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Financial Acquisitions and Trading LLC

Financial Acquisitions and Trading LLC review: Fake stock or share for Desarrollo Marina Vallarta 43

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1:22 pm EST
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I was contacted by a Broker, Richard Clark from Financial Acquisitions and Trading LLC 28 Liberty Street, new York, NY 10005, at telephone number [protected] who told me that I had available 86 shares with Desarrollo Marina Vallarta related to a timeshare I purchased with them in 2006/2007. I was told each share was worth $1850 for a total of $159, 100. I later was told that I had an additional 68 shares equaling $125, 800. He said he would liquidate these shares.

Mr. Clark connected me to contact Michael Manos at BankShares Corporation of the United States, 11 west 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036 telephone number [protected]. Mr. Manos told me I needed to deposit 5% of the liquidated share value to open a brokerage account for a total of $14, 245. I did this but was later told I needed to pay for additional taxes for the total amount before the funds could be released. This tax was for $42, 735. The name of the bank manager was Gavin Hayes. I wired the initial 5% from my Bank of the West account to a Citibank account with routing number [protected]. The account [protected] was in the name of Vector Casa de Bolsa SA. All of these institutions have internet presence when googled. They are registered with the state of New York or Delaware.

When I could not come up with the additional funds I did more investigation and a lawyer associate mentioned a new scam involving time shares which fit what I was subjected to.

Desired outcome: Return of funds

43 comments
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C Connolly
, US
Nov 09, 2023 1:10 pm EST
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Wow. What brazen and horrible human beings. The tale I tell is similar; Broker calls, tells me I have 600 shares at $635/ and that the share buy back is to close in 2 days. I call the 888 number for Desarollo Vallarta and they provide me with an alphanumeric code. I’m then instructed to call an underwriter in Indiana who tells me of the value ($420K) of the stock. They need approx. $20K to open an account with them and I’m now expected to call a broker in Wisconsin who will sell the shares and the underwriter will send the proceeds by wire. Seems they have tapped into the FOMO of humans (fear of missing out). Anyway, I started to investigate and the brokerage or the underwriting firms do not exist.

The names and numbers of the characters

Desarollo Marina Vallarta: Sarah Gonzales [protected]

Matthew Jablonski: Exhange House, Milwaukee, Wisconsin [protected]

Jacob Finn: American Banker Group Inc. Indiana [protected]

They seem to have coordinated their scheme/scam so be careful

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Dr. Wayne
Collierville, US
Sep 07, 2023 6:55 pm EDT
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I was contacted this afternoon by "registered stock broker" Rebecca Price at "Trade Central Inc." with pretty much the same scenario as described numerous times above. Suffice that my experience was similar in that I was to contact the "financial division: Desarrollo Marina Vilarta right away" to retrieve my "book entry number" for my "90 unlisted shares" worth $1,375 USD and return her call so that she could assist me with "liquidating them." I must say that Rebecca was spot on when she forewarned that the Desarrollo representative would try to give me free weeks in lieu of my book entry number. The representative with Desarrollo was almost comical in her persistence. However, I applied a very cordial and polite, but insistent "broken record" stating that I declined the offer and would appreciate receiving my number. She finally relented.

As the recipient of multiple "scam" calls over the years, I was wary and instead of calling Rebecca back as instructed, I researched her organization on the web and with the SEC where I found numerous alerts.

I was appalled to read on this site how so many were taken advantage of! I will share my cautionary note with all who have learned it the hard way, but also for those who have yet to fall victim to these scams: NEVER give money thinking you will get more money! If all else sounds great, the second you are asked to provide funds in advance of a transaction, that is your biggest and perhaps final RED FLAG!

At my leisure, I sometimes follow the breadcrumb trail just for grins to see how the scenario plays out. Unfortunately though, I have never had the patience to go the distance. At some point, the reality becomes painfully obvious and I either lose my temper or ask too many "pointed" questions and get hung up on. That is my tale. Other than buying into Vidanta in the first place ("Not a 'time share', but an investment opportunity"--I have five weeks annually, two of which are international, and all of which I only pay for the week if I book it with no annual maintenance fees), I am blessed to have not fallen for an outside scam. All the best to those of you who see $$ first and common sense in the aftermath. Oh, and when I go to Vidanta in the coming months and am offered a "breakfast to update", I will vehemently decline to spend a day of my time listening to up sale pitches. Spoken like a true jaded Vidanta traveler.

