Delta postcard about free airline tickets & hotel
The strategy has evolved again (maybe just experimenting) by sending out a Delta Airlines postcard. (See other posts about previous mailings here.) Please comment if you received one with your location.
See below for the postcard images and text.
The postcard says that they have been trying to contact you about free round trip tickets and a hotel stay you have won. Once you go to the sales pitch and sign up, you book through a fulfillment company. I’ve seen two lately: Universal Travel Vacations (website, BBB report) or the The Vacation Station (website, BBB report TN, BBB report SC)
Also, here is another blogger with information about a postcard that looks like it is from Southwest Airlines: http://talestoldfromtheroad.com/2011/11/02/consumer-alert-southwest-escape-offer-grounded/
I have found the answers to this mystery thanks to the great work of the folks at BBB in Tucson, AZ:
http://www.bbb.org/tucson/business-reviews/travel-clubs/southwest-travel-club-in-tucson-az-20007983
http://www.bbb.org/tucson/business-reviews/prize-promotions/patterson-bell-in-tucson-az-20027549
An actual story: http://www.kgun9.com/features/investigations/122887609.html
NEW video from INSIDE THE SALES PRESENTATION: http://www.9news.com/news/article/362984/339/Companies-behind-free-airline-ticket-letters-
Great reporting from WKMG: http://www.clickorlando.com/news/Free-travel-offer-mystifies-consumers/-/1637132/15701330/-/8s7gus/-/index.html
Video from inside the first ever video encounter I’ve seen: http://www.kboi2.com/news/local/Travel-service-vacation-smart-international-us-airlines-vacationanddeals-com-175915611.html?tab=video&c=y
If you would like to read more about these folks, visit this post. You can read all about the sales presentation, the free offer and the what you get for your vacation membership club cash outlay.
ADVICE:
When I read this, it was just too good not to post. It’s from the Nebraska Attorney General (page 13 printed/page 15 PDF).
Look for the warning signs that may indicate a scam:
- Benefits sound too good to be true.
- The company has no permanent address and all presentations are held in rented conference rooms.
- They can’t, or won’t, provide you with references.
- They don’t want to give you an itemized list of what’s included in your trip until you have already signed the contract.
What you should do if you suspect a scam:
- Don’t sign any contract during the travel presentation. They are high-pressure events intended to stir the emotions of an exotic vacation.
- Contact a respected travel agent in town, give them the specifics of the trip, and ask if that seems consistent with industry pricing.
- Shop around. Compare your trip with other travel packages being offered to seniors.
Here is Michigan’s Attorney General’s advice:
http://www.michigan.gov/ag/0,1607,7-164-34739_20942-44762–,00.html
Here is the of the postcard:
DELTA / FLY AWAY ESCAPE
Dear x,
Congratulations! You have been selected to receive 2 Round Trip Airfares to anywhere Delta flies in the continental USA. Call within 48 hours. You will also receive as a bonus 3 day 2 night hotel stay!
We have been trying to contact you! (This is not a timeshare or land sale offer)
Toll free 1-800-313-1263 (or other numbers)
RSVP xxxx (your ID in their database) MON-SUN 9am to 8pm
Fine print: Certain restrictions apply. Call for details of participation. This offer is not sponsored by or affiliated with Delta Airlines but they are a major supplier. Taxes, processing fees and reservation fees are the responsibility of the recipient. Offer void where prohibited by law. Not applicable to Alaska or Hawaii.
[UPDATE 12/2/2011] Apparently Delta isn’t the only carrier they are testing out in their new postcards — Southwest Airlines is targeted as well: http://talestoldfromtheroad.com/2011/11/02/consumer-alert-southwest-escape-offer-grounded/
Here is what would happen if you did call:
Received one in DC area 2-14-12 (happy valentine’s). Toll free no. given is 1-800-952-9644.
Received the card today 2/14/12 in Holland, PA. I am not going to call because it sounds like a scam. The number on card is 1-610-518-4911
has to be scam!!!!!
CONGRADULATIONS! You have been selected to receive 2 round trip airfares to Europe, your choice: london or Paris, or any major international airport in the United States.
Call within 48 Hours, you will also receive as a bonus: 2 day 2 night hotel stay!
we have been trying to contact you (THIS IS NOT A TIMESHARE OR LAND SALE OFFER)
To claim this special offer simply call 1-610-518-4911 RSVP EVWT
Monday-Sunday 9am-9pm
Rec’d a Delta card 2-14 in N.H.
KAW,
That’s interesting that it’s not a toll free number. Maybe it’s breaking the bank to have to pay for all the phone calls!
Another good tip –
If you win a contest from anywhere, they won’t send you a postcard via first class mail to let you know you’ve won. They will most likely call you or send something via certified mail. Email is another possibility, but if it’s something big like an all-expenses-paid trip, they will call you.
JetBlue today. Same as above with hotel stay, but 48 hours to reply, and I’m in Indiana (north of Indianapolis)
Just received this same post card (Delta/ British Airways) with a local phone number (Chester county, PA): 610-518-4911
Received the “Delta” postcard today…Little Rock, AR
Received mine today feb 18, 2012…laurel MD
Got the Delta card on 2-14-2012 in northern Ky. sounded to good to be true.
so I searched the phone number on the internet to get here. Thanks for the info.
Received one Feb 18, 2012 – Burke, VA
Received a envelope with a “award notification” inside (tear of the ends envelope). It is from Jetblue “Airways” not airlines. Not sure if that slight difference makes it different, thus legal, well as far as scams go that is. The listed phone
number is 1-877-567-1911. No dates as it is a prepaid stamped envelope, and no dates or reason as to why I was “a winner”. Their is a PO box address on the env. “CP, PO Box 20389, West Palm
Beach, FL 33416.
got one in Framingham, MA today.
