Letter from a VP of Travel Awards Division about free airline tickets
These guys are going bad to their tried-and-true strategy of making up two-name companies and sending letters offering free airline tickets. (See all other posts here about these letters.) Please comment if you received one with your location.
It tells you that you have qualified for an award of 2 roundtrip airline tickets. It looks like it was actually signed by Kelly Mane, the “Vice President.” They hand write the address on the envelope and use a real stamp (sometimes!).
Here are the new companies so far:
Fletcher Adams (fletcheradams.com)
Nelson Murphy (nelsonmurphy.com)
Franklin Hobbs (franklinhobbs.com)
Duncan Jacobs (duncanjacobs.com)
Stevenson Barnes (stevensonbarnes.com)
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)
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.
LETTER:
I am pleased to inform you that you have qualified for an award of 2 roundtrip airline tickets. Congratulations.Play Store Download These tickets are valid for travel anywhere in the Continental U.S. The retail value of this award is up to $1,298.00. Certain restrictions apply.
We have attempted contacting you several times without success. This is our last attempt. If we do not hear from you soon, we may need to issue the ticket vouchers to the alternate.
Please call me today at 1-866-517-2406 (numbers always changing).
Regards,
VP du jour (see above)
Vice President
Travel Awards Division
Here is what would happen if you did call:
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
Sue,
I think that some of the info they buy is directly from real estate records, which would be why it matches your Wells Fargo address.
Received the Franklin Hobbs letter in Ann Arbor, MI on 3/16 from Anita Welsh. It had plane envelop, handwritten address. Same as the other posted letters. Shredded.
I received a letter with my brothers name being addressed and he does not even live here. The letter has Franklin Hobbs header and signed by an Anita Welsh. They have a website listed http://www.franklinhobbs.com and the number is 1-866-658-2742. I am in the Pittsburgh area.
Received one 3/12/12 – Pittsburgh, PA. hand written addressed envelope, signed by “Anita Welsh” of Franklin Hobbs or Travel Awards Division. 1-866-658-2742.
Just got my letter today from Franklin Hobbs, VP Anita Welsh, 1-866-658-2837. Hand written envelope. I live in Holland MI. Thanks!!!
Got my Franklin Hobbs signed by an Anita Welsh. the number is 1-866-658-2742. I am in the Pittsburgh area. It’s post-marked from Phoenix, AZ and hand signed and addressed like the others.
My Husband received a letter from Franklin Hobb’s as well. We live in Muskegon, MI.
We wondered if they had received his name from a golf show we went to in Grand Rapids MI. about 2 months ago. There were lots of drawings for prizes from the many vendors there.
So, I google Franklin Hobbs. . . lucky I found all this info. Our letter states the same as listed above. Word for word!
Contact number is 1-866-658-2837
From A Welsh
Anita Welsh vice president of Travel Awards Division .
http://www.franklinhobbs.com and then has FY8xxxx at the bottom of the letter.
You can best this is going in the trash.
I just worry how many will not check this out before being sucked into the scam.
Got my letter yesterday signed by “Anita Welsh” of Franklin Hobbs Travel Awards Division and the phone # is 866-658-2826. I live in FL. Letter in trash!
Just got one signed Anita Welsh. 1-866-658-2826. If anyone wants my “free” tickets you’re welcome to call and claim them. Don’t think I’ll be taking them up on the offer.
I’m in Orlando, FL.
Holland, MI on March 17. Franklin Hobbs – Anita Welsh.
I also got this this weekend from “Franklin Hobbs” signed by “Anita Welsh”. I’m in A2 MI. Thanks! The website they link to has no real content, just vague platitudes and stock photos…
Pittsburgh PA Here Franklin Hobbs is the company and the Person is Anita Welsh.
Post Mark is Arizona
Pittsburgh, PA. Dated 3/21 from Anita Welsh at Franklin Hobbs.
I just got one from Franklin Hobbs, Anita Welsh today. I’m in the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh, PA.
Today (March 19th, 2012) I received one of these letters from Franklin Hobbs, signed by Anita Welsh. I live near Ann Arbor, MI. It has the same phone number that several other people mentioned: 866-658-3260.
I just got mine today. Franklin Hobbs.. exactly identical to past letters. Pittsburgh, PA here too
Just received my letter from Anita Welsh, Travel Awards Div. Franklin Hobbs. I live outside of Ann Arbor, MI. I checked their website & clicked on this site. Thank Goodness! Letter in the shredder!
Got one from Franklin Hobbs today – Pittsburgh, PA.
Has anyone actually gotten any free plane tickets, etc, after sitting through the sales pitch?
Andrea,
I haven’t found anyone that has gotten the airline tickets yet.
I got a letter today saying the same thing. signed by anita welsh and i live in pittsburgh pa
Just got one today, dated March 12th, received March 19th. Signed Anita Welsh, phone number = 1-866-658-2742. Hand-signed, hand-addressed, hand-stamped. I live in downtown Pittsburgh, PA.
recieved my letter today signed by Anita Welsh from frankin hobbs, more junk mail to shred!
We received a letter from Mary Jay, the Vice President from US Airlines post marked from Phoenix, AZ. She may reached at 866-658-3542. Yeah right!!
Ditto to Mary above. They must be targeting certain areas, and I am just outside A2, too.