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Savesoil Bhargav
, US
Apr 06, 2023 1:13 pm EDT
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Received call from Frank Marino from Marathon Florida as well today .[protected].He gave me the same story about how vidanta doesnt own the Time share but this company called as Desarrollo marina vallarta holds the digital certificate with book entry number . He asked me to call their financial division [protected] and ask for the book entry number which would translate to shares that they owe me for the property. He was very convincing , I am glad i came across this page today .

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Not as smart as I thought
Wichita, US
Feb 28, 2023 1:35 pm EST
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I have just avoided a scam.

I was contacted by Frank Marino, using Trade Authority International, location Miami, Florida [protected]. He said he was a broker working on a pre IPO trade required by the SEC before Development Marina Vallarta Corporation could do an IPO in the US. He explained the procedure and had me call Vidanta Financial Division at [protected] for a Book Entry number. Using this number, he was able to tell me the number of shares I had and the value. He then sent me to the underwriter for this project.

I was asked to wire $12,558.75 to Vector Casa de Bolsa, account [protected], routing number [protected], SWIFT IRVTUS3NXXX. Reference [protected] Siglo Proyecto IN, Global Transaction Banking. This information was provided by The Bank Administration [protected], Alexander Levy. The amount was "required" by The Bank Administration, underwriter, to open a basic security account for a single trade in order to receive funds from selling shares in Development Marina Vallarta Corporation as part of a Pre IPO in the US. Fortunately, my bank would not make the wire transfer and provided information about this particular scam. I have 3 pages of notes, asked numerous questions, and still fell for the scam. Goodbye $251,175

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Serge Belanger
, US
Mar 23, 2023 10:34 am EDT
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Wow, I was just contacted on the same scam. Thank you Everyone. It was the trade authority llc broker with a Miami number. They then have you call Desarrolo Marina to get the book entry# and the price of the shares. After seeing the comments below I will not call back the brokers!

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AyJayT
Walnut Creek, US
May 20, 2023 9:17 pm EDT

You and me both... I'm now into these a-holes for over $250K.. supposed to get a refund of $786,608 any day now... They even sent me a "Guarantee Letter" that I would receive this amount.

Every time I was to get "my money" there was another issue:

• "Minimun deposit requirements" $12K + 14K = $28,000

• "Broker fees" $8,852

• "stock certificate duplications" $75 per X 280 = $21,000

• "Something else" I can't recall... $8,950

• "Something else" I can't recall... $8,025

• "Something else" I can't recall... $14,233

• "Something else" I can't recall... $12,900

• "Something else" I can't recall... $15,720

• "US Taxes" ... $106,201

• TOTAL SO FAR: $223,431

• All this was covered by my stupid self, and I was supposed to receive in return: $636,608.00

BUT, to my continued chagrin, Mexico assesed an internal tax of $69,261.00 for "Federal Article 159 ISR"

Of course my "representative" assured me he would get me back DOUBLE OR MORE of that amount as a penalty...

So... for a total of my "investment" of $223,431 + $69261 = $292,692

I was supposed to receive (via a "Guarantee Letter") a grand total of: $786,608.60

Not bad if it's real... but I fear it is not. [censored]! That's a LOT of money to throw away, and I'm hoping I can pay a visit to my "friends" in New York to discuss it with them...

Cheers

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JuCantScamMe
Chicago, US
Feb 27, 2023 3:15 pm EST

Wow, glad I found this. I received a call from David Greenway who represented Desarolla Marina Vallarta. He told me to get my booking entry # then contact their underwriter to get the process going because I owned 317 shares at $635.25/share and it was going to go back to the resort if I didn't do anything about it—the resort was planning to go public in a week. The underwriter's name was Grant Jones from The Bank Administration New York Chapter. Everything was very convincing but time was of the essence, and I don't work well under pressure especially when transferring large amount of money to establishments. Grant Jones sent me over to a Doug that works at BNY Mellon—when confirming his identity to me he stated his name was Donald Eisenhower, which was pretty odd and a red flag. Donald stated that I needed to open an account and deposit $16k within the next 2 hours if this was going to happen. Without the correct documentation, application and contracts, he sent over their wiring information which to me is another red flag (even opening a simple savings account with a $10 deposit there are tons of paperwork to file). I then called BNY Mellon and found out that there was no such employee and not to send money to the wiring information they gave because the information was false. Long story short, stay away from this scam, it's convincing but 100% false.

