WREX.com – Rockford’s News LeaderRockford-based company a scam

Rockford-based company a scam

By: Rebecca Klopf

ROCKFORD (WREX)- Complaints from around the country about a Rockford-based company cause the Better Business Bureau to warn: don't get mixed up with Recreational Concepts International.

I tried calling this company and even went over to the Rockford address listed on its website but all that was there was a rented post office box.

The only thing 13 news was able to find was a trail of unhappy customers missing hundreds of dollars and active investigations into Recreational Concepts International.

Mike Harris of Littleton, Colorado said they contacted me and said they had a buyer for his timeshare.  The company told Harris they just needed some money to pay for fees that would be put in escrow and he would get the money back in the end.  He paid out more than a thousand dollars and when he kept calling the company he said this is what happened.

"They hung up on me when I told them who I was," said Harris.

He repeated tried to call the company and they are not answering his calls so he contacted 13 news. We contacted the Better Business Bureau.

"Initially what happened was the lucky people, I think to make them look more legitimate when there was a complaint, they would receive a refund. Now its taking a great deal of time to get a refund and they don't even answer," said Dennis Horton of the Better Business Bureau.

I went to track down the company at 5411 East State Street #324 and all I found was a rented mail box.

Mailboxes & Parcel Depot could not tell us who has the box, but say it's still rented and getting mail.

The executive director said he found the renter suspicious and referred the matter to the postal inspector.

"We really don't like it when bad people rent our boxes and as soon as we find out anything we do call the authorities," said Jim Kitzmiller, Executive Director of Associated Mailboxes and Parcel Centers.

Harris said, "I know what viewers are going to say that I never would have done that but they sounded so professional, they sounded like a legit deal."

I asked the Better Business Bureau if they thought this was a scam and Dennis Horton said, "Yes, absolutely. Absolutely."

Recreational Concepts International never returned our calls, but as far as we can tell they are still operating a business.

The Better Business Bureau said they are in touch with the Illinois' Attorney General Office to investigate the company and will be contacting the Postal Inspector as well.  The BBB said people who are victims of this scam can try to get money back through their credit card company if they paid that way.  Or they can try to contact their banks if they paid by check or debit.