How to Report a Timeshare Scam: Get Your Money Back
Last reviewed: June 1, 2026·
Written by James Carter, Consumer Rights Researcher
·
Reviewed by HowToReport Editorial Desk·Independent resource — not a government site
Quick answer
Report timeshare scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, FBI IC3.gov, and your state Attorney General. Timeshare exit and resale scams steal billions annually — report fast to freeze assets.
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Quick answer: Report a timeshare scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and the FBI at IC3.gov. Also file with your state attorney general — particularly in the state where the timeshare is located. If money was wired internationally, contact the FBI’s field office directly. Gather all contracts, emails, and payment records before filing.
Timeshare scams come in several forms: fraudulent resale companies promising to sell your timeshare for an upfront fee, fake “exit” or “cancellation” companies that take thousands and disappear, and high-pressure sales presentations using deceptive promises. The FTC estimates Americans lose hundreds of millions of dollars annually to timeshare fraud. You have real recourse — acting quickly matters.
Types of Timeshare Scams
The most common are resale scams (a company claims it has a buyer ready but demands an upfront fee — they take the fee and vanish), exit or cancellation scams (companies charge $5,000–$50,000 promising to legally cancel your timeshare contract but deliver nothing), and presentation fraud (salespeople make verbal promises during high-pressure tours that aren’t in the written contract). If you were promised a gift card, vacation package, or rental income that didn’t materialize, that’s also reportable deceptive advertising.
Where to Report a Timeshare Scam
📄 Download Free Reporting Checklist
Get our step-by-step checklist as a quick reference guide
Stop all payments immediately. Do not wire additional money, pay “transfer taxes,” or send gift cards — these are red flags of ongoing fraud. Contact your bank to dispute or halt any pending payments.
Gather your documentation. Collect the original timeshare contract, the resale or exit contract, all emails, text messages, wire transfer receipts, and any advertisements or verbal promises made to you.
Report to the FTC. File at ReportFraud.ftc.gov with the company name, what was promised, what you paid, and the outcome. The FTC uses reports to build cases against repeat offenders.
File with the FBI’s IC3. If money was wired — especially internationally — file at IC3.gov. IC3 coordinates with financial institutions and can sometimes recover wired funds quickly if reported within 72 hours.
Contact your state attorney general. File in both your home state and the state where the timeshare is located. State AGs have sued timeshare exit companies and obtained refunds for consumers.
Dispute the charge with your bank or credit card issuer. If you paid by card, file a chargeback citing fraud. For wire transfers, contact your bank immediately — a recall may be possible within 24–48 hours.
Report to the CFPB if financing is involved. If the scam involved a loan or recurring billing on your timeshare, file at consumerfinance.gov/complaint to flag the creditor.
Consult a licensed attorney. Avoid hiring another “exit company” — instead seek a real estate attorney or consumer protection attorney to review cancellation rights under your state’s rescission laws.
Know Your Rescission Rights
Federal law: The FTC’s Cooling-Off Rule gives you 3 business days to cancel a door-to-door or off-premises sale contract.
State rescission laws: Most states give timeshare buyers 3–10 calendar days to cancel after signing. Florida allows 10 days; California allows 3 business days.
After rescission period: Cancellation is harder but not impossible — an attorney can review the contract for misrepresentations that may void it.
Penalties for Timeshare Fraud
FTC violations: Civil penalties up to $51,744 per violation; the FTC has won injunctions shutting down multiple timeshare exit companies.
Wire fraud: Up to 20 years federal imprisonment per count.
State penalties: Timeshare fraud is a felony in many states, with fines and license revocations for involved real estate professionals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a timeshare exit scam?
A company promises to legally cancel your timeshare contract — often for thousands of dollars upfront — then does nothing or disappears. Legitimate exits exist through attorneys; companies demanding large upfront fees before doing any work are almost always fraudulent.
Where do I report a timeshare resale scam?
Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, the FBI at IC3.gov, and your state attorney general. If mail was used, also report to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at uspis.gov/report.
Can I get my money back from a timeshare scam?
Possibly. Credit card chargebacks work if reported quickly. Wire transfers can sometimes be recalled within 24–72 hours through your bank. State AG enforcement actions have resulted in refunds. An attorney can also pursue civil recovery.
How do I cancel a timeshare legally?
Use your state’s rescission period if you just signed. After that, contact the timeshare developer directly — many have deed-back or hardship programs. Consult a licensed real estate attorney; avoid paying another “exit” company.
Is it illegal to lie during a timeshare sales presentation?
Yes. Verbal misrepresentations during a sales presentation — about rental income potential, resale value, or what’s included — can constitute consumer fraud under state UDAP laws and the FTC Act. Document any verbal promises made and report them.
What are red flags of a timeshare resale scam?
Unsolicited calls claiming a buyer is already lined up, demands for upfront fees before any sale, requests for wire transfers or gift cards, and high-pressure tactics to sign quickly. Legitimate resale agents don’t charge large upfront fees.