At 11:45:55 PST on 07-23-99, joe capozzi wrote:

>At 09:42:50 PST on 07-19-99, James wrote:
>
>>At 18:03:04 PST on 06-26-99, Chris McA wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>>We were also approached by telephone by someone saying they were from Swiss American Bank and that they were interested in buying our timeshare in Florida. They asked that we get an "appraisal" on the property before they would send us an "option to buy". When the "appraiser" contacted us by telephone, she wanted our credit card number to pay for said "appraisal" She said they would not accept a check "That's the way we do business". We reported the incident to the National Fraud Information Center in Washington, D.C. -- http://www.fraud.org.
>>>
>
>james, continue to drag your feet. ask them for references of people who sold their timeshare. you will probably not get any. anyway please read my recent posting. State of Fla is pursuing criminal charges and I'd like to start a civil action against them. I'll email you something.
>joe
>>>BETTY: DID YOU EVER HEAR ANYTHING FROM FRAUD CTR IN DC? YOU POSTED IN MARCH IT IS NOW ALMOST JULY AND SWISS AMERICAN "BANK" IS STILL DOING BUSINESS SCAMMING THOSE APPRAISAL FEES. WE GOT A CALL THURS JUNE 24TH. I JUST EMAILED FLORIDA AG & CONSUMER SERVICES/COMPLAINT FORM. NOTHING YET.
>>>CHRIS IN SEATTLE
>>>
>>>
>>I have just been approached by the same organization with guarantees of a sale at the price determined by the appraiser. Well oiled they are. The phone call was followed by a fax, then a call from a MRS representative who gladly provided me with the names and prices of three area appraisers but would only give the phone number for one. None of the appraisers could be located with any national organization. The appraiser I selected has called twice now. I've been dragging my feet to check everything out. I believe this is a scam operation, as I feared and will be reporting it shortly.
>>
>>James in D.C.
>
>I also received "the call" tonight and am waiting for a fax to be sent, and a call from a MLS service. They are asking for a lot of strange info just for a "Option to buy" what ever that is. They want:
1. Copy of the Deed
2. Copy of the contract
3. Recent appraisal ****
4. Receipt of 1998-99 fees
5. Balance owed.

I will continue to watch this message board for any info anyone has on this operation. From the beginning this did not smell right.
J. Lilly of Louisville