If you want to do some reading for extra credit on the free airline ticket folks (read more here), here you go. Please comment if you have anything valuable to add. There’s just too much for me to read!
US AIRLINES/UNIVERSAL TRAVEL VACATIONS/UNIVERSAL TRAVEL DEALS/THE VACATION STATION/TRAVEL DEALS EXPRESS:
News/Advice (some actually make an effort to learn something, some don’t):
GREAT REPORTING–> http://www.clickorlando.com/news/Free-travel-offer-mystifies-consumers/-/1637132/15701330/-/8s7gus/-/index.html
http://www.clickorlando.com/news/US-Airlines-not-an-airline/-/1637132/15943410/-/s3qujf/-/index.html
http://redtape.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/26/12403818-the-great-airline-ticket-giveaway-that-just-wont-go-away?chromedomain=todaytravel&lite
http://www.elliott.org/blog/is-this-a-scam-us-airlines-is-offering-me-two-roundtrip-airline-tickets/
http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/401043/david-bauerlein/2011-04-02/consumer-advocate-be-wary-travel-clubs-offering-deep
http://www.telegram.com/article/20110227/COLUMN64/102270382
http://www.wpxi.com/news/news/local/consumer-alert-scheme-using-lure-free-airline-tick/nHK65/
http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2012/10/02/airline-scam-flies-into-the-mailboxes-of-pittsburgh-residents/
http://triblive.com/business/headlines/3601393-74/airlines-airways-american#axzz2s57WCxKI
http://www2.wspa.com/news/2012/may/03/scam-ar-3727347/
http://www.wgal.com/news/8-on-your-side/us-airlines-tickets-real-deal-or-scam/-/17986766/20622384/-/10j1t5l/-/index.html
http://www.wyff4.com/news/local-news/greenville-news/Fake-airline-offers-free-tickets/-/9654794/11802462/-/e9bkr0z/-/index.html
http://www.kwch.com/news/factfinder12/kwch-free-airline-tickets-clever-marketing-or-a-scam-20120814,0,1935584.story
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-lazarus-20130802,0,4815169,full.column#axzz2s56UjT82
Good interview with MA Atty Gen–>http://wgbhnews.org/post/free-vacation-offers-too-good-be-true
http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/story/22212045/2013/05/09/offer-for-free-airline-tickets-is-phishing-scam-bbb-says
http://www.fox59.com/news/wxin-citizens-urged-to-be-aware-of-us-airlines-scam-20120802,0,3485955.column
http://www.infobarrel.com/Scam_Letter_from_US_Airlines_About_2_roundtrip_airline_tickets
Folks that went to the presentation:
http://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/news/opinions/x824875839/Letter-Beware-of-scam#axzz1atENPDYQ
http://69.6.215.248/?p=869&cpage=3#comment-12765 (a comment here)
See how they try to answer objections:
http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Us-Airlines-Letter-Responses/2995395
Police warning:
http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20111020/WINDSORBEACON01/110200303
USAirways’s warning:
http://www.usairways.com/en-US/contact/scamalert.html
Personal blogs of recipients:
http://www.elliott.org/blog/is-this-a-scam-us-airlines-is-offering-me-two-roundtrip-airline-tickets/
http://articleurge.com/2012/02/us-air-lines-award-notification-see-the-letter-check/
http://voices.yahoo.com/did-really-win-two-free-tickets-us-airlines-7610568.html?cat=16
http://theunemployedmom.com/2011/04/15/us-airlines-scam-for-2-roundtrip-tickets/
http://danejackson.wordpress.com/2011/11/05/beware-the-us-airlines-free-airplane-ticket-scam/
http://blog.coloradocoachingcompany.com/2011/11/26/us-airlines-scam-for-2-roundtrip-tickets-erica-bale-scam/
http://www.chrisam.net/blog/tag/us-airlines/
http://www.scaminformer.com/scam-report/us-airlines-company-mailed-me-a-scam-letter-informing-me-c25583.html
http://www.islandpacket.com/2010/07/12/1304593/vacation-station-closes-hilton.html
http://jenmurph1221.blogspot.com/2012/08/us-airlines-scam.html
Public Forums:
http://us-airways.pissedconsumer.com/us-airlines-fly-the-us-skies-scam-nashville-20101215211676.html
http://us-airways.pissedconsumer.com/us-airlines-2-free-tickets-worth-1400-00-20110328229290.html+
http://us-airways.pissedconsumer.com/us-airlines-fly-the-us-skies-scam-20110415232480.html
http://us-airways.pissedconsumer.com/us-airlines-scam-20110415232562.html
http://us-airways.pissedconsumer.com/us-airlines-20111001265472.html
http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/8663998115
http://www.fodors.com/community/air-travel/us-airlines-award-notificationscam.cfm
