Criminal charges filed over ‘International Escapes’ timeshare exit scheme

Ten people have been criminally charged in a timeshare exit scheme, according to a statement released Wednesday by the Monterey County District Attorney’s office.

The Real Estate Fraud Unit charged the `10 individuals – acting under the name “International Escapes” – with one count of false advertising and one count of practicing real estate without a license.

The criminal complaints stem from “cold calls” made to Monterey County residents who own timeshares, inviting them to attend a meeting at a Salinas-area restaurant on October 6, 2021. During this meeting, International Escapes allegedly made sales pitches misrepresenting their services and engaged in conduct constituting the unlicensed practice of real estate.

Most of the Monterey County timeshare owners who attended the October 6 meeting were over 70 years old, according to the statement.