The potential buyer of your time-share might be affiliated with a Mexican drug cartel

The allure of a dream vacation turned into a nightmare for an Edmonton couple, Rod Pratt and Diana Paquette, who fell victim to a sophisticated time-share scam orchestrated by the notorious Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) in Mexico.

What started as a spontaneous decision to invest in a beachfront property in Nuevo Vallarta quickly spiraled into a financial disaster for Pratt and Paquette. Despite spending $95,000 US on the time-share and upgrades, hidden fees and exorbitant costs made their vacations unaffordable, leading them to desperately seek a way out.

When a broker offered to buy their time-share for $155,000 US, Pratt saw it as a lifeline. However, the deal unraveled when he refused to pay exorbitant fees, setting off a chain of fraudulent offers that ultimately cost him over $200,000 Cdn.

The CJNG’s foray into time-share scams is part of its diversified criminal enterprise, which includes drug trafficking, kidnapping, and extortion. The cartel’s sophisticated scheme involves fake websites, official-looking documents, and follow-up calls from supposed investigators, making it difficult for victims to discern the fraud.

Despite the devastating losses, Pratt and Paquette are left picking up the pieces, preparing to move and facing a divorce. Reflecting on their ordeal, Pratt tearfully expressed regret over ever investing in the time-share, wishing they had never set foot in Mexico.

As authorities grapple with the growing threat of time-share frauds orchestrated by cartels like CJNG, victims like Pratt and Paquette serve as cautionary tales of the dangers lurking beneath the surface of seemingly idyllic vacation destinations.