I won a cruise (telemarketer scam)

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Hello I'm New here! Joined: 11 Jan 2008 Posts: 1

I got a one of those "you won a cruise" phone calls a few weeks back. Rather than just hanging up, I stayed on the line to see if I could figure out who is behind it. (I've always wondered what kind of people do this sort of thing.) Now I am getting calls from the company, both automated and human (scripted).

So far, I'm not sure what the scam is. I thought it was a credit card thing, but they aren't going in that direction at all. Googling the telephone number gives a few results that indicate it is a bait-and-switch scam. The company claims to be a survey company and has a lame back-story about why they are giving away the free cruise.

Anyway, I think I have all the information I can get, any ideas on what to do to waste the company's time or money? The calls are so obviously scripted that it should be easy to throw the caller off guard, but other than that I am out of ideas.

Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 9:17 pm

Paul - Don't try to bait them. They know who you are. Any attempt to bait them could open you up for retaliation. Best option: contact the Better Business Bureau with your information, or the attorney general of your state/province.

Bruin

Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 6:55 am

The scam is often something along the lines of a super cheap thing in exchange for book an outrageously expensive thing from the same people.

For example, a free cruise but you have to book a certain flight on a certain airline at an inflated rate. Or having to book a hotel room at an inflated price...you get the idea.

The telemarketers are not usually the type to harm people and are sometimes thousands of miles away. But they can be *very* pushy since they work for a commission.

Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 4:26 pm

if you're worried about calling them why not just post up their number here. id imagine if they were just cold called with a sucker theyd be happy to play along.

Not quite a Newb Joined: 14 Jul 2005 Posts: 41

Telemarketing is not Advance Fee Fraud, so please don't post the number.

If these folks are bothering you, I'd suggest that you have your number placed in the No Call Registry.

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 1:02 am

The Free Cruise ones I've been getting have been the old Push 9 trick.. That's the one that gets long distance calls on your bill..

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 4:38 am

I second the Do Not Call list idea. It works quite well once all the databases are updated. Give it a few weeks after you add your number(s) to the list.

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