Letter from US Airlines about free airline tickets
Here’s another mailing about free airline tickets, only instead of coming from a fake incentive company, it is from a fake airline called US Airlines – “Fly the US skies”! (See other posts here.) Please comment if you received one.
They have a variation that includes an award notification and boarding pass. See below for pictures.
It tells you that you have qualified for an award of 2 roundtrip airline tickets. It looks like it was actually signed by Barbara Dion or Alexia Pitt or Kate White or Loretta Cape or Ann Roy or Charlene James or Angela King or Marcia O’Neal or Janelle Kelly or Candice Bray or Phyllis Neal or Melanie Car or Jessica Clay or Katherine Cota or Christina Jud or Shauna West or Jane Austin or Hillary Baio or Jessica Nish or C. Ray or Dorothy Wade or Linda Ford or Jade Beal or Nicole Clay or Valerie Fay or Erica Bale or K. Mane or Loretta Pine or Alexis Doug or Kristina Bar or Brittany Hunt or Doris Jack, the “Vice President.” They hand write the address on the envelope and use a real stamp (sometimes!).
Here is the cheesy website for this letter. 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. These tickets are valid for travel anywhere in the Continental U.S. The retail value of this award is up to $1,400.00. 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 1-866-995-7151 (numbers always changing).
Regards,
VP du jour (see above)
Vice President
AWARD NOTIFICATION/BOARDING PASS:
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
OOPS! forgot to say they have a new Vice-President….Janelle Kelly (signed in ink!)
Got the letter too! Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know this is a big fat scam. I have worked in the airline industry for over 16 years…with a troubled economy, NO airline is just going to give away free tickets!! Nice try with a hand written address and an apparent real signature, miss vice president Janelle Kelly. I’m pretty sure any real vice president is too busy to be trying to scam unsuspecting people.
I received the letter signed for CANDICE BRAY and phone # 1-866-981-5692 Was stamp in Phoenix, AZ. too good to be true.
Mine’s from Candice Bray, Vice President. Same crappy low-res logo, same hand-written env, stamped and handwritten signature. Wrong town, though…
wow….vice president’s must change quickly there, because I got one today and as of 5/26 the new VP is Candice Bray.
Received ours yesterday. Sent here to MI from AZ. Phone is 1-866-981-5686 to talk with VP Candice Bray.
I just got one as well in Clearwater, Florida. Aside from a few differences in phone numbers and codes, the copy I got is virtually identical to the one in this post. Mine “expires” on May 31, 2011, phone number 1-866-942-3765. Surprising that no one has shut them down yet.
Got the Official Documents letter today in Saline MI. Offer too good to be true + no return address + no such airline = obvious scam. I hope few are taken, but this must be working for them to have lasted so long.
My husband received his letter today in Joliet, IL 05/31/11. New phone number 1-866-989-2504 and a New Vice President: Candice Bray, handsigned. Crazy.
Well got my letter today and think its important to keep posting to put these people out of buisness. My letter is just from the Awards Department and US Airlines. The number listed is 1-866-254-0736. I hope this scam gets shut down quickly!!!!
from Oklahoma City permit #324
Notice Urgency: EXTREME
etc. etc. etc.
Sincerely,
Awards Department
1-866-959-0379
Thanks Everyone for verifying that junk mail is
junk.
I got one this week in Carol Stream, IL.
Of course it sounded too good to be true and I’ve never heard of US Airlines. Suspecting a scam I searched online and ended up here. Thanks everyone for your posts!
I started reading the posts above and they were all from the Columbus, OH area. Then I skipped to the bottom (most recent posts) and see that most are now from the Chicago area. So these scammers are obviously moving methodically across the country.
AHA! Yes, Chicago is the new target. I just got my ‘invite’ today on the North Side. Thanks for seconding the opinion that it wasn’t worth the stamp that brought it!
They’re back in Pittsburgh! Got one yesterday. Unbelievably amatuerish letter.
Think I’ll have some fun with em. My personal favorite for this type and the telemarketers who call me despite being on the do not call registry is to sound interested, speak very softly so they really press into the reciever to hear you and then hit them with an air horn. LOL
Got a letter today. Mine is from Oklahoma City OK. Phone number: 1-866-973-9810. Same story as all of the above. Glad I found this site. I will not waste my time attending any presentations!
Yeppers, I guess Candace couldn’t get the job done either. Mine is signed by Phyllis Neal with a phone number of 866-988-9941 and the letter originated from Phoenix, AZ.
