Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi going after fraudulent timeshare resale companies

Attorney General Pam Bondi unveiled her first legislative priority ahead of the January session: cracking down on fraudulent timeshare resale companies. "Everyone's dream is to own a retirement home in Florida," she said. "And unfortunately many of our retirees who have succeeded in that dream and have purchased a timeshare are being defrauded by scam artists. And that has got to stop." Bondi's target: Advertisers who lure timeshare owners with bold and unrealistic promises, including "Buyers are on standby!" and "For an up front fee we guarantee your timeshare sale!" Complaints about timeshare resale fraud soared to about 12,000 in 2010, up from nearly 3,000 in 2009, according to figures provided by Bondi's office. The Timeshare Resale Accountability Act, sponsored by state Sen. Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, and Rep. Eric Eisnaugle, R-Orlando, would help attorneys prosecute these companies for unfair and deceptive marketing practices.