Retired Canadian couple, Mr. & Mrs. Dimitruk, fell victim to a telemarketing scam related to their timeshare in Florida. The scam, orchestrated by a violent Mexican drug cartel, involved convincing the couple that someone was interested in purchasing their property. The scam spanned multiple phony escrow, title, and realty firms, resulting in the couple losing over $50,000.
In late 2022, the Dimitruks received a call from someone claiming to have a buyer for their timeshare. The caller referenced the address of their timeshare and assured them that the interested buyer was from Mexico. Despite still owing $5,000 on the timeshare, the caller guaranteed that this wouldn’t be an issue for the potential buyer.
Subsequently, an escrow company in New York called ecurrencyescrow[.]llc sent forms for the couple to fill out to initiate the selling process. The offer made by the buyer was higher than the actual value of the property, luring the Dimitruks further into the scam. The couple was then asked to send a wire transfer of over $3,000 to cover administrative and processing fees.
Over the next year, the scammers continued to demand more money from the Dimitruks under the guise of taxes and additional fees. Mrs. Dimitruk even sent a $5,000 wire transfer to pay off the remaining balance on the timeshare they believed they were selling. In the end, the couple lost a substantial amount of money to the scam.
Despite promises from the scammers that the money was waiting to be returned, the Dimitruks realized they had been deceived. The FBI has warned that such fraud schemes are often linked to criminal organizations like the Jalisco New Generation drug cartel in Mexico. These cartels use telemarketing, impersonation, and advance fee schemes to target timeshare owners in the U.S.
In July 2024, the FBI and the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued a joint notice cautioning the public about timeshare fraud associated with Mexican-based criminal organizations. These schemes are used to diversify revenue streams and fund illegal activities like trafficking synthetic drugs into the U.S.
The Dimitruks’ experience with the phony escrow company ecurrencyescrow[.]llc sheds light on the sophisticated nature of these scams. Despite the closure of some deceptive websites, the underlying network of fraudulent domains remains active. The involvement of legitimate companies and licensed professionals in the real estate industry adds a layer of complexity to these fraudulent activities.
Victims of such scams often hesitate to report the crime due to shame or fear. However, reporting these incidents to authorities like the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center can help prevent further victimization and aid in potential investigations. By raising awareness about these scams and taking necessary precautions, individuals can safeguard themselves from falling prey to similar fraudulent schemes.