We too receive on from Franklin Hobbs today – Anita Welsh the V.P. Awards Division was even kind enough to sign it!
Just got our letter in the mail today too, and also signed by Anita Welsh. Nice try Anita.
My letter arrived (they must be gearing up for doing their pitch in MI) here in Ann Arbor (too) today. From (just like Mary) Anita Welsh, Travel Awards Div., Franklin Hobbs.
Received my letter today from Franklin Hobbs dated March 12, 2012. 1-866-658-2837 hand signed by Anita Welsh. They sure are spending a lot of money to screw with people. Thank goodness for the internet (not that I would ever believe something like this anyway).
oh ya, I’m from Muskegon, MI.
Got mine from a Anita Walsh from Franklin Hobbs in a handwritten envelope. I live in the western suburbs of Chicago so the seem to be moving west! Already shredded it!
I got the same letter today (3/19/12). I thought it had to be a scam. Thanks for confirming.
I received my letter today from Anita Walsh of Franklin Hobbs, and started looking up the company on line, but the website did not have any locations or addresses listed, so I knew something was not right. Then I found this post, that confirmed my suspisions. THANKS!!!
Husband got one on 19 March, from Franklin Hobbs, hand written address, stick on stamp, signed by “Anita Welsh.” We’re in Pittsburgh.
Our number was 1-866-658-2742.
I just received my letter from “Franklin Hobbs”, same as described, hand written and signed by Anita Welsh, VP of Travel Awards Division. Hand written envelope, no return address, 1-866 number… http://www.franklinhobbs.com website. Linden, MI
Our letter was from Franklin Hobbs, signed by Anita Welsh. It was received on March 19th in Holland, Michigan. Thanks to everyone for posting so that I can convince my husband this is a scam.
I’m from Howell, MI. On March 19, I received the same letter from Franklin Hobbs and it was signed by Anita Welsh. The envelope was hand written without a return address and they did use a real stamp. I figured it was a scam and I’m glad I researched it and found out.
My father recieved the same letter but from Franklin Hobbs dated March 12, 2012 signed by Anita Welsh – Vice President, Travel Awards Division, asking to call 1-866-658-2736. The envelope it came in was post-marked in Phoenix, Arizona with no return address. When my elderly father asked me to read the letter and call the number for him, I immediately saw a red flag and knew it was a scam. So I got online and visited their website first and just as I thought….no contact information and no location information. Plus when reading about the “company” it sure made no sense when reading it. Its like they just threw in any words to confuse people more. You get no where by visiting the site. So then I googled “Franklin Hobbs complaints” and this website popped up. And good thing it did because reading all your complaint entries just confirmed to me that it sure is a scam just as I thought. Gotta be careful now days with everything and everyone. Scams are everywhere…..how sad and pathetic!!
Got the Franklin Hobbs, VP Anita Welsh one. Hand stamp,and address, no return.
No other searches turned up this so Thank You for sharing!
received this exact letter today, signed by anita Welsh (Vice President)
Just got this in the mail from Franklin Hobbs and the VP Anita Welsh. Hand signed and hand addressed. No return address, but postmarked from Phoenix, AZ. Thanks everyone for posting.
Received in Indianapolis today, hand addressed and signed by Mary Jay, Vice President.
Received in Milton, Florida on March 12 from “US Airlines” signed by Mary Jay, Vice President. No return address but postmarked from Phoenix AZ. Phone is 1-866-658-3542
THANKS for the warning!
My father received the identical letter. Don’t know where they are getting the names and addresses. He died in 1972 and if he were alive he would have recently celebrated his 115th birthday
Got one today from Franklin Hobbs, signed by Anite Welsh – handwritten address and real stamp! SCAMMERS!
Just got one of these today Franklin Hobbs signed by Anita Welsh also handwritten address and stamp
You should smell scam from the start. Franklin Hobbs was an Olympic swimmer many years ago. These jokesters are so bold and figure their potential marks (us) are so dopey that we won’t kow it’s a scam even when the very names they use are giant red flags. Furthermore, the M.O. (mass mailing coupled with deception) should tell us all we need to know—>that we should do nothing exceot recycle the paper they used to try to take our money.
You should smell scam from the start. Franklin Hobbs was an Olympic ROWER many years ago. These jokesters are so bold and figure their potential marks (us) are so dopey that we won’t know it’s a scam even when the very names they use are giant red flags. Furthermore, the M.O. (mass mailing coupled with deception) should tell us all we need to know—>that we should do nothing except recycle the paper they used to try to take our money.
Please beware… a total scam. These guys seem to have identical websites, looks like they have used a cheap software to create a template and then gone ahead and bought cheap domain names to create an aura of authenticity so that they can scam poor, innocent people of their hard earned cash.
Fletcher Adams (fletcheradams.com)
Nelson Murphy (nelsonmurphy.com)
Franklin Hobbs (franklinhobbs.com)
Duncan Jacobs (duncanjacobs.com)
Stevenson Barnes (stevensonbarnes.com)
We received our scam letter yesterday with a new company as the provider, “Richardson Hall”. Same exact text of all the other letters.
This VP was Susan Davis.
Thanks for the heads up. I wonder where they would send us for the free tickets. We live in Holland, MI and it would be a long drive to Pittsburgh!
Alan,
They have multiple locations around the country ready to bring in their next “winners”!