Canadian Government asked to tell Mexicans "Investigate Tourist Fraud"

REGINA, Saskatchewan - Sept. 8, 2019 - PRLog -- Canadians who claim to have been defrauded hundreds of thousands of dollars by a Puerto Vallarta resort have asked the Canadian Government to help persuade Mexican authorities to investigate.

"Initially, the Mexican embassy appeared dedicated to stopping the fraudsters," explained group spokesman, Lloyd Robertson. "In September, 2018, they advised us to go to the nearest consulates, but our members were turned away in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver." Group member, Karin Gleissle, said she had contacted the Mexican consulate in Toronto before the embassy became involved, "At first they said they could accept my documentation, but then they changed their mind."

An embassy spokesman apologized and said they needed to draft necessary protocols. Then he said they had to wait for a new ambassador. The group wrote the ambassador in April, with no responce. The spokesman advised the victims could fly to Mexico to lay complaints.

"There is a lawyer who will charge us 12% of the amount scammed to pursue a criminal complaint in Mexico," explained Graham Rignall. "I gave up after being taken advantage by a different lawyer. We should not have to pay to have our criminal complaint investigated."

After being defrauded, Eleanor and Phillip Neigel were told by a Mexican law firm, that the owner of the Grand Miramar resort "wanted to make things right and was buying back all the properties and we would be refunded our money,. They wired the law firm $2,300 (US) in closing costs and later discovered their two credit cards had been charged with another $15,000 in fees.

Robertson said every member of his group, and a larger one in the United States, have received subsequent calls from company officials, lawyers and people claiming to work for the government of Mexico. He said these "secondary scammers" are not necessarily tied to the resort, but that "Crimes have been committed and it will take a criminal investigation to sort out who the guilty are." Geissle was suspicious of embassy's explanations, "In my experience consulate officials initially enthusiastically support us and then do an about face. We also know that the Mexican Federal Police advised we could lay criminal complaints at the embassies. I think someone higher up has decided that such legal protections should not be offered tourists. If that is the case, there needs to be a country to country discussion about it," she concluded

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Lloyd Robertson, Regina, Sask.
Ph: 306-425-9872
E-mail: lhrobertson@sasktel.net

Karin Gleissle, Kitchner, Ont.
Ph: 519-501-9021
E-mail: karing9021@gmail.com

Graham Rignall, Stevensville, Ont
Ph: 289-397-0597
E-mail: muff1958diver@gmail.com

Eleanor and Philip Neigel, Melfort , Sask.
Ph.:  306-921-6763
E-mail: eleanor.neigel@gmail.com