Competition Scams - Please Post Them Here

mpython

Sounds dodgy to me Grannykate. If its a proper prize you should have to sign up to an offer or recommend a friend in order to receive a prize. Sorry :-(

Missie_B

I received one of these letters too. I only had the option of phoning, but as it was a normal rate call I thought it may be worth a try. I was dubious about my name not being on the envelope but it felt good to know I could have won something.

The woman on the other end of the phone was quite helpful and even told me that as I had a blue slip then the gift was for me and a guest so the gift was worth around £1500! I mentioned that I have a health condition and that whilst gym membership would be great, I need a trainer who will understand my situation. She urged me to go to the gym and see what they could do, and even extended the deadline for collection. Very helpful.

So off to the gym my friend and I went. Both very dubious but you have to give these things a go. If it was any good, then £3.81 a week maintenance fee wasn't so bad, though I wondered why the Gold Membership needed topping up with a weekly fee.

We walked into the small foyre and immediately felt uncomfortable as we were bombarded with posters of body building powders etc. I had looked up the address on the internet beforehand, and, although the blurb was small it did mention that the gym was NOT about musclie bodies, it concentrated on specific nutritional requirements for each individual, weight loss programmes and just being generally fit.

My friend and I are not gym goers and we either stuck out like a sore thumb or they have so few members that they know them all. We asked to look around, and the man immediately asked if I had received a blue slip in the post. Surprised, I said yes and that was our cover of being genuinely interested new customers blown.

We were armed with our questions and asked away. The salesman - from another company who use the local gym for their business rather than setting up a gym in competition (very kind) - led us through his prepared talk, beginning in the gym (packed full of equipment - lots of weights) and ending in the office. He quickly realised that we meant business and this was NOT going to be a quick sale.

The outcome, for those who want the info before you take a trip to the gym, is that you enter into a 2 year contract paying £3.81 a week (or £249 annually). You have a six month no-fee period if you are unwell, and if you move away from the area within those 2 years you need to choose somewhere that has another of their gyms nearby and they will transfer you. If they haven't got a gym nearby then they will continue to charge the fee until the contract expires. Oh and the "free" Gold Membership lasts for 3 years. Now even those (like me) who are not good at maths can work out that if you multiply the weekly charge by 3 years it will come to about the same price as the "Gift". My question is, how much are normal members paying annually? If they are paying membership and maintenance then it doesn't make it the cheapest gym around as Mr Salesman said. This is why we wanted to look at the place first before producing the blue slip.

I walked away, still in 2 minds but have since decided that the gym WAS a body building gym and not the type of place I need. I was, on the other hand, impressed with the salesman as he did take my medical condition seriously and did suggest that, although the gym owner would take good care of me, a different type of gym may be worth looking at.

So there it is. I don't think it is a gift at all. I am now going to phone Survey UK and tell them that the gift wasn't suitable and see if they offer something else, as the slip did say that gifts will be allocated appropriately. My hunch is that the gym is the only gift available and they only offered the extra person because I mentioned my health or they are desperate.

claire738 wrote: »

Got a letter today to my address with no name just "Mr/Mrs"

Inside theres a note saying "Congratulations This number has drawn one of the gifts donated by local business"

Gives a number which says normal telephone rate under it and a hand written code.

There is a second note that says "with compliments Survey UK" and the address:

Matters Consulting Ltd t/a Survey UK
Victoria House
1 Gloucester Road
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL51 8LN


Googled address and found this;

"Trading Standards Advice - Chrissie Bridge - 29th Jan 07

I have received an enquiry from a NHW member who has received an email from a Company called Matters Consulting Ltd, t/a Survey UK of Cheltenham, www.surveygifts.co.uk.

The email informs them that they are entitled to a gift donated by a local business (no name given).

They quote a gift confirmation number which can either be telephoned through or by logging onto their website.

Trading Standards have confirmed they have heard of this Company - they are trying to get people to join a gym by giving a free gift of a manicure or pedicure and supposedly cheaper membership to the Gym Club."


So anyone who recieves anything from this company beware.

trixie68

Oooh I'm getting a bit fed up now. I have only been comping for the last couple of weeks and I have had no wins and two scams! One saying that I had won a make over in Covent Garden but I had to pay a load of money upfront and today by recorded delivery I got a letter from Clubseasons telling me I had won a prize up to £3750. The post lady and myself got very excitied and then I thougt I would have a look on here.... Is it worth comping really if all you get is a load of aggro and disappointment.

rrickyuk

Phone call last night saying that the draw was later and they wanted a few details... Alarm bells started, but I went with it. Second call this morning: lo and behold, I'm a runner-up as mentioned below. I asked them to email me the details, and, just as divadee mentions in the very first post, there is a 'processing fee'.

Well, I was born the day before yesterday, and am realy looking forward to the third call later!

Posting the email below in case it helps others.

If anyone knows of anything that I can do to report these people in any way, please let me know.

This is the email:

Dear Mr



Thank you for entering our holiday competition at the Destinations Show. I have pleasure in confirming that you have won 7 night’s accommodation at the Radisson SAS Golden Sands Resort and Spa, Malta’s finest 5* hotel which opened in September 2005.