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Mary Hofer
, US
Jan 13, 2023 5:12 pm EST

I cancelled my booking for the Grand Bliss in May from may18-27.They told me that I will not get my money back for at least 30 to 50 days.I told them that it should take only 7 business days.They also told me that they will only pay back 7 days and will give me a credit on the other 2 days.I told them that I paid money for those days on my credit card and I do not want credit banked.They said it is their policy.I told them that this is costing me interest.I have sent them 4 emails and all they say is that some one will get back To me.It has been a week now and no one got back to me.Thank you for any help

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George Sch
, US
Nov 14, 2022 6:36 pm EST

Thank you to everyone for sharing your experiences. Luckily, I was starting to believe Mr. Lucas Alexander and Cecil Rose from 1864 Global Investments LLC, but remained skeptical, and started googling the company's name while speaking to him. What I read made me realize my skepticism was valid, and I told him I would not be sending money before receiving funds. He said he'll call back tomorrow after seeing if they can do anything with the "expired" shares. I can't believe the number of scammers we are getting from that timeshare purchase, which I totally regret ever making. Vidanta owes us for our putting up with it.

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Just a regular guy
Guadalajara, MX
Nov 14, 2022 2:22 pm EST
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I've been receiving these call from quite a few months now. Although I have several numbers already blocked, once in a while they made it through and when it happens, I decided to take it as my "5-minute break"; I let them go for the first 2 minutes - their usual story, New York big fancy broker corporation, Desarrollo Marina Vallarta, not the resort but their finance department, is making a fool of me because they will go "live" in the stock market in US and I have a right to get a piece of those shares and bla bla bla., and then, I cut them off right at their sales-pitch peak to ask them: "Kido, are you feeling good today knowing that what you're doing is so f*** up in some many, many ways? taking advantage of others, having a very dishonest way of living, how can you sleep a night? and whatever else that comes to my mind at that time. I'm must say I'm a bit disappointed that no one from those so-called "broker agents" have lasted more than a minute after that, and even though I can't see their faces, I can tell for sure by their voice tones they were not having a good time and they all dropped extremely pissed off :-) not before cursing me big-time. And that's how it ends for me, a big smile in my face and feeling energized to keep moving forward.

Be cautious, stay safe and enjoy life :-D

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BengalBoy
Black Mountain, US
Nov 03, 2022 10:07 am EDT
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Just went through the same song and dance. Received a call from Brokerage Alliance Network out of NYC

Francis Valencia told me that I had 123 shares at $850 and they were available. Gave me a Book entry #.

Was told I had 48 hours to get stocks from Desarrollo. I contacted my broker from Schwab who review the information and said it was a scam. I must admit it sounded very real but also to good to be true. I had several follow up calls the next day which I refused to answer. What a shame that people will be so dishonest to steal from others. Be aware

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KenNaples
Naples, US
Oct 28, 2022 12:32 pm EDT
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Add "1964 Global, LLC" to the list of companies making these calls. At least we got a variant - it was a woman named Roxanne Semone running the phone (she actually believed accepted that there will be a DisneyWorld at Vidanta in Nuevo Vallarta, raising the value of our shares), with an 800 number for the Finance Department. We never called it. Thanks for all your comments here!

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Keysmama
Key Largo, GB
Oct 21, 2022 4:43 pm EDT
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I received the same call as said with the same amount 1850.00 per share with a minimum number of 70 shares, I also spoke with the woman in Mexico and she was able to find my information so quickly and as someone mentioned I do this kind of phone stuff daily, and all though it was nice she was so efficient, I instantly got the red flags going off in my brain. Thank you for all the details the others posted I would just say ditto! I can't wait for Andrea R Pan to call me back so I can tell him I wasn't born yesterday! and I hope this saves someone else from falling for this because it did seem believable! BTW The company name used was 1 NY Developers Group LLC.

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Skeptical canuck
Edmonton, CA
Oct 20, 2022 12:26 am EDT
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A SKEPTICAL CANUCK

October 18, 2022

I feel like I’m joining a chorus of voices singing the same song

My adventure began Friday last. I was awaiting a call from my travel insurer when a second call came in from a strange number. I did not exercise my usual suspicion and answered the call from an unknown number and got the pitch from Stephen, backed up by Leonard Cohen. I was enticed but skeptical.

I should add at this point that I stopped accepting calls from unknown numbers a year or so back, because of the Tsunami of calls from people or groups who have bought, in my view, client lists from Vidanta or disgruntled former employees. There are currently four such pesterers to add to a list that exceeds 30.

