I got one of those mass mailer letters with the perforated edges. It said "Happy Birthday!" on the front. Inside there was a Southwest Airlines logo, which included the text, "Plus other major airlines".
Further down it said that I had won a free trip for my birthday! Hooray! All I had to do was call 1-800-813-6994. I even had a reservation code! PB007.
There was another piece of paper that I ripped out that looked like a Southwest Airlines boarding pass. On the back in small print was written:
Travel Provider:Now let's put on our thinking hats... What makes this appear as a scam?
Global Travel
8500 Leesburg Pike
Suite 306
Vienne, Va 22182
*Certain restrictions may apply.
*This promotion is not sponsored by or affiliated with Southwest, they are a major supplier
- Postage paid in West Palm Beach, Florida. Permit #: 3950.
- Suspicious travel agency that I can't nail down on the web. They claim to be in "Vienne", Virginia. There is no "Vienne". But there is a "Vienna".
- Possible use of Southwest registered trademarks without permission.
- Again, poor grammar and punctuation.
- The desire for me to contact them.
23 comments:
I got one yesterday, exactly the same, obviously a scam. These people are so stupid. How could they not realize that we can look this garbage up on the web and get confirmation that it's a scam?
I received one on October 9, 2008. This time, the sender was "Fairfax County General District--Rm 306." The item was mailed from Tampa, Fl. There was a "WARNING" at the bottom right advising that there is a $2,000 fine or 5 yrs. Imprisonment for "obstructing or interfering" with the delivery of this mail. There is no indication on the back of the "voucher" that a travel agency is involved. Indeed, there is no indication of the origin of this offer anywhere.
I got one from Hilton that gives a $300 Walmart gift certificate. Hilton and Walmart in the same mailing....I don't think so!
The postal was from West Palm Beach. FL.
I just got the Hilton/Wal-mart offer too.
cant you believe it, the scammers are still in business. I just received the same letter today, was wondering what kind of scammers they are and who would take their tricks. I found answers on yahoo: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100427180558AAfPns0
Jan 25,2010
Now this phone number is offering a free airplane ticket and 8 day Carnival cruise for 2 people! It's still their anniversary!
We just received the 8 Day Cruise "carnival/US airlines" complimentary offer. I called and they stated we would receive a gift certificate for the cruise if we attended a 90 minute seminar in Salisbury, MD. They tried to sound like they were local but couldn't even pronounce "Salisbury". West Palm Beach Fl Permit 3950
We got one that said we received a complimentary 8 day/7-night cruise for 2. I called the 800# and the recorded voice said it was Devine Getaways and for me to stay on the line, someone would be right with me. The first person(a male) hung up on me when I said I was calling about the offer. The second time I called back, a woman finally answered and said I had the wrong number (this after recorded voice again told me to stay on the line, someone would be right with me).
Still going on, March 22, 2011. We received the same "offer" by bulk mailer (Permit 3950). Fooled me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
On March 22, 2011 we received a post card for 7night/8 day cruise on Carnival plus 2 round trip tickets on US Air. Called their number, 1-800-813-6994. Devine Getaways Seminar was to be in Gettysburg, PA or Georgetown in DC. Called Carnival who said they had no idea who Devine Getaways was nor did they recognize the phone number on the card. As others have said, there was no indication on the post card that a travel agency was involved. We asked the travel agency rep why Carnival didn't know who they were and were told it was because they are such a large agency. SURE!
Thanks, Maureen, we got that same card, I think. If you called Carnival and they don't know anything about it, I don't need to, right?
They apparently have a new twist to their scam. They send a postcard describing 2 Complimentary Round trip Airfares in celebration of their anniversary. Claiming you have been verified and your name and ticketing number have been identified and issued. Supposedly the airline is US Airlines and the other company listed on postcard is Thrifty Car Rental. The postcard is sent PRSTD first class mail - US Postage Paid - West Palm Beach FL Permit 3950 and asks you to call 1-877-770-3396, and in big bold underlined letters "We've been going crazy to contact you!" And you must respond within 72 hours. Just wanted to make you aware of the new game they play. I received this postcard April 25th 2011.
I went pretty far with these crooks but was able to cancel the $4995 package that I bought. Right now, they're pitching as Divine Getaways and hosting presentations in the Embassy Suites, San Rafael, CA. I got the postcard for an 8 day 7 night free cruise which I would receive after a 90 min seminar. I quickly realized it was a scam after I went home. I was still within the 3 day cancel period so I did just that. Thank goodness! Divine Getaways, also My Divine Getaways, is a distributor for Reservation Services International, also a scam, and the 1800 number they provide to book is 1-888-269-6511. Reservation Services International is supposed to be a wholesale travel center offering steep discounts. The cancel period is 3 days, but it takes 7 days to gain access to the website. Any consumer should back out of something they can't try before the cancellation period expires.
Just got something similar. Presorted postage through west palm beach, fl, permit 3950. The one they sent me is for a promotional for a new laptop/netbook computer powered by windows embedded. The number the put on mine is 1-800-610-0571. They even put a tracking number on it - 04270RN20483.
It says on the back of a slip in it that is sponsored by:
Welcome Center
Granada Blvd.
Ormond, FL 32176
Notice the street has no number.
Just wanted to let you know their latest scam.
The best way I have found to research suspicious postal mail is to use the mail permit information. Search on the city and postal code using the following, complete with quotes:
"palm beach fl" "permit 3950"
While the offer, phone number, and business names may change a lot, the postal code seems to leave a longer trail behind it.
Mine came as a post card promising I'm a winner for a trip on Carnival Cruises and US Airlines.
Let's try posting a hyperlink you can click on to get a Google Search:
Google Search: "palm beach fl" "permit 3950"
2 RT Delta airfares not including taxes, processing fees, and reservation fees, 3D 2N hotel stay, all for attending a 90 minute presentation on vacation travel from a wholesale travel agency. Phone number 800-952-9644.
May 7, 2012 received the latest scam from West Palm Beach permit 3950. Norwegian Cruise Line 8day/7night for 2 with outside cabin leaving from any major port in US. Call within 48 hours will also receive as bonus, 2 rt airfares. Toll free 1-888-614-8161. This promotion is not sponsored by or affiliated with NCL. I really wish the USPS could track and stop them!
And yet ANOTHER one! This one is for a FREE Android Touchpad and Tablet, with Wi-Fi and Camera! Just call us at 1-800-610-0571. Since it was mailed to my ex at my address I'm thinking it's not really a scam, but a BILL COLLECTOR! When you call, suddenly your "Date of Last Activity" will be updated, making that old debt of yours suddenly good for another seven years. BEWARE!
Carl, I was thinking bill collector myself!!! I got it TODAY with the permit number 1002 for the tablet. I looked it up before calling and low and behold just as I thought.. a scam!!! When will these people realize that all we have to do is look it up and we can find so much information out!!! I just googled the phone number that was on the mail. The number on my mail is 800-651-0571. People do not be fooled by this garbage. If it sounds to good to be true then 99% of the time IT IS!!!
Big companies spend millions of dollars on advertising trying to market their brands. No worthwhile company would ever miss an opportunity to slap their name across something mailed out like free round trip airfare and not have people know who they are. Obviously, its a scam or entrapment of some sort, by some agency thrying to get into contatct with someone such as police or collerctions.
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