The trip will include driver pick-up from Malta International Airport, your accommodation cost and a guided preview of our resort and attractions; you will need to make some time one morning or afternoon available for this.. We will ensure that you do not miss a thing and find a convenient time for your preview.

If you require any further information, please either e-mail or call me on the contact details listed below. You can also visit the website by clicking on: www.goldensands.com.mt to view the resort and attractions.

So what do you need to do next? Just organise your prefered dates with Josef and arrange for your processing fee to be paid this will be just £59 for a couple plus any additional childrens costs.

Due to limited availability of dates early booking is advised to avoid disappointment, I understand that our Marketing Consultant Josef has arranged to call you back.

We look forward to welcoming you to the resort very soon, if we can be of futher assistance please do contact us.

Yours sincerely,


The Customer Services Team
Island Residence Club
00356 23561860
yourquestions@islandresidenceclub.com

Belnahua

trixie68 wrote: »

Oooh I'm getting a bit fed up now. I have only been comping for the last couple of weeks and I have had no wins and two scams! One saying that I had won a make over in Covent Garden but I had to pay a load of money upfront and today by recorded delivery I got a letter from Clubseasons telling me I had won a prize up to £3750. The post lady and myself got very excitied and then I thougt I would have a look on here.... Is it worth comping really if all you get is a load of aggro and disappointment.

Don't give up! I've been comping on line for years and very few wins, but when they do come, they're so rewarding.

Treat it as a hobby and do it for fun!

hrafndot

Received this today. I forwarded it straight to the OFT scams email which is now on my contacts list, thanks to Jo, 1659

1659 wrote: »

Forward your dodgy e mails to:- [EMAIL="scams@oft.gsi.gov.uk"]scams@oft.gsi.gov.uk[/EMAIL]
and let them investigate and deal with them for you. Hope this helps. Jo

________________________________________________________

The Marina Offices,
St Peters Yacht Basin,
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1HX England
(Customer Services)

Ref: WINNING NOTIFICATION

We happily announce to you the draw of the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY,onlineSweepstakes International program held on 29th Of Febraury
2008 It is yet to be unclaimed and you are getting the final NOTIFICATION as regards this. Youre-mail address attached to the lucky numbers: 4, 6,11, 17,31, 41 And (Bonus Ball 44), which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category i.e JACKPOT. You have therefore been approved
to claim a totalsum of ё2,214,747(Two Million Two Hundred And fourteen
Thousand Seven Hundred And forty Seven Pounds Sterlings) in cash credited to file number KTU/902311832012/06 and DrawNumber: Draw 1219

As the soul beneficiary the prize has been insured with a HardCover INSURANCE POLICY called the IRREVOCABLE GUARANTY BOUND, that makes theprize NON-DEDUCTABLE.. This is part of the Country's Programme to fund forthe Olympic Games in 2012 The ё1.5bn Olympic lottery puzzle (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4719851.stm).
The Olympic fund-raising games will include a TV draw The National Lottery mayhave seemed a relatively simple way of helping pay for the Olympics.The Lottery must raise ё1.5bn over the next seven years to pay its share of the public money going into the Olympics. A further ё650m will be raised from council tax in London and another ё250m from the London Development Agency, while similar sums will be raised from ticket sales,marketing, sponsorship and the sale of television rights.

You are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claim is processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize. This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program.
Pleasebewarned. To file for your claim, please contact our
AdministrationAssistant:

NAME: Jefferson Kay
Administration Assistant
Humber & Wolds Council
Official Email:info@uklottagentjeffersonkay.uk-internet.org.uk
Endeavour to email him your full names, File and draw numbers, emailaddress, telephone and fax numbers immediately. You can go to our online result site to confirm the value of your winnings and also get aprize breakdown:-http://www.national-lottery.co.uk/player/p/results/unclaimedPrizes.do

Congratulations from me and members of staff of THE NATIONAL LOTTERY╝.

Yours faithfully,
Jordan Bradwell
Online Coordinator
For UK NATIONAL LOTTERY
Sweepstakes International Program ╘ Copyright 2007 ╝.
_____________________________________________________
╝ Do not reply this E-mail, contact our Administration Assistant with
the above email╝.

hrafndot

Oh Dear, the email I forwarded to the Office of Fair Trading has just bounced!!! They must think its a scam!!

rrickyuk

Hi hrafndot could I do that with my post above? I would love to be able to report that lot, as they may scam others.

I have just no idea what to do.

hrafndot

1659 wrote: »

Forward your dodgy e mails to:- [EMAIL="scams@oft.gsi.gov.uk"]scams@oft.gsi.gov.uk[/EMAIL]
and let them investigate and deal with them for you. Hope this helps. Jo

Ricky, the only thing I can suggest is that one of us email the Dept of Trade and Industry (DTI) to let them know their scam line is not working at the moment. Im a bit tied up at the moment and have a lot to do that I have been putting off to dangerous levels, I think this is the place to email with scam emails though, when it is working!!

rrickyuk

hrafndot wrote: »

Ricky, the only thing I can suggest is that one of us email the Dept of Trade and Industry (DTI) to let them know their scam line is not working at the moment. Im a bit tied up at the moment and have a lot to do that I have been putting off to dangerous levels, I think this is the place to email with scam emails though, when it is working!!

Thank you.:A

I have just emailed them. Fingers crossed.