Major holiday scam involving Florida telemarketers

whitewing

Well, I haven't looked into this in any great detail, but it may be that since 1st Sept it is unlawful for Floroda telemarketers to record calls without written permission:

http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/-recorded-telemarketing-calls-without-written-permission-now-illegal-/2009/09/01/4350188.htm

whitewing

Gomer,

You may want to see if this recent post fits in with what you're investigating:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1924325

whitewing

There's also this recent article with a slight twist in that it purports to be from Visa regarding a build up of Visa points.

http://www.compareandsave.com/news/new-phone-con-centres-on-credit-card-rewards/

ferf1223

In my experience the sort of people who will fall for this sort of thing in the first place will not be anywhere near this website...unfortunately.

GomerPyle

Great detecitive work whitewing. That's it precisely.

I know that they are setting their sights on Canadian victims mainly, as it's a more attractive proposition to them, but I know that they do contact UK people.

I have heaps of information on these people and a lot of 'companies' trying this on. I am also making use of contacts I have. This is getting all a bit X Files, but I can't help that.

The scam is basically to get your card number and then process it, which is a licence to print money.

I know that US and Canadian victims have googled the names of the companies invlved, sometimes after it's too late, but we can hope that any UK victims will do the same and be put on alert.

Here's a short list of some of the names these people are using with some links to complaints about them. It's not exhaustive, but these are the major players and I've seen that they are advertising for telemarketers in the USA recently.

Etourandtravel, Inc.
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g34352-i79-k1139361-Etour_and_travel-Kissimmee_Florida.htmlhttp://www.xomba.com/etourandtravel_8669129286_phone_harassmenthttp://www.ripoffreport.com/Www-etourandtravel-com/Amusement-Theme-Park/Www-etourandtravel-com-Travel-YD29W.htm http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-897-2756/6
http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/8668972756/7
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/e-tour-amp-travel-c10732.html
http://www.mikelawton.com/blog/tag/scam/
http://complaintwire.org/Complaint.aspx/0KGccpbDMABNAAjKT1adOg

Universal Explorations Inc
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/5-star-universal-c234114.html
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/universal-explorations-c191719.html?sort=dated
http://www.ripoffreport.com/Telemarketers/Universal-Exploratio/universal-explorations-aaa-in-89f7x.htm
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-800-535-7375
http://www.ripoffreport.com/Travel-Services/Universal-Exploratio/universal-exploration-inc-vac-6674e.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/Travel-Agencies/Universal-Exploratio/universal-exploration-inc-they-622ea.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/Cruises/Universal-Exploratio/universal-exploration-inc-told-f58ej.htm
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/universal-explorations-c191719/page/1.html#c326036

Five Star Universal
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/five-star-universal-c233022/page/0.html

Universal Funpass
http://yedda.com/questions/Advice_Universal_Adventure_USA_1863181176812/
http://www.ripoffreport.com/BBB-Better-Business-Bureau/Universal-Fun-Pass/universal-fun-pass-free-florid-4e592.htm
https://www.ripoffreport.com/Travel-Services/Universal-Fun-Pass/universal-fun-pass-free-vaca-be8w8.htm

Universal Promotions, Inc.

http://www.ripoffreport.com/Travel-Agencies/Universal-Promotions/universal-promotions-ripoff-t-awe3f.htm (quotes company address as 11406 N. Mabry Hwy. Tampa, Florida 33618)

AmeriSuites Vacation Club
Calypso Cay Resort

https://www.ripoffreport.com/Corrupt-Companies/Calypso-Cay-Resort-A/calypso-cay-resort-aka-amerisu-89f7c.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/Resorts/Calypso-Cay-Amerisui/calypso-cay-amerisuites-vaca-p73ma.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/Travel-Services/Amerisuites-Vacation/amerisuites-vacation-club-caly-f7f9a.htm
http://boakes.org/talk/topic/calypso-cay-resorts-are-at-it-again

Univeral Action Travel, Inc
http://www.ripoffreport.com/Travel-Agencies/Universal-Action-Tra/universal-action-travel-if-you-88cf3.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/Amusement-Theme-Parks/UNIVERSAL-ACTION-TRA/universal-action-travel-scam-a-3x48c.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/Amusement-Theme-Parks/Universal-Action-Tra/universal-action-travel-scam-p97md.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/Sales-People/Universal-Action-Tra/universal-action-travel-i-was-pm2fc.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/Travel-Agencies/Universal-Action-Tra/universal-action-travel-under-f94ae.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/Travel-Agencies/Universal-Action-Tra/universal-action-travel-under-f94ae.htm#f94ae

This list is by no means exhaustive but I need to do more checking to ensure I have my facts right on other companies appearing to be doing the same thing.

I have sneaking suspicion that they may be connected, and I'm collcting information from victims to verify whether or not tis is correct.

GomerPyle

I'm fairly confident that these people are likely to try to suppress this thread and I can understand the pressure the forum will face.

If that happens then I know exactly where to take this, which I intend to do anyway.

I don't mean to rude to anyone but I find this type of scam just makes my blood boil. Being trusting isn't a crime and isn't a reason to justify being ripped off.

tallulahx

Hi everyone,

Glad I found this thread online. Universal holidays have called me 9 times in the past 24 hours. I live in Toronto, Ontario - Canada. I picked up the first few times and a very excited, fast-talking lady kept trying to tell me 'I'd won a trip to Florida - woooohooo!'. I kept questioning her as to how she got my details, to which she quickly said 'you gave them to us on our website'. I said no, I would never have done that, and she kept on telling me my home address and date of birth. Great. So I asked her to stop talking for a second and just listen to me, she paused for a second and said 'you stop talking, I'm trying to tell you about your free holiday don't you want to go away?'. I figured this was a scam and she hadn't even asked me for my credit card details yet. I hung up. A guy called back a few minutes later and tried the same scam. I kept hanging up on him and he'd continue to call back and say 'we got disconnected'. I said no 'I hung up on you', unphased he went back to his script about this 'amazing free holiday'.

It's borderline harassment what they're doing. The bottom line is, don't ever give your credit card details out online, and don't ever buy anything from anyone who fast-talks you, cold-calls you, on the phone. I hope no one falls for this. They are rude, agressive, and I can imagine some older folks falling for this. Please warn whoever you know about this - they go under the name of 'Universal Holidays' when they've called me. Let's see how many more times they try and call me before they give up.

GomerPyle

Great news tallulahx - that you've escaped their greedy clutches I mean.

I'm not being mean to you but there is nothing borderline about their tactics.

It is harrassment and fraud.

Their actions are illegal in the state of Florida. I'll post the statute governing the behaviour of travel agents some time, though it's an insult to travel agents the world over to suggest that they even come close to earning that description.

Their major target does appear to be Canadian citizens, but we in the UK don't mind helping anyone. They are ringing UK citizens too, but not so much.

I really have to get these people on the phone. I have a secure number with the facility to record calls, which is quite legal.

I bet they've never dealt with Bertie Wooster.

phatbear

Oddly I had someone from florida on hold whilst I was busy giving my bank details to a nice nigerian chap who promised to send me a million pounds.

If you are mug enough to give your bank details to anyone over the phone then more fool you, and you deserve everything you get or dont as the case may be, hell if someone turned up on your front door and said I will give you £10000 if you give me £100 would you seperate with your money??

Incapuppy

phatbear wrote: »

hell if someone turned up on your front door and said I will give you £10000 if you give me £100 would you seperate with your money??

I'd be very tempted if you threw in a private dance wearing your squirrel fur thong