" articles located at the top of the list of topics for this Buying, Selling, Renting forum.

Edited to note that it took me longer to write my response. I'm glad we agree!
 
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DeniseM

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Why are you responding to a post from 2010? :shrug:

Frankly - your post is not believable.

SHILL ALERT!

firealarm.gif
 
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Craigvince

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My guess is that the current business with that website is NOT the same business that was referred to 2 years ago in this thread. The original scammer most likely disappeared and the new business was fortunate (or not) enough to get the old domain name.
 

Craigvince

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My guess is that the current business with that website is NOT the same business that was referred to 2 years ago in this thread. The original scammer most likely disappeared and the new business was fortunate (or not) enough to get the old domain name.

After looking up the domain on Netsol WhoIs, I find that it has been registered to the same person since November 2009, which is before the scam was reported in May, 2010. Looks like the same guy might have simply revived his old business. :confused:
 

RX8

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I don't care what kind of business it is. Any business who posts LIES on the web to self promote cannot be trusted for ANYTHING!
 

ada903

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I am bringing this thread back up to warn folks that I have received an inquiry from this individual and a rental offer - his language and style seemed off so I googled his name. It appears he is still "in business". He found me through redweek.
 

theo

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Can't really blame it on RedWeek...

So much for the "no scammers on Redweek"

In all fairness, it seems to me that in the above described situation the RedWeek ad (and advertiser) were both entirely legitimate, but it was instead the responding entity who was / is maybe... "not so much". :shrug:

In my own experience I never encountered a scammer as a result of placing a RedWeek ad. I have always assumed that the RedWeek "membership requirement" to respond to ads (i.e., paper trail, with traceable identity) discouraged scammers. I'm wondering if that policy has changed since I last posted an ad there.

That said, I did find that numerous would-be-"middleman" brokers and the like (a Cindy Jones foremost among them) would often respond to my RedWeek ads. While not actually "scammers", they were (...to me) nonetheless unsolicited and unwelcome annoyances and were accordingly sent promptly on their way.
 
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kgwartz

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need advice

so what is the verdict on the site vacation only.com? legit? what about sellmytiemsharenow site?

Any one if holiday group was taken over by another company?
 

kckierlands

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I just received an unsolicted rental contract from Ken Carter on behalf of Timeshare Vacation Services, 709 143rd Ave Ne, Bellevue, WA 98007, 425-985-9247. It appears he is now doing business under the name of Timeshare Vacation Services. He contacted me responding to my Redweek rental ad.

He first inquired whether the unit was available. I responded that it is available. He then responded sending me a contract proposing a rental of my listed Redweek unit to a third-party for $350.00 above the listed rental price. The contract provides that a $350.00 deposit be paid through PayPal to Timeshare Vacation Services by the third-party renter. Once the deposit was paid, the renter's name was to be added to the reservation. Once the name was added to the reservation, the balance (which matches the amount I advertised for the rental) is to be paid directly to me by the renter using either a cashier's check or paypal. Based on the above comments by others, I am not going forward with this transaction.
 

icydog

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Resurrecting this thread

My friends want to rent two consecutive February weeks at Marriott's Ocean Pointe on Singer Island in Florida. I tried Redweek where I found several possibilities But nobody got back to me. So I checked Craigslist. This guy Ken responded. When I did a little research I found out he is the owner of TimeshareVacationsonly.com which he readily admitted.

He has the weeks I want for a price I was told would be acceptable, but I am reticent to do business with him after reading this tread. My friends do not need any aggravation, and I surely don't want to cause them any, but maybe this guy has cleaned up his act?
 

DeniseM

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I have done several rentals with Ken Carter - he is a licensed Travel Agent. His terms are a little unorthodox, but he is honest, and I haven't had any problems with the transactions at all.
 
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icydog

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I have done several rentals with Ken Carter - he is a licensed Travel Agent. His terms are a little unorthodox, but he is honest, and I haven't had any problems with the transactions at all.



Thank you Denise. But, what do you mean by unorthodox?
 

Stacy7783

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Question

I have done several rentals with Ken Carter - he is a licensed Travel Agent. His terms are a little unorthodox, but he is honest, and I haven't had any problems with the transactions at all.

Denise, I have been corresponding with Ken on a rental but he doesn't want to use redweeks suggested escrow service. Before I proceed, I want to make sure others have used him and had a good experience (on the vacationer side)

Thanks!
 
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