Orlando must be the newest or one of the newest targets. Multiple red flags went up: Handwritten name, no return address on the envelope, a real postage stamp, no address on the letter, the letter did not have a proper letterhead, etc. In addition, the new Vice President on my letter is Phyllis Neal. No Vice President of a major corporation asks you to call them directly, instead asks you to call the company.
Got one today in Central Florida.
Looks like the new VP is Phyllis Neal.
The phone # listed is 1-866-981-5819.
Thanks for the post.
Looks like I am the newest member of the club. Got my letter (no docs) dated June 9, with a newbie vp – Phyllis Neal. 866-981-5819. Here’s something that might make it easier to find what mailing list, etc. they have. On my address (handwritten, real stamp, Phoenix post office mark) they had included Apt. 25. I don’t have an apt. number. I’ll be on the lookout to see what else comes with an apt. number. I know I’ve had stuff come with one before.
Forgot to mention I am in Orlando.
I’m in Wisconsin. Got one today in a Happy Birthday envelope, no return address. You open it and there’s US Airlines at the top with the info of winning 2 tickets. It’s not signed by anyone, phone number is 866-396-3279. Also included a fake boarding pass. Funny thing is my birthday isn’t for another 2 months!
In Michigan. Got same exact letter today but it says Travel & Deals at the top and Preferred Airfare Provider Southwest Airlines at the bottom with a code. This one is singed by Jamie Line “Vice President” Funny, same blue ink and appears it could be the same handwritting. phone number to call is 866-984-8875. These people never stop trying do they?
Received an identical letter from V.P. Phyllis Neal/US Airlines ??? /2 RT $1400 airline tickets. I’m from Chicago. It seems this is going all over the country. There are several sites listing it as a scam.
I received one today in the mail, and I’m in Atlanta. The phone # on mine is 1-866-252-1390. It also looks like a form from the IRS. It boggles the mind that they spend so much time and energy to produce these fake documents. I hate that there are so many gullible people out there to make this a profitable venture for the scam artists!
I got an award notification advising me this is my last chance, “they” have been trying to notify me of this several times and unless I call by 6/28/2011 it will be transferred to an alternate. No signature just Awards Department and telephone number 1-866-982-7004.
Never get something for nothing so I always check the web. Thank goodness I do. I’m in Florida. Thanks for the heads up
Received the same letter today in Indiana and “googled” it. Good thing I found this blog.
Got mine today 6/24. Respond by 6/29. Very official looking letter from “US Airlines”. Signed by VP Melanie Car. Phone 866-977-4766. My husband is going to have some fun tomorrow.
I also received an “offer” in early June. I called our local Post Master who verified this is mail fraud and advised that i file an official complaint with the USPS at: https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/forms/MailFraudComplaint.aspx. I did so today. The more who report this, the more likely US Airlines aka Southwest Airlines aka Destinations Ultimate aka Sea Land Travel aka Southwest Travel aka Whatever Bogus Travel Name They Can Come Up With will be stopped.
I got the letter today in IL. Lucky me, the wife will love the free roundtrip flights. Melanie Car the new VP also has a new phone number everyone 1 866 966 6223. Her sig needs to be analyzied by Dr Frazier Crane it is that good/bad. Anyone seen the BBC America comedy “Come Fly With Me”. I’d rather fly FlyLo Air than US Airlines.
My husband received an “offer” today signed by Melanie Car Vice President. I decided to check it out before calling, which brought me to this site. Thank you for the information!
Got one today Tampa, Florida.
I live in Orlando and got my letter today. I’m disappointed because no one signed it. No Barbara, Nancy, or Michele, I feel somehow cheated. My boarding pass shows me to be checking in at 7:40 and departing at 8:10. Where am I going? Also I am boarding in Group 6. Group 6?. That’s terrible, all the overheads will be filled. People are funny.
Received an offer as well, sent to an address I haven’t lived at in over 10 years (family member). Handwritten address, my name was spelled incorrectly, so had scam written all over it before I even opened the envelope (no return address but postmark was from Phoenix, AZ). As mentioned in earlier post, I will file complaint with BBB…
I also received a letter today. Postmarked from Phoenix, hand written address, and regular stamp. The vice president name used was Jessica Clay. Has anyone heard about authorities looking into this manner, I am curious to know. Also curious what type of list we are on.
Got mine this past weekend.