They claimed to be with ‘ 1 New York Development Group LLC’ and outlined the scam. They;

- Asked if I had received correspondence from them in March 2022 about Vidanta’s plan to achieve NYSE membership and offer shares for sale (i had received nothing)

-they promised to expedite a copy to me(nothing received)

- Was I aware that our original purchase from Vida/Vidanta had included shares in the assets(I had never heard that)

-the transaction of shares was an OTC(over the counter transaction) often used by entities selling a portion of their assets when they lack exchange membership(had to do research for this and found that these are real)

-they stated that Vidanta was doing this transaction through Desarrollo (development in Spanish) Marina Vallarta, a company listed as owned by Daniel Chavez and his family. Chavez has always been identified as the creator of Vida/Vidanta (the two names used during our association with them) (check this out on internet)

- ask if Vidanta is going public (you’ll get denial and referral to the page I’m now on)

- 1 New York et al is claiming for unclear reasons that Vidanta holds the shares we should have known about. Each purchaser was ,theoretically, granted 70 shares at purchase and usage increased individual ownership(i reportedly had 261 total shares but after a transaction in August 2021 my shares are reduced to 91)

-1 New York asked that I get my Alfa-numeric book entry number by phoning the finance department of Desarrollo Marina in Mexico at the number theyprovided. The woman who answered the phone used the name Desarrollo Marina.(i complied and gave the obtained number to 1 New York, who gave the above share holing information to me)

-1 New York said they would be glad to pursue recovery of the shares sold in August 2021, as well as transact the 91 remaining for $1875 per share, claiming a 2.25%commission from sale proceeds. They requested that i provide a Canadian brokerage or bank who would/could handle an OTC transaction)

-I promised to provide the information by Tuesday(i exercised due diligence by speaking to my wealth manager, a bank and performed the searches outlined above)

- I advised Leonard Cohen today that I now understood the scam and would not go further (I was surprised at his hostility)

This is the most complex and ingenious scam I have seen to date. The woman answering the phone on a Mexican number was a nice touch. However, whenever did you have a receptionist at a major firm, and the Chavez firm is major (they state their last year revenue as over $850 million), find and report a number that was theoretically important over a phone with no effort to identify who you were.

As well Vidanta has sold timeshares to thousands of people. Why is there a fast approaching deadline? If all of the thousands of us got the offer I got, what’s left of the assert base to sell on an exchange/

Thank heavens for knowledgeable friends, due diligence and the odd slip up. I think I’ll pass on this one!

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Didn’t sound right to me
, US
Oct 15, 2022 10:49 am EDT

I didn’t fall for it, and knew it was fishy from the start. Was told same nonsense- that i supposedly have access to stocks at a company I was listed at as a property investor (associated to Maya Riviera - where I vacationed over 15urs ago. Lol).

Now today received a call from “Angelo Lisboa” (which researched on LinkedIn - as the same name, different person from an apparently highly credible Professional with JP Morgan) . But the call I got today was from an Angelo saying he’s with “1964 Global llc “ at a phone number [protected].

Anyway….long story short….my opinion is similar to those I’m reading from others ….SCAM….stay away.

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j Andrews
Ocean Ridge, US
Aug 26, 2022 1:31 pm EDT

I have also been contacted by Leonard Cohen supposedly from First NY Developers. Phone [protected] in regards to 'claiming my shares for Vidanta or Royal Desarralo Marina' before they were lost, supposedly by 8/28/22. The gave me the same spiel about calling for my booking entry number on a Mexico line [protected] supposedly the finance division for Desarrolo. When I called I was told I had 111 shares at $1850.00 a share and that they sent out a notice March 2022 that they were going public and that I had the opportunity to claim my shares. Well I never received that notice and when I asked for another to be sent out they said they would overnight it but I have not received that either. They gave me a booking number which I then conveyed to Mr. Cohen. He said he would have legal contact me on what to do next. Today I got a call from 'another stock broker' from the same company but nothing from 'legal'. So far no-one has asked for money but I am sure that will come. I have tried to make inquires as to the legitimacy of this but Vidanta keeps telling me they are NOT going public and it is a scam. I get a minimum of 10 calls a week from groups wanting to 'purchase or rent' my time share and now this stock scam. I would love to sell my timeshare just to get out of this annoying loop of calls! How is it these scammers can't be stopped and prosecuted? It is such an invasion of privacy! Lucky for me I was suspect enough to research this and have not lost any money just time. Thanks for all the feedback. 'If it sounds to good to be true it probably is!"

