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
I just got my letter in Tampa, FL. My VP is Dorothy Wade 1(866)330-4602. I’m going to have some fun with this one!
This is a poor excuse for a scam. I believe they make money for each call somehow. Its probably best to just report this scam. But its not going to stop me from acting like im going to bite and take up a bunch of there time.
Wife got this same letter yesterday. Glad I looked it up. The funny thing is that I read in another blog that they send it to people who travel a lot. My wife hasn’t been on an airplane in over 1 year.
I received the same letter but since they change the city of origin now in Oklahoma city and signed by awards department phone number they use this time was 18663295160 thanks everyone for the advice
I received the letter yesterday in Savannah, Ga. It was postmarked coming from Phoenix, AZ. The VP is Dorothy Wade 1-866-314-9681.
I just got one yesterday. It says same thing. I didn’t even call before I decided to look it up and see if it was for real or not and apparently not. The weird thing is, is that I just filled out a thing a couple of weeks ago for my husband to win airline tickets for 2 for a Military thing but through a different airline so I almost got them confused until I started wondering why it was addressed to me and not him. But any way the phone number on mine is 1-866-314-9681 at the bottom there is an EX-2xxxx also mine is signed by Vice President Dorothy Wade. Hand written envelope no return address.
We got this today addressed to my husband. Looks official, came in a perforated envelope looking like a check. My husband was excited saying, “we won 2 free round trip tickets form US Air!”. Of course me being the sensible one knew it was a scam and pointed out that is was not US Air but US Airways, which of course is a fictional airline, but had to prove it to him anyway. He is now VERY bummed! He was ready to pack! Ours was signed by K Mane and phone # 866-337-5531.
Just received the same letter today as Jackie did on Dec. 8th. My VP was also Dorothy Wade. The number I was given to call was 866-328-6352. Must have took longer to get to Michigan than it did to Florida.
got this note today- except it said that the vice president was dorothy wade phone number 1-866-299-0986
handwritten address on outside with no return address
we live in charleston sc
Got mine today (Dec. 17, 2011) in Savannah, Ga. Knew it was a scam right away. Came to the web to educate my 18 year-old and found this blog. Mine is from VP Dorothy Wade 1-866-324-9083. Hand written, blank envelope, phony “photo-copied” company logo. Really amateurish. I am insulted that they didn’t even send me one of their more official looking scam letters.
Greetings from Colorado,, got one today, looked good until I read all the above post!
Damm scammers, mine too said Dorthy Wade glad I went to google and looked up the vp of us airways,,for sure a scam! To good to be true! BE AWARE—-
Just got mine today, from Travel Union, Phoenix, Az. Looks like a check from the “Award Notification” and a # of 1-866-329-2999 for $1,400 which can be turned in for a travel voucher but must call by 12/28/11 or it will be granted to the next in line!!!
How sad, can imagine the money these people spend on these, they should be ashamed and shame on them for giving people hope.
Thanks to all who posted on this site..I plan to call and have some fun.
Got my letter the other day, dated 12th Dec. signed by VP Dorothy Wade. figured it was a scam so looked up the number and here we are. i am going to call the number and play along a little bit from my spare junk phone.
I Called, they say they are a company representing at travel company that is trying to get the word out and they want you to visit the “local” office and sit through a 1 1/2 hour presentation about the company and then when you use the “tickets” you pay all the taxes and fees on the “tickets.”
Yep, they’re at it again. I received my letter four days after the respond by date. Darn it, I was so looking forward to getting scammed! Better luck next time!
I live in Michigan. Received the same letter stating qualified for 2 RT airline tickets retail value $1,400. Must respond by 01/02/12. Call 1-866-464-0908. It was signed by Loretta “Pine”. The envelope had no letterhead and I knew it was a scam right away. I still called the # as I wanted to see who answered. I could tell by the ring that the phone was forwarded. It was answered by “Rewards Line.” I stated I dialed the wrong number. She hung up on me.
