(Reuters) -The U.S. government imposed sanctions on Wednesday on individuals and companies based in or near Puerto Vallarta accused of running timeshare fraud schemes on behalf of Mexico-based Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

The U.S. Treasury and State Department said the schemes, often run through call centers staffed by English-speaking telemarketers impersonating brokers, attorneys, or government officials, defrauded U.S. citizens by charging advance fees and taxes under false pretenses.

The Treasury said the cartel obtained information about U.S. timeshare owners in Mexico through insiders at resorts and used this data to perpetrate resale, re-rent, and investment scams.

According to FBI data, victims reportedly lost nearly $300 million to timeshare fraud schemes in Mexico bet

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