Free Vacation Scams
“Congratulations! You’ve won a free, 4-day vacation for two in the beautiful, sun-drenched Bahamas!”
When you get a flyer, email, or unexpected phone call promising a complimentary vacation, it’s likely a vacation scam. A current variation of the scam is an automated phone call explaining that you or somebody entered your name in a draw, and that you won. Of course, it’s always from a perky-sounding female voice! Don’t fall for any of it.
Do not, under any circumstances, give the company your credit card number or any other details. Many scammers simply collect your personal information and sell it to other marketing lists or, worse, to commit identity theft.
If there actually is a vacation behind this, there’s always a catch that will often mean paying much more than booking with your travel agent. For instance, to be eligible for the free vacation, you have to pay a large sum of money for a club charge or a membership – which might also be fraudulent.
Here’s what a lot of people may receive for their money:
- You will receive a travel pack, but there will be restrictions on when you can take your trip. Additional handling charges to book your reservation are typical.
- The travel dates you prefer will be unavailable. If you complain, you may be offered an upgraded plan at another additional fee.
- You have to pay extra for the flight home, or the return flight is canceled!
- You have to sit through lengthly time-share sales seminars, perhaps several times before you even leave on vacation, and also during your vacation. Doesn’t sound as fun as relaxing in the sun, does it?
- If you actually receive a vacation, you will most likely be booked into substandard accommodations where meals, taxes and other unexplainable “service charges” are extra.
Most people who join will never receive anything, and as the law closes in, scam operators close down and begin somewhere else, with a new address and phone number. You will be left without the vacation, and whatever charges you have so far paid will be lost.
September 25th, 2008 at 11:31 am
I just got one of these phone calls.
They told me they have a direct link to my Visa company, and already had my number there in front of them, but needed me to verify it by reading the number off my Visa to them. Universal Studios they said they were, with one in Daytona Beach and then the Bahamas. All at a discounted price. When I told them I wanted to talk to my husband they said they’d conference call him. I said no, she continued to repeat herself about how its all insured by Visa and said that my (already maxxed out) Visa was showing there that it was going to approve the amount of 500. I hung up on her perky self- I dont do perkyness that well anyways. Lol
September 25th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Yes, being way too perky is a dead giveaway! I don’t even get a real person – just an incredibly, on-the-verge-of-laughing female recording saying “You won a fabulous vacation! Please press 9 to learn more!” As if.
January 15th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
I just got the same thing and when I told her i would not give her my expiry date she went on and on and on. alsot ehy called at 10:30 at night. She said for quality assurance the call is being recorded i said great seeing u are not listeing to me now, play it back later and hear me say several times no!!!I asked for a number that i could call her back at and she refused.
October 21st, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Scammers and fraudsters are the worst kind of criminal and should get the maximum penalty that a bank robber would receiver under the law. Perhaps they might try harder to get a real job then?
January 28th, 2010 at 8:07 pm
I also received a call this evening about the “free” vacation that was going to cost me $500.00 dollars! Call was same as above. First spoke to “Sean” who wanted my husband on the line with me, then he transfered me to their “confirmation” department and “Mya” took over witht the speal about VISA authorizing etc etc. However when I tried to politely explain that I couldn’t spare the $500.00 at this time due to my daughter’s upcoming wedding she continued to talk over me and refused to let me get a word in edgewise. Finally I hung up on them.