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/6220214/did_i_really_win_two_free_tickets_on.html?cat=16
http://www.idology.com/blog/592
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-292-1140
Better Business Bureau:
http://www.bbb.org/nashville/business-reviews/travel-clubs/vacation-station-the-in-nashville-tn-37059617
http://www.bbb.org/columbia/business-reviews/travel-agencies-and-bureaus/the-vacation-station-in-charleston-sc-34004033
http://watchyourbuck.com/2012/07/26/scam-alert-american-airlines-name-being-used-in-fake-ticket-scam/
http://snakeriverbbb.wordpress.com/2012/07/26/american-airlines-name-being-used-in-fake-ticket-scam/
http://www.bbb.org/blog/2012/07/scammers-lure-victims-with-fake-free-plane-tickets/
Press release from the sender:
http://www.prlog.org/11360583-all-about-us-airlines-letter.html
http://www.prlog.org/11657515-us-airlines-letter-gives-two-free-round-trip-tickets.html
http://www.free-press-release.com/news-is-this-us-airlines-letter-for-real-1301289516.html
http://www.free-press-release.com/news-us-airlines-letter-gives-two-free-round-trip-tickets-1317004132.html
http://www.free-press-release.com/news-us-airlines-offering-2-complimentary-airline-tickets-1315793527.html
More attempts to get onto Google by the sender:
http://www.thereviewchimp.com/tag/u-s-airlines-letter/
http://hallewace.hubpages.com/hub/US-Airlines-Letter-Offers-2-Airline-Tickets
Websites set up by the sender:
http://complimentaryroundtriptickets.wordpress.com/
http://usairlines2airlinetickets.wordpress.com/
http://twoairlinetickets.wordpress.com/
http://www.letterfromusairlines.com
http://airfareanddeals.com/
Videos created by the sender:
http://www.youtube.com/user/jeffaaronjames#g/u
http://www.youtube.com/user/usairlines999#g/u
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBHn0qo7J8k
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xq5vhm_us-airlines-letter-18662974850-part-1_travel
http://www.myspace.com/video/contributor/us-airlines-letter-christine-hay-18662974850/108680222
DOUBLE NAME COMPANIES:
http://tucsoncitizen.com/bbbconsumeralert/tag/airline-ticket/
http://brahblog.com/2009/08/08/all-the-same-scam-bradley-tate-spencer-burns-hammond-reed-donovan-rich-lambert-steel-and-watson-brooks/
http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?sduid=0&t=2027392
http://willbradyjournal2.blogspot.com/2010/07/scams-nicholson-barnes.html
VACATION STATION/UNIVERSAL TRAVEL VACATIONS/GLOBAL VACATION NETWORK/LUXURY TRAVEL PROMOTIONS/SOUTHWEST TRAVEL/WORLD CLASS TRAVEL/ROYAL CLASS TRAVEL/CDA CONSULTING:
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/universal-travel-vacations-c410691.html
http://universal-travel-vacations.pissedconsumer.com/misleading-free-airline-tickets-20110117216786.html
TV: http://www.wtoc.com/Global/story.asp?S=13958413
BBB World Class Travel: http://www.bbb.org/tucson/business-reviews/travel-clubs/world-class-travel-in-tucson-az-20029433
BBB Southwest: http://www.bbb.org/tucson/business-reviews/travel-clubs/southwest-travel-club-in-tucson-az-20007983
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/global-vacation-network-c237159.html
http://www.yourgetaway.info/
A little different marketing ploy: http://www.10tv.com/live/content/consumer10/stories/2010/02/17/story-columbus-vacation-scams.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=102
http://tucsoncitizen.com/bbbconsumeralert/2010/11/10/southern-arizona-consumers-receive-mailing-from-world-class-travel-suggesting-they%E2%80%99ve-won-a-computer-other-prizes/#more-342
CASTAWAYS VACATIONS CLUB/BEACHCOMER VACATION CLUB/DISCOUNT GLOBAL TRAVEL/SOMERSET VACATIONS/GOING PLACES TRAVEL:
http://www.free-press-release.com/news/200903/1237169915.html
Blogger: http://romsteady.blogspot.com/2007/04/pen-is-mighter-than-vacation-club.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1-i10700-k1586708-Castaways_Vacation_Club_aka_Beachcombers_Vacation_Club-Timeshares_Vacation_Rentals.html
http://www.ripoffreport.com/directory/Castaways-Vacation-Club.aspx
Lawsuit: http://www.doj.state.wi.us/news/files/Complaint021910_2.pdf
Newspaper: http://www.jsonline.com/news/waukesha/84829817.html
BBB: http://www.bbb.org/wisconsin/business-reviews/travel-clubs/going-places-travel-corporation-in-grand-chute-wi-44157486/
ROYAL PALMS TRAVEL/PHOENIX VACATION CLUB/SEALAND TRAVEL CLUB/BABB & MILLER/VIVA VACATION/ALL INCLUSIVE EXCURSIONS/DESTINATIONS UNLIMITED/VIP TRAVEL:
Google search: http://www.google.com/search?hl=&q=Royal+Palms+Travel
