Key Property Marketing

We own a timeshare in Cancun, Mexico and we were contacted by this Key Property Marketing who stated that they had a buyer for our timeshare and offered us almost double of what our original cost of the timeshare was. They sent us a contract to sign stating that they would sell our timeshare and reimburse us for any Mexican taxes (i.e. SAT taxes). The cost of the supposed taxes was 17% of the purchased price which meant that we had to pay US$3,791. Of course, we would be reimbursed for this expense which is supposed to be held in escrow in Mexico.

The instructions are as follows: SAT taxes can be paid at any SAT office located throughout Mexico and locations can be found using the website www.** or SAT taxes can be paid using the legal representative set forth on the SAT form, Rodolfina ** and KPM is responsible for this representative. Key Property Marketing has an offer for US$22,300 on Omni Resorts. As per the Mexican SAT laws, the federal taxes for US$3,791 must be paid before the escrow and will be released on your membership. This amount is completely refundable, as stated in clause #9 of the signed contract.

After researching on this company, I've decided that this is a scam. The company was previously in Little Rock, Arkansas known as Diamond International Escrow. They were unable to actually find this company as it is the same situation with Key Property Marketing where the BBB states the same information. They believed that this company is actually doing business somewhere in Mexico. Complaints filed with BBB are from timeshare owners who received a call from Market Value Properties in Little Rock, Arkansas asking if they would like to sell their timeshare. Timeshare owners are instructed to wire escrow money to Diamond International Escrow and they are asked to wire additional money for taxes. According to their complaints, after money has been wired, they do not hear from either Market Value Properties or Diamond International again and are unable to reach someone. BBB gave Diamond International an F and they are no longer in business.

I was contacted by KPM about selling my timeshare and given a welcome letter and a form to sign if I was interested. Through several emails and calls, I was told by Chuck, the company's CEO, and 2-3 other employees that he would be helping through the process and that they had a buyer. After much deliberating back and forth and not being able to find any information on the company on my own, I, for some, reason stupidly decided to proceed. They informed me that I needed to pay the taxes in Mexico on the RHC membership for them to be able to sell to the suspected buyer. They sent wiring instructions and a guarantee of reimbursement of the tax funds upon closing. They then said that they would send me a packet and we would go from there.

I still can't believe I went through with this and realized quite literally right after I had sent the money that there were flaws in the story behind what they were telling me. I wired what to me is a significant amount of money to the bank in Mexico and am now emotionally a basket case. Can anything be done? Anyone who is being contacted by this company, run! Please be careful not to give in to their lies about how they can help you. I hope to speak with an attorney soon and plan on contacting the news media as well.

Key Property Marketing contacted me on May 13 asking if I wanted to sell my RHC Membership with a home resort in Mexico. They said they had a buyer. The agent first said the only fee, besides the 5% commission which I did not have to pay until after I receive the net cash to me for the sale, was a transfer fee that RHC requires. They send me a "welcome" letter and "Market Analysis Information Form". After I returned the form, they sent a "Purchase Offer" and a contract. It was only after I signed and returned the contract that they said I need to pay $2,618 in SAT tax (Mexico's equivalent to the IRS). I could either go to Mexico and pay the tax, hire a lawyer in the U.S. who can do business in Mexico or send the money to their "agent" in Mexico.

I said I wanted to vet their company and asked for the following: their document ID and registration number with the Ohio Secretary of State (I already checked-- they don't have one, even though Chuck said they are registered with the state), name of title agencies in the U.S. they have worked with (their web site says they work with title companies instead of lawyers), how long their website has had the same url (Chuck said since the 1990's; however the url was not registered until April 2011). I had previously called the real estate firm that manages the office building they are supposedly in in Columbus and they had never heard of Key Property Marketing. I talked with Chuck ** on Monday and one of his "agents", Stephanie **, on Tuesday, requesting the information both times. As of Wednesday evening I have seen no e-mails with the information, although in the past they sent their e-mails quickly. Until I can vet this company I am not sending any money to anyone and would advise others to do the same.

Urgent response requested. This company is claiming they are selling my Time share in Cancun, Mexico, Omni Resorts. Now they are asking me to send the taxes of $3,780 prior to my closing of this transaction, which I have to wire them the money first. I'm very skeptical in sending the money first before I close.

Can you please check this company and see if they are a legitimate company or is this basically another scam? I'm currently laid off and would like to sell my Time share but I can't risk losing this amount of money right now as I'm just paying or not paying bills right now. Please help me!