I’m in Melbourne Florida and received my scamegram today. I was unsure if there actually was a US Airlines (I don’t know the name of every airline out there!) and being that I am one of the biggest skeptics I know, I of course looked it up and here I am. A big thanks to all of you for taking the time to post on this! I wish a Happy and Blessed New Year to you all!
I received the letter today with immediate suspicion. I know there is no such airline and will be reporting this via USPS since it’s mail fraud. I’ll also look for someplace in AZ to send it. I suggest others do the same. The contact info on it was Loretta Pine, VP. Telephone 866.430.9083.
Same letter. My VP is Loretta Pine! Phone on this one is 866-430-9074…close to some others, but not the same. I’m on the west coast of Florida. Looks like this blog has enough entries to convince those who do any research that this is a scam (most everyone who posted knew it was a scam before they got to this blog). What about those people who are elderly and/or anxious to travel, but don’t have the money, or who aren’t smart enough to operate a computer or to realize that, as has been stated dozens of time, “if it seems too good to be true, it probably is!”. And how much do people get scammedf for if they actually go for the ” free ticket” award. I’d be very interested in finding that out, and even more interested in finding out what the Arizona government is doing to protect these people!
A Year Later and They are Still at it!!!received same letter as all refer to…
particulars:
signed by Loretta Pine, Vice President
Phone to call 1-866-440-0789
ref num# EY – 83432 at the bottom of letter.
No address of company anywhere!!! Mailed out of Phoenix AZ….I live in Chicago proper!
Thanks to everyone giving information back to this blog the presentation is more like a tax document, no longer has a fake VP, nor any company affiliation other than US Airlines. Mine indicates bulk mailing from Oklahoma City, I’m in Tennessee. I hope my mom doesn’t get one of these or she will fall for it.
I called 866-429-0722 and spoke to a sweet sounding young lady named Laura who said she is located in Pheonix, AZ. Laura is paid by the hour to answer calls and collect names for her employer. She believes the scammers are giving her employer a bad reputation, she is new at the company. I encouraged her to keep her resume fresh and keep searching for a job where she isn’t helping her employer steal from simple minded people who want something for nothing. With the costs of printing and mailing there must be quite a few people out there falling for this or it would have already died out.
Same letter from US Airlines signed by Loretta Pine, Vice President.
Phone number is 866-399-1719
Footer number: FB-xxxxx
The envelope had no return address.
My address was hand written.
Jeff,
Wow.
Just got mine today. Loretta Pine vp 866-440-5566. Unreal.
Yup got the same letter from Loretta Pine. I am in the burbs of chicago. My mom is a travel agent. I am going to see if there is someone I can turn them in to.
received mine today 01-05-12
US Airline
Loretta Pine Vice President
866-440-5181
EY-68080
hand written envelope
actual stamp
no return address
If it seems too good to be true…
It usually is….
Got my letter today from Alexis Doug.
866-408-9934
I’m in Austin, Texas. I just received my hand signed letter from Loretta Pine today. Thanks for the info guys. I knew it was bogus, but nice to be able to confirm with others.
I got my letter today….I called and talked with this woman for a while. When I told her I didnt own a credit card, which was needed for proof of identification she said, she hung up on me! My vice president was named Loretta Pine also! Too funny!!! How can they be reported?
I can’t believe after all this exposure they are still sending them out. Got mine today from Phoenix, AZ. Hand printed envelope with a stamp and no return address. Letter is signed by Loretta Pine, Vice President. It is a cheezy letter and graphics. Phone number is 1-866-440-5181. Yep, 2 round trip tickets promised anywhere in the continental U.S. They say they have tried to reach me several times, and I did get an e-mail from them as well and blew it off. They use a nice touch of putting a deadline on the offer of January 6th, which I got it on the 7th so it makes you rush to call.
I guess they will have to issue the tickets as they say to an alternate. Lucky alternate, LOL
I recieved same letter. Did not call after I viewed this site.
hand addressed
In Charleston,S.C.
phone # 1-866-408-7152
fb-2xxxx
SIGNED BY Alexis Doug
date 1-7-2012
Thanks to Lisa that published very good information regarding reporting this scam. I am just copying and pasting some of the contact information.
