Congrats, you've been scammed!

May 24 2010 , Written by thediversetraveller Published on #Island Residence Club Malta, #Ola Fagbohun, #Recommendations & Rants (tips, links and reviews), #scam, #travel, #travel competition, #Travel scam

"Is that Mrs Fagbohun?" the caller asked.

"Who is this?" I asked. "This is Linda from the Island Residence Club, Malta." Still none-the-wiser, I asked "Hi Linda, what can I do for you?" "Thank you Mrs Fagbohun, I'm calling to let you know that you have won a free holiday in Malta at the 5* Radisson hotel all expenses paid."

On hearing this, my suspicion turned to happiness. I have never won a travel competition. A free holiday, just in time for Christmas.

Unfortunately I was on a noisy bus so I asked Linda to send me an email, with the details, and I would get back to her.

I was buzzing all the way home, mentally going through my friends and family trying to decide who deserved to come with me. I couldn't wait to get the email and find out more; you can tell things like this rarely happen to me.

The email

The next day, November 18th, 2009, I received the following email ...

"Dear Ola Fagbohun,

Thank you for your time on the phone with our marketing consultant, Linda Thorndick
The Radisson SAS Golden Sands Resort and Spa, in conjunction with the Island Residence Club, is offering you a 7-night accommodation package at an extraordinarily discounted booking fee of £99 per couple, to promote Malta’s finest 5* hotel which opened in September 2005.

Included in this offer is free transport from the airport to the Resort. Once your preferred travel dates have been agreed with linda, your reservation will be processed. You will receive a provisional confirmation by e-mail. and then flights can be booked.

Our friendly travel consultants will be able to recommend and assist you with flights if required. Your transport will be arranged upon receipt of flight details.

Participants are under no obligation to buy or enter into any contract or pay any extra fees. 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 or www.malta-dreams.com to view the accommodation.

If you would like to take advantage of this offer, please contact us on the numbers given below and one of our travel consultants will call you back and discuss your requirements.

Kind Regards
Island Residence Club
Telemarketing Department
The Customer Services Team
IRC Marketing - SAS Radisson - Golden Sands Resort - Malta.
T +356 2356 1860
E yourquestions@islandresidenceclub.com
W www.goldensands.com.mt "

Uhm! So it's not quite free. But then £99 for seven nights in a five star hotel in Malta was a small price to pay, even after paying for flights. Plus it was for travel from December to June 2010.

While I was still interested, my suspicious side kicked in, what if this was a travel scam? So I waited for the Island Residence Club to contact me again.

Curiouser and curiouser

On December 4th, 2009, I got another call from the Golden sands hotel, apparently they had been trying to get me for a while, yet they hadn't left any messages?

"OK!, tell me exactly what I have won?" I asked, to which the 'hotel' representative told me the following:

"1. free transport from the airport

2. a champagne reception

3. seven night accommodation package included meals, and

4. At certain hours of the day I could use (not exclusively) the hotel minibus."

"Great! So what do I have to do now?" I asked.

I was told, "You have to have to make your booking by December 14th, 2009 and pay a booking fee of £99."

"Why do I have to pay a booking fee if I won a competition, I don't remember entering a competition where I had to pay £99 before I could claim my prize. What exactly is the fee for?" I asked.

"Hold on let me find out," the representative said nervously; I think she guessed this was not going to be an easy sell (or scam).

"It's a OK, it's just a standard fee," she said a few minutes later.

"Standard for what? Anyway I'll come back to that. can I book now then give you the names later, as I have to find out who can join me", I asked

"That's not possible, this is for couples only, you have to bring your husband." she told me. Ah! I thought, that explains the 'Mrs Fagbohun' of my first call.

Now I know I am getting on in years, but I am not likely to enter a travel competition that required a husband, when I am not married and when I knew my partner would not be available.

"What about if I bring my girlfriend, after all we are a couple," I said lying through my teeth.

"I'll have to check" she said. She was back in a few seconds, "no this is for couples - man and wife', only as this is a family resort."

Seeing my free holiday slipping away, I said, "So you are discriminating against non-married people, send me your competition terms and conditions I want to read your policy for myself."

Silence! She told me she was going to check - again!

When she returned she told me there weren't any terms and conditions. My suspicious were confirmed, this was a scam. I told her what I thought, and put the phone down. Not surprisingly I have heard nothing from the company since.

Word for the wise

If anyone from Island Residents Club calls you, telling you, you have won a free holiday provided you hand over £99, don't do it, otherwise you'll be a victim of yet another travel scam.

To find out about other travel scams, that take place at home or while away, check out:

1. 13 of the most notorious

2. Common travel scams while on holiday

and for some advice, from Trade Scams, on what to do if you are approached by a company offering a free holiday: I think I've won a free holiday: is it valid

If like me, you nearly fell for or have been thoroughly scammed e.g the infamous Bangkok jewellery scam, please share. No laughing or judging here, just a friendly shoulder to cry on.

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