The Illinois attorney general is warning consumers about timeshare vacation scams.

Attorney General Lisa Madigan claims that scammers pose as timeshare resellers to trick consumers into paying thousands of dollars. Since January, more and more complaints are being filed against these timeshare scams.

The con artists call a timeshare owner and claim that they have found a buyer for the property. The scammer then asks the owner for a refundable upfront fee to ensure that the sale pushes through. The timeshare owners will be asked to wire money to an out-of-state bank account. Then the scammer walks away without the money.

To avoid scams like this, the attorney general says that consumers should double check the timeshare resales company with the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

Another important tip is not to pay upfront fees. Tell the seller that your lawyer will run through the sale first before it is finalized.