New VP : Katherine Cota
Travel Deals at the top
Same msg inbetween – ph 18669661818
Preferred Airfare Provider
Southwest Airlines on the bottom.
I got my letter July 18, 2011 from “American Airways” (another new name) it was signed by Christina Jud, Vice President. I sent an email to the BBB in Phoenix and received a response that they had not received any complaints about them, but will keep the info on file for possible further activity and/or inquiries. What really concerned me is the date on the letter is the same date we reserved a rental car at PHX…how are they getting our names/addresses??
I got a letter today, the return address area says “Travel Check Enclosed” Final notice and what not. On the inside is a “check” for $1400 redeemable for a certificate for 2 airline tickets. It says US Airlines Fly the US Skies. It is dated July 15th. Phone number to contact them is 866-216-6039
How fake can something be? We just received this fake letter too, only ours was an actual check. Yes, a real check, but it was made out to my husband “on behalf of US Airlines”. It was for $1400.00! I really hope there aren’t desperate people out there that would actually cash this check! It went right into the shredder! Beware out there…don’t trust a no name airline!!!!!
I got my letter today from us Airlines, I must respond no later than August 3rd, 2011, they have made several attempts to contact me (how), it they don’t hear from me soon they may NEED to issue the ticket vouchers to the alternate, who seems to be everyone else who received this letter, signed by Shauna West, Vice President 866 214 9693 di-xxxxx, I called the number it is a fax number, I am in Atlanta, Ga
We got our award notification letter today July 27th, 2011 from
“US Airlines”…..Fly the US Skies. phone number 866-216-4199
We feel slighted, our official looking check was signed by a non influential untitled person…..M. Page. Ours looks like a check, with all the account numbers across the bottom, and the back has a place to endorse. The company is “Travel Union,” Phoenix, Az 85006. We filled out a fraud complaint with the USPS. Thanks for all the info listed here, saved us a lot of time and energy. We are in the Orlando, Fl area.
Jerry on July 27, 2011
My letter arrived in Pittsburgh today…Debbie in Atlanta, maybe I’m your alternate :0) Shauna West, is also the vice president on my letter as well. I’m glad I got this scam letter, because I’m a high school teacher and will absolutely use this in my curriculum regarding truth in advertising and scams. Wow. The number on my letter, by the way, is 1-866-211-8557.
I received mine today in GA and knew it was not legit.
2 TICKETS = 1,400
Phone Number is 866 214 9693
Vice President = Shauna West
WHAT IDIOTS
Received mine today from Phoenix AZ 850. Address handwritten and used a real stamp. No return address. Letter signed in real ink too from a “Shauna West” who said she was the Vice President. Letter from a company called US Airlines. Letterhead was in black and white and very cheesy and amateur. No logo was printed under the US Airlines part. Phone number was 1-866-214-4051. Didn’t even bother to call…knew it was a scam. My 15 year old wanted me to call and used this as a learning lesson for her that nothing in life is free and if it sounds too good to be true, it is. Showed her that you can punch this stuff up on the internet and see that it is a scam. Thanks for having this post available for her teaching lesson. 🙂
Got mine today–VP is Shauna West phone is 866-211=9693–Just wondering–is anyone else on this mailing a member of Disney Vacation Club? Thinking that is where they got the mailing list
My husband received his letter today from this US Airlines. As mostly everyone pointed out it was very amateurish, handwritten envelope and unprofessional letterhead ect. The VP is Shauna West and telephone number is 866-214-4051. I am thankful I found this info about these scanners. Keep up the good work!
Got mine. Phone number listed: 866-216-5145. They indicate that I have to respond by August 3rd even though the check says I have until 8-30-11. I suspect I have to redeem because they are changing the phone number frequently. Address given was Travel Union, Phoenix, AZ 85006 12-862211/4114. Check number DG-xxxx7. Signed Jane Austin. I have to call the number to validate the check and in small print “not timeshare or land sales offer”
I recieved my letter today. I live in Covington, GA, just outside Atlanta. My letter had Shauna West as a VP. The phone # to call was 1-866-211-9693. My name and address was hand written and it had a postage stamp on it post marker in Arizona.
I got one 2day. These folks R real busy. # 866-214-4114.
I received this letter today.. signed by Hillary Baio… impressive letter and offer.. but didn’t call…
We received one of these letters the other day. Same copy, (just the letter, no enclosures) requesting a return call to 866-211-6874 by 8/3/11 and signed Shauna West, Vice President. Put it through our shredder.