Been screwed by a developer? Who ya gonna call?

I get a lot of emails from readers asking me what action they should take against a developer or promoter who has taken their deposit and not started or completed a project. Unfortunately there are no clear laws protecting buyers from scams or from developers who's dreams turn to nightmares in Panama. I believe the buyers of Los Foros have taken the best approach which is to come together and file legal action in order to try and get retribution. To sit back and do nothing pretty much guarantees you will get nothing. I have no idea what is going on with Grupo Mall and don't want to accuse them of wrongdoing, but the fact that  there has been no work on the site for well over a year and they do not communicate any information to their buyers after numerous requests, certainly does not instill confidence. I certainly understand the challenges that developers are under getting finances for mega projects, but there is a correct way to handle such a situation. Go to these disgruntled buyers website to see the actions they are taking. Another website that may be of value to those who want to share their concerns about certain individuals and businesses in Panama is the Panama Scammers Forum.