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Terirdh
Olympia, US
Aug 03, 2022 5:01 pm EDT
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So glad I found this! didn't know if it was a scam or not. Still skeptical. this is why Vidanta tells you not to have any dealings with anyone else. Benjamin Cohen from 1st NY Developers Group, LLC contacted me from [protected] ext 103. Said I needed to call and obtain my "book entry number" and that I had a minimum of 70 shares valued at $1850 ea on a private stock (OTC, over the counter; which I actually hold a stock of that type and it does fuctuate in price and does not expire!), that would expire/be eliminated. They asked me to call the financial division department and gave me a Mexican phone number. Luckily that number is now defunct

2nd note...I had someone calling me who said they were a State attorneys office from Mexico and filing a lawsuit against Vidanta. Does anyone have info on that? I also assumed that was a scam

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Barry Lockyer
, US
Jul 26, 2022 2:21 pm EDT

I to received a call from Forex trade Management. Michael Romano indicated that A going public situation was occuring and that if I did not follow up I would lose out on benefiting from my ownership. They indicated I had to contact Desarrolla Marina Vallarta and obtain verification status of my book entry.

They indicated that the way to do it was to call [protected] and request a private placement memorandum. Once I obtained it I should call back and the money accrued to my entry number could then be recovered and returned to me. Without doing this they were under instructions to liquidate my entitlement and I would lose everything.

Luckily I found this web site and decided not to pursue this scam any further.

Please be aware that these people are very convincing but do not fall for it.

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nick@nite
Campbellville, CA
Jul 18, 2022 9:35 pm EDT
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BEWARE of a FOREX scam. My husband received a call from a "Dominic Missino" from a FOREX number from Detroit, Michigan. [protected]

He had our personal information from a timeshare resort in Mexico called Desarrollo Marina Vallarta.

He told us that we owned 213 shares at $850 per share. The Corporation was trying to go public on the NYSE. He instructed my husband to call the Financial Division to obtain our BOOK ENTRY #. He provided the phone number to the Financial Division. This number [protected]) was nowhere to be found in any of our correspondence with this timeshare. Mr. Missino told us that they would try to get us to relinquish our shares for some special gift from the sales department. We phoned the number and a man gave us our BOOK ENTRY # and tried to transfer us to "the sales department". We hung up the phone and called the legitimate number that we had on some paperwork for the accounting dept at Desarrollo Marina Vallarta. The woman that answered the call said that the resort was not planning to go public; there was no IPO and she had no information about FOREX nor any BOOK ENTRY NUMBER. We decided to google the resort to see if there was any information about a possible scam. I found this page and I am so glad that we did not pursue this any further. Thank you for warning others about this fraud. He mentioned the Bank that would handle the "buy-back" would be American Banking Financial & Leadership Institute in NY. We want to know how they got our information and our timeshare contract number. Is someone from Desarrolla Marina Vallarta selling our personal information to scammers?

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Juan Tojin
, US
Aug 24, 2022 6:45 pm EDT
Replying to comment of nick@nite

Thank you. Just got a call from FOREX. I tried to call the secondary number [protected]) just to go along with their scam, but no longer in service.

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OLd Captain Bob
detroit, US
Jul 07, 2022 5:43 pm EDT
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ok same deal Ben Cohen at [protected] ext 103 has the same story

called 01152-[protected] said they were Desarllo marine Vallanta and gave me a number and said I could exchanfge for a week or a cruise

this is same says ext July 13 pay $1,0850. for maybe 70 plus shares

too many people above said pass no one said got big money

Captain bob an Estates ans Empire estates owner from MI

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A&W
Ellscott, CA
May 28, 2022 2:46 pm EDT

Received a call from FOREX today. First call when they indicated a relation to my Vidanta timeshare I told him I was not interested and hung up. They immediately called back and thought I would hear him out and have a little fun with him. Marco DelToro stated that the "Company" not Vidanta has hidden the fact that I was an owner of the company and entitled to shares in the company as they are going public but I could relinquish them to him and his commission would be taken from the proceeds. I stated that I do not own anything I just have the right to rent vacations weeks at a stated price for a stated time. He kept telling me it was not going to cost me anything and he would let the company know that I am relinquishing the share option. I told him even though I believe you are a scammer that he does not have my permission to negotiate or discuss anything on my behalf and that I was recording the entire conversation. He said fine that he was recording as well and would contact the company anyway because I was being rude. I indicated that any company that would have that attitude was definitely a scam and I requested his full name and address. He laughed and asked if I wanted to come to his house to which I responded yes I like Mexico and I would also have legal authorities with me. He got mad and then said he had enough talking to me and hung up.

