Hello! Yesterday I got a call from a lady claiming I've won a free trip and a chance to win a $75,000 car (Right away I knew it was bogus). When I asked her how she got my info she stated that is was trough a sweepstakes form. She then told me "is your email address still bla bla bla" and I told her "No, that was an email I had 5 years ago" (Another red light). To make a long story short, I went along with the game (I didn't give her any personal info). She said "you can pick up your prize tomorrow at 6pm and if you get there early you can win dvds, ipods, bla bla. I asked for a phone number and a website. The website is www.trendwest.com. It "looks" legit. I called the company, spoke to a "representative" and told him everything. He said the address the lady gave me is legit, but states the company gets contacts through "referrals". He gave me a 1800 number to call. No one answers. Who can I contact to see if this is a scam? I don't want people to get ripped
2006-10-13 07:25:28 · 7 answers · asked by gabriel t 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Corporations
http://www.accessonescams.com/
"The primary intent of this site is to expose the inconsistencies and deceptive practices of First Travel, Savasi Travel, and Access One Travel, all owned by Tracey Dale Garin of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Garin's associates and relatives involved in deceptive partnership and travel club practices include his wife Kimberly Garin, Michael E. Knowles, and his father-in-law, Sammy Payne. Other business associates are also included in this website."
"Another intent of this site is to expose Tracey Dale Garin for what he really is: A person who is highly skilled at conducting deceptive business practices, and a convicted sex offender ...."
"This site contains extensive information regarding two travel partnerships and several travel clubs set up by Tracey Garin, owner of Savasi Corporation. The partnerships are under the names Travel Plus #1, LLP and Travel Plus #2, LLP. The travel clubs are First Travel Inc., Savasi Travel, Access One Travel, Travel Web, Inc.
He is also involved with TrendWest Resorts out of Redmond, Washington. ....."
Also check out other link provided below:
2006-10-13 07:34:06 · answer #1 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Trendwest" is a real, legitimate company that sells and trades timeshares.
Their "sweepstakes" offer is stretching the truth more than just a little bit, but not entirely bogus. One form or another of this marketing ploy has been going on for decades, if not longer.
The prizes are real. You may have to sit through a two or three hour presentation to claim it, but if they promise you, in writing, that you will get it, you will. Very likely, the prize you go home with will be the least valuable of the array offered. (in this case, probably a DVD movie, with a value of, say, ten bucks) It may even be true that the $75,000 car may be real. Trendwest is large enough to afford it.
IF you decide to go, just for laughs, or even to see what cheap prize you win, make sure you read any fine print you see. Their usual ploy is to offer "free vacations" often including transportation. They bring people to thier timeshare resorts, show them around, even let them stay a night for free, with all of the resort's ameneties available. But you have to sit for (what they describe as) a 45 minute presentation, which is a sales pitch that lasts for an hour or more. You are not obligated to buy anything. This part is true, but you have to agree, in writing to sit through the presentation.
I have been to a similar presentation, myself, some years back, and came away with a free lunch and a Polaroid camera. Lucky for me I was flat broke or I might have bought a piece of land on the side of an extinct volcano in Northern California.
My daughter went to another and actually bought. She and her hubby are very happy with Trendwest and use the timeshare several time a year.
I don't like the fake "sweepstakes" ploy, but the company is legit.
2006-10-13 08:14:38 · answer #2 · answered by Vince M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A) If there's a website/phone numbers, check w/ the Better business Bureau.
B) If they have information that's outdated or not exactly accurate, those red flags would probably mean it's NOT legit. Legit companies would "buy" or access current information.
You might call both the BBB AND check with the Police, (especially the Police Dept. in the city they say you're to go pick up your stuff from) check and see if they're logging other complaints from these people.
2006-10-13 07:30:40 · answer #3 · answered by pattilarr 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
State Department of Consumer Affairs
Better Business Bureau
law enforcement
2006-10-13 07:27:56 · answer #4 · answered by Harvie Ruth 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's the way that Propaganda works. They try to frame public opinion by using different buzzwords to portray the same picture from different perspectives. Bush's grandpa funded Hitler and his daddy ran the CIA. Bush knows all about how to use propaganda. The PKK has been attacking Turkish civilians in Turkey with American weapons that were funnelled to them. Even the puppet government of Iraq considers the PKK to be a terrorist organization.
2016-05-21 23:15:17 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Better Business Bureau
2006-10-13 07:34:03 · answer #6 · answered by Mariposa 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your state Attorney General.
2006-10-13 07:31:37 · answer #7 · answered by morlock825 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