Total scam.
RSVP WAL 0217 it says on the postcard. This is saying this is from Delta Airlines, using their logo. Is this legal? If it’s a scam being perpetrated through the mail, it’s mail fraud.
Got the Delta postcard today in the mail. One step ahead of fraud thanks to Google… Little Rock, AR
Got 2 of the Delta one’s today sent by accident to my address. The funny part is neither one of them had my real name and they both said to RSVP WAXxxxx. Such as scam!!!!!
received exact postcard, but where it said delta, ours says JetBlue. NJ resident.
got one yesterday, live in Souderton, pa
I got one today, I live in Bryant Ar. I asked the lady on the phone what company she was with and she said Diamond Marketing Solutions. I told her I would have to call her back. I looked up this company DMS and called them. They said that their company is NOT associated with this giveaway and that this is a scam!!
Recd one yesterday, 2/21/2012…number to call is 800-952-9644
I received this same card in Minnesota today, except that it was from Allegiant Air instead of Delta. But otherwise identical postcard and photo on the front that says “Fly Away Escape”, and the wording on the back was identical.
I got the Delta postcard yesterday. I’m glad to see these postings. they had a website link and it sounded suspicious–so many restrictions that even if it were true it would be very difficult to arrange.
I received one yesterday & live in Little Rock, AR. I called to just see what they would say and thought it was too good to be true and looked it up here…GLAD I DID!
Thanks!!
received 2/25/12 in Arlington, VA
phone number was 1-800-952-9644
My husband got one today
My husband got one today. Thanks so much for saving us a lot of time and headaches. I hate these scams!
We got the Allegiant Air in MN today! Glad we checked them out first!
Got one today in Massachusetts. Everything is the same except for the 800 number. Checked the web page (http:\\webpaper.co\11277), generic. total scam.
arrived today in central arkansas. thanks for the info.
Got one today “from” allegiant air – I’m in Fargo, ND.
GOT CARD IN MAIL, LIKE YOUR FOLKS TOLD YOU IF ITS TO GOOD TO BE TRUE USE YOUR COMMEN SENSE AND GOGGLE IT
I received the Delta card yesterday in central MA. I am very happy with my new coaster for my morning coffee. At first I thought that it might be too slippery because of the glossy finish. But I was wrong – it works very well!
I got the “within 48 hrs Delta” card today. I live near Little Rock, Arkansas.
Received the Delta post card on 2/28/12;
We got the “Allegiant Air” version yesterday in the mail. “Fly Away Escape”
Got a “Delta – Fly Away Escape” postcard here in VA. It offers 2 round-trip airfares in the continental USA and 2-night hotel stay. Their phone is 1-800-952-9644. Called them. They call themselves “Diamond Marketing Solutions” but have no website and no permanent address. They are not affiliated in any way with the major communications company of the same name that has a website at http://www.dmsolutions.com. They said husband and wife must show up for 90-minute presentation at Holiday Inn in Georgetown (Washington, DC) between Feb. 29 and March 3, 2012. Claim you don’t have to buy or join anything. They say you have to pay 10% in “processing fees” or “reservation fees” in order to receive voucher for airfares and hotel stay. I called Delta. They said postcard offer is not authorized by the airline. Delta also said use of the Delta logo is not authorized by the airline for any offer not sponsored by Delta, so the postcard is likely infringing on Delta’s trademarks and service marks. The postcard is a marketing scam by a fulfillment company that buys large quantities of airline tickets and distributes them to suckers who attend the 90-minute presentation and get sales-pressured to sign a “contract” that obligates them to pay various “processing fees” and “reservation fees,” with options to buy certain products or services. Do not fall for this scam. If you do, it can cost you upwards of several thousand dollars if you sign the contract.
Received this card as well in St. George, UT. Labeled as “jetBlue”. Same photo on front and same language on the back.
Lawrenceburg, KY
Received one today just minutes ago. Immediately did a Google Search which led me here.
Received it yesterday.
Lexington, KY
Little Rock, AR. We received two cards within the same week. One for a cruise (TCP-Pro Travel aka Pro Consumer) and the Delta one (Diamond Marketing Solutions). Two different hotel setups, both hotels very close to each other.
I just received a final notice with Ticket Vouchers Enclosed ‘from’ Frontier:
Congratulations! You have been selected to receive 2 round trip airfares within the continental US. Call within 48 hours to receive as a bonus a 3 day 2 night hotel stay.
Call 1-888-490-6295
You can have my prize! 🙂
Just received one from Delta. Glad I found this site; figured it was a load of horse manure.
Lexington, KY
Got one today in Ashburnham, MA
Received one in Boise, ID on 3/6/2012. Said it was from Alaska Airlines. Figured it was a scam
got one from Frontier Airlines, Appleton, WI. 3rd one I threw away-said it was a final notice. hahaha
Just received our second notification. Two round trip airfares within the continental US on Frontier airlines.If we call back within 48 hours, we’ll get the 3 day, 2 night hotel stay. Phone is 1-888-294-0997.
I think all the timeshare offers are SCAMS! We went to ONE–and apparently had our info sold! Another timeshare company tried to collect $ starting 7 years after we attended. Be careful!
This one isn’t a timeshare company…
I received the Delta postcard. (Derry.NH.)
Got this same post card only it’s for Alaska Airlines. An obvious scam but I decided to Google it anyway and landed here…
Got a letter with tear off edges. It is called Form 2011. Inside is a fake boarding pass for Frontier Airlines. Phone number to call is 1-888-294-0997