They are very persistent. Vidanta owners ensure you know your contracts for these scam calls and for when you go to the resort and they ask you to renegotiate and upsell you. I love my timeshare at this beautiful property and use it often as that is the only way it pays off your initial investment BUT... They are there to make money!

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Doris Herring
Gosport, US
May 24, 2022 11:45 am EDT

I was contacted by a Chris Andrew Williams, Exchange Mgmt & LLC., Desarrollo Marina, Vallarta about 10 da/2 weeks ago. Same senerio as everyone states. Given a phone# to get a Book Entry # that was necessary. I told the caller I had no money so no need to ask for a penny. Chris said no problem. Their charge was 2.48% and that would come out of payment for my shares. Then was informed there were 2 banks involved, I could choose either one for the payment to be deposited. I would have to open an account with one. That isn't a red flag, It's a whole darn banner! Chris called again Sat. Had a fit when I hadn't opened the account! Confess I had fun stringing him along. Hung up on him and did not answer the constantly ringing phone.

What everyone needs to realize is these people are very good at what they do! Everyone needs to remember that, if it sounds too good to be true, run as fast as you can! There is no such thing as free, or "found" money!

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Doris A. Herring
Gosport, US
May 21, 2022 2:16 pm EDT
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Very glad I found this site. Have had several calls similar to these. Told them I had no money and could not pay one cent.Talked to a Mark E. Smith in Minneappolis, MN? Exchange Mgmt LLC. [protected]. He stated they would take their commission from the sale and send me the balance. RED FLAG! The supposed balance is about $123,000.

I did get the Book Entry #. They tried to get me to "donate" my shares back for a weeks vacation in Cancun.

Thanks to this site, I will not lose any money nor book a vacation that probably doesn't exist.

Thank you for being here!

Doris A. Herring

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Lee R Hadley
, US
Apr 22, 2022 6:02 pm EDT

April 23. 2022. I also received a call from Forex. They want me to send $7700 to open an account from which to liquidate 136 shares for $155,000. I believe it is a scam. I am not sending them any money.

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Dobbs777
Portland, US
Apr 21, 2022 7:58 pm EDT
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Just got the same type of call from "Forex Trade Management Corp" from a Michigan number. Lady gave me an 800 number for "Vidanta Financial Headquarters" to get my "book entry number", which she advised me they would attempt to get me to relinquish shares for a vacation, but not to do that instead to liquidate through them. Sure enough, the lady at Vidanta is answering in Spanish, but speaks English. Looks up my info based on name and phone number, and says they apparently sent the notification to my old address. Gives me a "book entry number", says it is "expiring" in only a few days, and then asks if I want to trade it for a one-week vacation in Cancun. I say no thanks and call back the Michigan number. Some other "assistant" finally gets on the line and reaffirms everything and will have to call me back. I did a quick online search and found this page. Thanks for the heads up! Very interesting, complex and convincing scam they are running...

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Steve Pepper
, US
Feb 25, 2022 3:15 pm EST

Had a similar call from a Business Broker in Iowa (their phone number is [protected]. They gave me a number to call to verify as the Finance team a Desarrello Marina. I looked at my contract and noted that it is a different number and likely a fraud number in a boiler shop. He spoke very fast (a major red flag) and stated that I needed to deal with this "today" (another major fraud flag). When I mentioned that I would file a complaint with the SEC about not getting information / notice about the public offering he immediately advised that the public is not on the SEC and further I wouldn't find out because of a "non-disclosure agreement" As someone who went to law school and deals with corporate law and NDAs almost daily, I can say that all of this is completely non-nonsensical. If you are feeling rushed, confused - slow down and take your time. Get proper legal advice. 99% chance that this and any other calls like it are complete frauds. They are using boiler shops, call centers,robo dialing and spoofs to try and fool you. Be insistent for them to provide the contact of their lawyer and that your lawyer will connect with them directly. They will NEVER give you a lawyer that can be verfied!

