Warning Re Amante Arts Montreal

hrafndot

I have just been hit by a particularly nasty competition scam/phoney award. I have seen a lot, but this had an element of credibility which fooled me and raised my hopes since I could really do with the prize at the moment.

I received a letter from a Canadian Co called Amante Art of Montreal Canada. It gave a freephone no. to ring (at was 0800 so I assume it was freephone). I spoke to a man who gave me a looooong spiel (he did offer to call me back so he has also got my phone no). Basically he said I had won a number of things and if I was prepared to display one of their paintings they could invoice me for the paintings and the tax loophole meant that I would get the two cash prizes free of tax. He said that I had won anyway, but there was an element of choice so I had to listen further.

The minute he mentioned an invoice, in the sum of £450 I stopped the conversation etc.

What worries me is the intricacy of the conversation he managed to weave during a conversation in which you would be thinking that you had won a significant prize (i.e. a cruise to the Bahamas) so your guard would not be up so much, since you were also looking at a printed letterhead and an envelope from Canada

Do you think that a sticky on the competitions board would be feasible for things of this type in close proximity to the competitions board??

thanks Hrafndot, meanwhile be warned!!

Buddhabellybutton

Thanks for the warning hrafndot.

hrafndot

It is still giving me the shivers!!!!

xxchicxx

I have just recieved the same letter!! :eek:

I might have been caught out if it wasnt for your advice hrafndot. Thankyou

Mine is straight in the bin!!

angela20_2

I have also just recieved the same letter So heres a little tip : Before building your hopes up!!! Allways checK out the name of the company that sent the letter on the internet ie: by typing the name of the company or individual who has sent it and as in this case you willl find the company dosen't endorse these letters and they are best ignored ok




(* a free phone number usually means they sell on your number to other marketing agencys for a vast profit)

eliz

Hi
I have just received a letter from these people too. They said that I had won a Ford Focus or £5000 plus a holiday. All I had to do was become a life long member. They told me that I had won because I had given money to charity either Breast cancer research, nspcc and a few more very well knows ones, He said that if I became a bonifide member paid £450 for a piece of art woth over £2500 then they weould send me a cheque for £5000. I asked him to take the £450 off the £5000 that I had won but they would not do that. I think these scams are disgusting and with someone would do something about them. Luckily I dont get taken in easily so didnt give anything. He wanted my bank details, but I am not that stupid to give it out. Lets just hope that others dont get taken in by this.

hrafndot

Good for you.

I rang the freefone number and the tone of the man was very intimidatory at times. He talked about the tax man as if he was my father, rather than a robbing little git!!! I bet he has a fair few victims.

Lets keep up the good work in warning people and I feel that the Office of Fair Trading should be informed, they are running a scam campaign at the moment.

hrafndot

By the way, I threw my letter away in anger, but could people, if they think of it, keep hold of their letters as evidence as I may look into what the OFT can do.

bluep

I'm sure I read somewhere that prize winnings / lottery winnings aren't taxable anyway which kind of makes his argument moot.

sCum of the earth¬!

hrafndot

He was doing a one man, "hard guy, soft guy" act. He sounded like a policeman when he mentioned the taxman!!

I can just imagine him trying this on someone vulnerable, not an tough boot like me!!

chillysnowman

I have just received a letter from Amante Art telling me I've won £3500.00 or a cruise to the Grand Bahamas!! I noticed that its a mail merge letter and they cannot spell, congratulations was incorrectly spelt. The key words would appear to be "certain conditions of eligibility" which usually means parting with your money! I'm keeping the letter in case trading standards investigate.