James, a retired law enforcement officer and Vietnam veteran, enjoyed vacationing with his wife at their Lake Tahoe timeshare. However, as the years passed, they used it less and less, leading James to consider selling it.

In October 2022, James received a call from Michael, who claimed to have a buyer willing to pay $22,470 for the timeshare. Thrilled, James agreed, signed a contract, and paid an initial fee of $2,696 for the transfer process. But then, additional fees began piling up: $3,595, $16,155, and even $78,000, all allegedly required for the transfer. James, distracted by his wife’s battle with cancer, reluctantly paid these fees, believing the funds would be reimbursed.

Michael and Jesus, another caller, assured James that everything was legitimate, pointing to an escrow account showing his growing balance. But the payments never arrived. Instead, they demanded more money, with Jesus becoming increasingly aggressive, even berating James for not answering calls while his wife was in the hospital.

As the situation worsened, James paid nearly $900,000 in total, still receiving no funds. Frustrated and desperate, James consulted lawyer Mike Finn, who recognized the scam immediately. Investigative journalist Steve Fisher confirmed that James had fallen victim to a sophisticated scheme run by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. This cartel had shifted from drug trafficking to call center scams, finding them more profitable and less risky.

James' ordeal highlights the dark reality of timeshare scams, where ruthless criminals exploit vulnerable individuals, leaving them in financial ruin and emotional distress.