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Lbk53
Renton, US
Mar 01, 2022 9:41 pm EST
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Hi Steve,

I believe this same scenario is unfolding as I type with us. They are extremely convincing that it is all logit. They are even stating that currently, this is only a private sales - buy-back program, which I do know happens all the time - legally. Have you received a letter from the location advising of the number of shares you own, what the buy-back price is and your booking entry number? They continue to tell me that a letter was sent and now March 4th is the final day the stock can be processed on the trading floor. Well, if this is a private buy-back then there is no trading from the floor...SCAM in my opinion.

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5025Martinez
Sacramento, US
Mar 22, 2022 3:17 pm EDT
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This was very helpful! I've received the same kind of calls and just filed a Complaints Board. They are a complete SCAM

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Elaine
, US
Feb 24, 2022 8:12 pm EST

I was just contacted by Stanley Edge of Forex Trade Management Corp with a promise to help me recover my "unsolicited stock" that was owed to me by Desarrollo Marina Villarta, the parent company of Vidanta. I was told that the company is trying to go public and that the stocks were promised to me at the time of purchase as a part of the ownership agreement. If I did not call and request a booking # for my 70 shares at $1850 per share I would lose that money as soon as the stock went public (hmmmm). Remember the saying "If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is". Beware!

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Lbk53
Renton, US
Mar 01, 2022 9:42 pm EST
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Replying to comment of Elaine

Same story here!

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Old CA RN
, US
Mar 24, 2022 11:38 am EDT
Replying to comment of Elaine

Same supposed company, Forex Trade Management. Over the past 1.5 years, I have received no less than 15 calls from like I got yesterday and this morning. Because the caller (gave the name Lucio Silva) was less-annoying than many of the previous callers, I was persuaded to call the toll-free # and get the book entry number to allow him to tell me how many shares I might have. I called Lucio the book entry number. He advised me that he could help me redeem 170 shares at a price of $1150 each, for a total sale of $195,500. I was slightly reassured when he said that his 2.48% commission would be held back from the sales proceeds, rather than having to pay a commission out of pocket. Then this morning he called, and suggested that I must ha "canceled the book entry number," and said I had to call the 888-number again. I said, "Enough already."

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Kenn 85
Mt. Prospect, US
May 17, 2022 11:25 am EDT
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Replying to comment of Old CA RN

It’s amazing. The exact same thing just happened to me. The $1150 was the same but my guy only wanted 1.84%. What a deal. How do we inflict something on these scammers?

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Kenn 85
Mt. Prospect, US
May 17, 2022 11:29 am EDT
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Replying to comment of Old CA RN

Just had the identical situation. My guy only wanted 1.84%. What a deal.

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John Byrne
Philadelphia, US
Jan 18, 2022 10:33 pm EST

Has anybody (besides the soliciting trade companies) here actually gotten any money out of this complicated process?

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5025Martinez
Sacramento, US
Mar 22, 2022 3:20 pm EDT
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Replying to comment of John Byrne

all fraud... dont call for it John - I reached out to Vindanta directly and they have several reports of these cases.

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Juan Andrade
Downey, US
Nov 02, 2021 5:24 pm EDT

JUST ON TIME [RICHARD CLARK] The same history, 87 share $1850 each ! [censored], They got me with the deposit only 4% = 8000 and today I was on the way to pay taxes 17% = 27, 0000.00 BE CAREFUL PEOPLE, They are very smart, And convince, because many information they provide is real, but they are fake. Thank you for all the comment, you guys share, they are very helpful for our community. Juan Andrade, Another victim!

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Benic
New York, New York, US
Feb 13, 2022 10:57 am EST
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Juan yo también fui víctima de este fraude, todo es muy real y también perdí mucho dinero

