First Posted: 2/20/2015
You put on your coat, hat, tug on some gloves and head out for the mailbox. The bitter wind is blowing the snow around so much you can hardly see. It’s just another snowy, cold Ohio day. Man, what you wouldn’t give to get away from this mess!
But this is your lucky day! You open the mailbox, and there, right on the top of the pile of mail, is a postcard with a picture of a plane and logo of Southwest or Delta Airlines. It says you have been selected to receive two round-trip airfares plus a bonus three days/two night hotel lodging. Just call the toll-free number to get the details. Yippee!
This promotion is sweeping the country right now. But be very careful!
The problem is Delta and Southwest Airlines have nothing to do with this promotion. These promoters are using their logos and pictures without authorization. When you call the toll-free number, you’ll encounter hard-sell tactics, encouraging you to join an expensive travel club or maybe attend a presentation about a timeshare community.
To qualify, you’re often required to answer questions about your income, marital status and age. Further, if you do decide to take advantage of their offers, when you receive your travel voucher, you may learn that you have to pay taxes and fees of $100 or more per person! Even then, many travel dates are blocked, and travel restrictions say you must fly out on Monday or Tuesday and return that Thursday.
Any consumer who has received one of these offers is urged to be very careful and avoid entering a contract for a travel club or timeshare they do not want or can’t afford.
Remember, the trip is not free if you have to pay or buy something to get it.
Another scam taking place this winter involves vacation home rentals on the Internet. In this con, photos of real vacation home listings on the Internet are hijacked and re-listed on fraudulent sites. You scan the Internet and find the listing that describes a great house with everything you want at a price too good to pass up. Just put down a deposit, and the house is yours. And your money is now the scammers’!
Protect yourself from these crooks by following this advice:
1. Ask the person you are dealing with their name and address. Don’t just depend on email contact. Get their phone number and contact them by phone too. Be suspicious if they won’t give you their name, phone number or that you are unable to contact them.
2. Go to the registrar of deeds website of the county the property is in and get the actual owner’s name and contact information.
3. Ask the owner for references from past tenants and contact them, asking their experience with the property.
4. Google the address and see if it appears in other listings or with a negative review.
5. Get a contract in writing, and carefully review it before forking over any money.
6. Protect yourself by paying with a credit card. Avoid paying by wire transfer or bank account transfer. This puts the money immediately into the scammers’ hands.
In each of these scams, problems can normally be avoided with some persistent questioning and verification. Protect yourself and your wallet.
After all, Old Man Winter’s grip on Ohio is a cold one, but not nearly as cold as a scammer’s heart.