Lawsuit: https://www.oag.state.tx.us/newspubs/releases/2010/031710royalpalms_pop.pdf
Actual story: http://www.dallas.bbb.org/article/complaints-on-royal-palms-travel-allege-misrepresentation-13237
TV news: http://www.khou.com/news/texas-news/Marine-Upscale-travel-club-fails-to-keep-promises-101796173.html
Newspaper: http://www.prestonhollowpeople.com/2010/03/23/texas-ag-lays-down-law-on-all-inclusive-excursions/
http://www.prestonhollowpeople.com/2010/05/18/travel-club-cleans-up-act-but-thats-not-stopping-lawsuit/
http://www.elliott.org/blog/texas-targets-unethical-royal-palms-travel-club/
BBB Phoenix Vacations: http://www.bbb.org/central-texas/business-reviews/travel-clubs/phoenix-vacations-in-dallas-tx-90069689
BBB Royal Palms: http://www.bbb.org/central-texas/business-reviews/travel-clubs/royal-palms-travel-incorporated-in-dallas-tx-90069626
Angry people: http://phoenix-vacations.pissedconsumer.com/phoenix-vacations-has-committed-fraud-taken-thousands-of-my-dollars-20080612123866.html
http://vip-travel.pissedconsumer.com/vip-travael-sealand-travel-all-inclusive-excursions-big-scam-20091007158776.html
And more: http://www.measuredup.com/review/Phoenix-Vacations-Complaint-Going-Places-Travel-Phoenix-Vacations-3402
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/royal-palm-travel-c157621.html
OUTRIGGERS VACATION CLUB/OUTRIGGER TRAVEL CLUB/PARADISE DESTINATION/FANTASIA TRAVEL GROUP/VACATION PROFESSIONALS/TRAVEL TO GO/GOOD TIMES TRAVEL CLUB/ONLY WAY 2 GO TRAVEL/TRITON TRAVEL GROUP/ANYTIME VACATIONS:
http://vacationtourtricks.blogspot.com/2010/12/anytime-vacations.html
AARP: http://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-08-2010/scam_alert_vacation_club_vexation.html
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/outriggers-vacation-club-c153117.html?sort=dated
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/destination-paradise-c170246.html
Fantasia BBB: http://www.bbb.org/boston/business-reviews/travel-agencies-and-bureaus/fantasia-travel-group-in-methuen-ma-119699/
Lawsuit: http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2010_07_06_fantasia_travel&csid=Cago
Newspaper: http://www.wickedlocal.com/plymouth/news/business/x644698521/Travel-agency-booked
STAR VACATION CLUB/TRAVEL SERVICE NETWORK
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/star-vacation-club-c1945.html
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/star-vacation-club-c9899.html
GLOBAL EXCHANGE VACATION CLUB/VIP TRAVEL AGENCY/HOLIDAY TRAVEL OF AMERICA
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/holiday-travel-of-america-c35712.html
Newspaper: http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/21681/The_Very_Deceitful_Holiday_Travel_of_America
http://www.scam.com/showthread.php?t=27410
DREAMWORKS VACATION CLUB/DREAMWORKS VACATIONS/FIVE POINTS TRAVEL/BENTLEY TRAVEL/MODERN DESTINATIONS UNLIMITED/LABONNE VIE TRAVEL/VACATION CLUBS, LLC/DREAM VACATIONS INTERNATIONAL:
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/dreamworks-vacation-club-c60341.html
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/modern-destination-unlimited-c271860.html
Lawsuit: http://www.nj.gov/oag/newsreleases11/pr20110202a.html
http://www.nj.gov/oag/newsreleases09/pr20091210b.html
http://www.state.nj.us/oag/ca/ocp/orders/DreamShow.pdf
http://www.walletpop.com/2011/02/09/consumers-to-get-back-almost-2-2-million-from-travel-clubs/
TV: http://www.nbc40.net/view_story.php?id=12512
http://www.shorenewstoday.com/index.php/egg-harbor-twp/eht-general-news/1564-travel-club-denied-mercantile-license-over-fraud-allegations.html
VACATION TRAVEL OUTLET/VACATION SERVICES OF AMERICA/VACATION TRAVEL CLUB:
http://www.ripoffreport.com/travel-services/vacation-services-of/vacation-services-of-america-v-98w2f.htm
Justice Dept: http://www.justice.gov/usao/mow/news2009/wood.ind.htm
Lawsuit: http://ago.mo.gov/newsreleases/2006/121906.htm
SUN COUNTRY TRAVEL/TEXAS TRAVEL PARTNERS/HORIZON TRAVEL/NATIONAL VACATIONS:
JURY Lawsuit: https://www.oag.state.tx.us/oagnews/release.php?id=1589
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/horizon-travel-national-vacations-tci-c3541.html
GRAND CROWNE LEISURE TRAVEL CLUB:
http://www.ripoffreport.com/directory/Grand-Crowne.aspx?p=2
INTERESTING:
I guess if the pitch keeps working, keep doing it (check the date):
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55195-2004Jul16.html