Scam promises free trips

Posted By: Laura Casella · 3/19/2013 12:54:00 PM

Have you received a phone call recently about winning a trip to the Bahamas or some other sunny destination?

Well, be careful, it could be a scam.

Daniel Williams of Canada's Anti-Fraud Centre says there are hundreds of complaints lodged each month about a scam involving vacation companies giving out free trips or offering a discounted package.

"They usually make it seem that it's a prize connected to something reputable, such as Air Miles," explains Williams. 

The call ends with the consumer being asked for their credit card number in order to redeem this so-called free trip.

Williams says just yesterday they got a call from someone who had received a phone call from a 202 area code. The call said that he had just won a trip to the Bahamas. Luckily, he thought twice before giving out any of his personal information.

"It's not free if they are asking you for your credit card number," says Williams. 

If you are a victim to this type of scam, he says to contact police and the anti-fraud centre at 1-888-495-8501 immediately. 

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  1. Amy posted on 03/19/2013 02:43 PM
    Ya, I received a call last week said, "Congratulations, you win a trip to Bahamas...." But it was like a recorded voice message, so I hanged up right away.
  2. Skibble5150 posted on 03/19/2013 03:54 PM
    People are so gullible and stupid.
    It never ceases to amaze.
  3. Karen posted on 03/19/2013 07:35 PM
    I've received numerous calls from out of town with recorded messages saying that I won a trip. Hang Up!
  4. marcel posted on 03/19/2013 07:46 PM
    I received this call last week saying I had won a free 2 night stay on a cruise.
    But in order to lock in the deal I would have to pay the Port taxes which was $59.00 per person.

    The woman on the phone was ``Wanda`` . I had asked her if she had info on how I had won. She said they checked out random names , and i was selected.

    So I asked her a simple question. I asked her what was my name on her file.
    She could not answer.
  5. billy posted on 03/19/2013 08:32 PM
    I have so much fun with these calls. The boat horn is the best one "this is your captain speaking". I had this woman going until she asked for a credit card number then i asked for a manger. I say if you are board and can waste there time do it. Act like you have never won anything and go on from there. They call enough practice on them.
  6. Arlene posted on 03/19/2013 10:34 PM
    Two weeks ago i got a call telling me that they were going to lower my interest rate on my credit card,Last chance better take it today.I pressed one like it said,connected to an operator said to her how can u offer me something when i don't even have a credit card,How did you get my number? She hung up..I called back the number well guess what that number was no longer in service??? If something sounds too good to be true then hang up.Call anti fraud team.
  7. anthony posted on 03/19/2013 11:27 PM
    I called 911 to report this scam with *57 prior to calling, they said it is not an emergency bla bla bla.... redirected me to the local police dept phone system then nothing... Not going to bother reporting crap like this ever again.
  8. Samantha posted on 03/20/2013 11:35 AM
    Yup, I totally got one of these, but hung up pretty quickly. Who actually falls for these?
  9. Theo posted on 03/20/2013 09:51 PM
    Use Call Display. Only answer numbers you recognize, ignore all others. Valid callers will leave a message. Call Display only costs me 5 bucks a month with Primus.
  10. rosy posted on 03/21/2013 01:47 PM
    i got the call yesturday on my freakin cell phone i also recieved stuff in the mail claiming to give me a free trip as long as i paid the second week and accomadations.... ALWAYS READ FINE PRINT
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