Scam Type
Travel/Vacation/Timeshare Scam
Business Name Used
Unavailable
Date Reported
February 15, 2024
Postal Code
07876
Total Dollars Lost
$ 86000
Scam Description
Was first approached In September 2022 by Mathew Ericson and Bryan King of Innovative Realty LLC Boston to purchase my timeshare/vacation package I purchased in Punta Kana. I was given a proposal for $31750. I was told, through George Fex, senior broker at Innovative, I needed to purchase an SRE Visa permit to continue the sale and that Innovative would refund this to me. All they would get was $1587.50 commission, payable after I got paid. I did wire transfer for this. The buyer was to be Nova Capital, representative – Agnes de la Mora. This and most of the subsequent wire transfers went thru The Bank of NY Mellon 240 Greenwich St, NY.NY 10007. I would receive wire instructions and receipts from AMI Escrow Tittle Agency Cleveland OH , reps Tyler Hall & aubrey. The next requests were $3256.98, 5649.20, 4762.50, 4250, 9973.73,11968.48, 19,900, 15045, 15000, 14960. The fees were for insurance bonds, prepaid taxes both federal and state in Mexico, Attorneys fees, and reasignment fees. Deposits were initially going to Santander bank. Had gotten right to the end where I would have been funded but the bank demanded a bond to cover investigation of money laundering. This was paid and the bank refused to comply. Funds were transferred to the BBVA bank and the bond money had been deposited in my irrevocable trust account so the new bank couldn’t get at it. The bond had to be repaid. (Before each payment I was told by George Fex this would be the last payment.) Several payments later I was told that an officer at the SAT was arrested and charged with stealing funds, 50k of mine included. They even had a judge contact me about this. He sent his credentials which two lawyers said were bogus. Even though I had receipts for everything they said he never deposited the money. I am now in limbo, either waiting for the trial to complete (which I was told could take years) or “repay” the 50k in fees whereas my funds will immediately be released. The owner of Innovative, Johnathan Kane has assured me he will make the deposits in person and nothing else should go wrong. I had previously gotten the same offer from George Fex but his proposal included a clause that if the SAT and BBVA would not comply, Innovative would pay me a slightly lesser amount. Mr. Kane has said that Mr. Fex did not have the authority to offer this and that it is void. He cannot give me this guaranty. The “guaranty” was the only reason I sent the last payment.
** Would be interested in speaking with other parties who have had this happen to them.
