1. Go on a luxury all-inclusive $8,000 vacation to Cancun and charge it all to your American Express Platinum card.
2. While you are there, buy a $100,000 timeshare and also charge it to your Amex card. This gives you a free vacation as a bonus.
3. When you get back home, you change your mind but instead of telling the company you want out of the timeshare contract, instead claim that someone stole your Amex card and challenge the charges totalling $117,000.
4. Go on the free vacation a month later.
5. The next year, go back to the SAME RESORT at a huge discount because you are now a member.
6. Brag about your not-so-little scam on Facebook.
7. The next year, go back to the SAME RESORT, without checking if there is a warrant for your arrest. But this time, the police are waiting for you. Get thrown in jail with no bail, pending felony fraud charges.
8. Instead of hiring a Mexican attorney and making a deal, have your daughter complain about how you are being held hostage and tortured and how corrupt the Mexican legal system is and post it all over the internet. Also, mention that you are a US Navy veteran. Also, make a complaint to the US State Department, the governor of Michigan etc.
9. Bonus points if you can get Trump to tweet about it.
https://nypost.com/2025/03/26/us-news/michigan-couple-paul-and-christy-akeo-held-in-mexican-maximum-security-prison-over-dispute-with-resort-daughter/
Update: There is more to the story, of course. The membership was for $1.3 million. It was canceled because the timeshare company claimed they didn't abide by the agreement, and the $100,000 was just a payment.
https://www.reddit.com/r/TimeshareOwners/comments/1jaihqn/american_couple_arrested_in_cancun_airport_for/
Update 2: There is much more more, and I don't care about all the drama. (And for the record, my facts above are mostly wrong.) But I do want to note that the article says they do have an attorney, John Manly, who is a famous attorney who specializes in representing victims of sexual abuse. However, they obviously need a Mexican attorney.
Update 3/27/25: The story hit CNN. The couple claims the allegations against them are false, but they still don't have a Mexican attorney. They want the US government to intervene. What a couple of losers, I hope they stay in prison the next 6 months.
Update 3/28/25: They filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy on 8/29/24. It is unclear if the plan was approved. Why are they going on vacation if they are in bankruptcy proceedings?