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David Brent Moore
Salem, US
Oct 19, 2021 6:19 pm EDT
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On 10 Sept. 2021 I was contacted by a Mr. Ross Basri of The Stock Broker LTD, Corp in New Jersey notifying me of “shares” that I was entitled to from my timeshare at the Grand Luxxe, Grupo Vidanta, or Royal Marina Vallarta aka Desarrollo Marina Vallarta. He instructed me to contact the finance department at Vidanta to obtain a Book Entry # for my shares. After attempting to upsell me on other freebees they gave me my book entry number. I provided this to Mr. Basri who told me I had 89 shares valued at $1850 each totaling $164, 650 USD. He instructed me to contact my bank so he could trade these shares and send the money to that account. On his recommendation I contacted The Clearing House, Inc. in NYC and spoke with Alex F. David with whom I have had numerous daily discussions. Alex stated he is the underwriter for Vidanta’s IPO (which appears to be non-existent), he instructed me to open an account with him by wire transferring 5% of this amount, $8, 300, on 16 Sept. to activate the account with CitiBank with the beneficiary Vector Casa de Bolsa SA, located at 111 Wall St. NYC 10005, with reference “Sistemas Y Control EMSY, SA DE CV [protected]”. Basri was informed and transferred the $164, 650 into this account. Further, Basri informed me that an additional 116 shares previously blocked by Vidanta had been released. Mr. David instructed me to wire an additional $10, 300 on 20 Sept. to activate this additional amount to the same aforementioned account. A total of $18, 600 had been very reluctantly wired from my Wells Fargo account. Now 205 shares were deposited totaling $379, 250, plus my activation amounts which totaled $397, 850. When attempting to withdraw this amount on 22 Sept. I was told by both Basri and David that Vidanta on 20 Sept. was holding the transfer up due to delinquent “Assessment fees” amounting to 13 years at $850 totaling $20, 050 which was required to be wired with Mr. David. I reviewed my Vidanta contract and spoke with Vidanta HQ accounting who stated that I was correct that there is now and never was any assessment fees and that this was a scam. I googled Mr. Alex Francis David, registered with Morgan Stanley and called him at his office in NYC. This was not the Alex Francis David at The Clearing House who previously rendered to me his CRD#5829569, which is the real Mr. David’s #. It appears that Mr. David at The Clearing House is impersonating the real registered broker with that name. Mr. David cancelled my agreement today while I was investigating the bogus assessment fees. He had told me numerous times that my $18, 600 activation fees were totally returnable if the transaction did not complete as these funds, “were my money”, but when asking for the return of my $18, 600 activation fees, he stating he would not return them, that they were in Mexico and hung up on me. I notified my bank which has initiated a recall of these funds but advised me that if Vector Casa de Bolsa refuses I will have little recourse. Please let me know if you have any advice to return my badly needed money.

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Dean Milano
, US
Sep 27, 2021 5:47 pm EDT

We got the same call and when we called our financial advisor he told us it was a total scam and to drop the whole thing immediately. Mayan Palace told us the same thing. They're just trying to get your money.

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Paul Reiser
Green Valley, Arizona, US
Apr 05, 2021 4:51 pm EDT

I was contacted by a Broker, Kenneth Hamilton from Financial Acquisitions and Trading LLC 28 Liberty Street, new York, NY 10005, at telephone number [protected] who told me that I had available 65shares with Desarrollo Marina Vallarta related to a timeshare I purchased with them in 2016. I was told each share was worth $2399 for a total of $155, 935. He said he would liquidate these shares for me.

Mr. Hamilton connected me to contact Thomas Ruiz at BankShares Corporation of the United States, 11 west 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036 telephone number [protected]. Mr. Ruiz told me I needed to deposit 4% of the liquidated share value to open a brokerage account for a total of $6, 237.40. I did this but was later told I needed to pay for additional taxes for the total amount before the funds could be released. This tax was for $43, 661.80 The name of the bank manager was Gavin Hayes. I wired the initial 4% from my Bank of America account to a Citibank account with routing number [protected]. The account [protected] was in the name of Intercam Banco S.A. IMB. All of these institutions have internet presence when googled. They are registered with the state of New York or Delaware.

When I could not come up with the additional funds I did more investigation and a fellow accountant mentioned this could be a scam so I called the Accounting department for Vidanta, a timeshare company with Desarrollo Marina Vallarta, and was told this is a new scam involving time shares which fit what I was subjected to. I being very gullible, still went for the program as it sounded to good to pass up. each time I tried to follow what they wanted, there was another fee to be paid first and before long, I had invested over $30, 000 with Bankshares and now Financial traders was after more money because I had gone longer than the 30 day contract. $5, 000 for a new contract. Bankshares wanted me to pay a 22% penalty to the Federal Reserve for not cashing in the certifcates when I filed the FBAR. I'm trying to cancel my contract but I can not reach anyone at Financial Trading. Their phones do not ring when I try to call them. I thinki they flew the coop. What can I do now?

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Benic
New York, New York, US
Feb 13, 2022 10:59 am EST
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Same history. Same fraud, everything look real .. I lost a lot of money

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Benic
New York, New York, US
Feb 13, 2022 11:09 am EST
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Same history, I lost a lot of money in May/2021 .. I do not recovery nothing .. I do not what else can I do