I am going to call and send emails to every number and email listed below. I hope everyone posting comments here does the same.
Hello again. Addition to 11/23/11 Blog… I contacted the Office of the Illinois Attorney General, Lisa Madigan shortly after my original Blog. For Illinois Residents call:(800)243-0618. For out of State (217)782-1090.
Email: http://www.IllinoisAttorneyGeneral.gov or
http://www.ag.state.il.us. I spoke with an extremely helpful gentleman. I received more handout information to add to our Scam Presentations.
He also told me to contact:
U.S. Postal Inspection Service
Criminal Investigations Service Center
ATTN: Mail Fraud
222 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 1250
Chicago, IL 60606-6100
Email: postalinspectors.uspis.gov
Phone: (877)876-2455
and
The Federal Trade Commission
Email:ftc.gov
Watch a new video, How to file a Complaint at: ftc.gov/video
(877)FTC-HELP (877)382-4357
and to be sure all of our volunteers and/or attendees to our Scam Presentations or Skits have a copy of this information too. Keep your eyes open they are everywhere!
By Lisa on Nov 29, 2011
Do they think we are all a bunch of saps? That handwritten envolpe and no return addy is a dead give away. I live near Rockford,IL and recieved my letter 01/07/12. Mine is signed by VP Alexis Doug. You would think that they would have been found and stopped by now. I think I may call and give them the run around. have a little fun with them. Go Packers also!!
Also got my letter today, googled it and went to their website, at which time my norton antivirus blocked a malicious attack from their website, so it appears they are looking to scam induviduals in more ways than 1. Hope you read this before you visit their website….
I live in RI; and received my letter on 07 Jan. 2012. Knew it was a scam as soon as I opened it. “US Airlines”, really? Hand written envelope and no return address. I’m just wondering if they target seniors mostly, or just anyone of any age. My husband passed recently and there was an obit in the paper. Just wondering if that’s how they got my name and address. Phone number was 1-800-408-3382. Code # at bottom started wit FB. Makes me think of Facebook (which I do use.) Area code was from Ca.
Received my letter January 9,2012 from Alexis Doug. Now to the shredder!!
RECEIVED US AIRLINES LETTER.
THE PHONE # I GOT WAS 1 866 408 3383
SIGNED BY ALEXIS DOUG. VICE PRESIDENT.
NOT ON OFFICAL LETTER HEAD AND REALLY CHEEZY LOOKING.
FIRST CLUE THIS WAS A SCAM IS THEY COULDN’T GET A HOLD OF ME. SECOND ‘US AIRLINES”?
REALLY NOT SMART. HOPE THEY DON’T GET BETTER AT IT.
Received the letter today. Did some web research and found that DailyMotion has several videos of people who have received their letter and just “went down to pick up” their voucher and used the tickets to go to “San Diego”. WHAT A LAUGH..they have bogus videos of people whose curiousity got the better of them and they found out it was “legit” now they have all posted videos saying almost the exact same thing. “Curiosity got the best of me”…”it was easy to pick up”…”they just used the tickets to go to San Diego”…”they want to thank US Airlines”.
http://www.dailymotion.com/playlist/x1l2ra_charlenejames_us-airlines-scam/1#videoId=xgx5ym
Totally laughable!!
Received one in Pittsburgh area today. Flags are obvious in letter from a No-name US Airlines to the lack of any return or business address. Letter was dated 1/3/12 also postmarked from Phoenix AZ, handwitten address, My very generous VP was Alexis Doug.
Fred,
So they’re back in out backyard again..
same M.O. recieved mine from vp Alexis Doug with the number 866.410.6831. In S.E. Michigan, It causes me anxiety as my husband is vulnerable with a brain injury, It is this trolling for the unsuspecting victim that has hurt him/us in the past. If you have a product/service worth buying deception wouldn’t be your marketing.
Got the same letter today in Indiana from OK. signed, awards department. it looks like a w-2 form 1-866-398-0454
Got the same letter in Michigan, from Phoenix AZ, Alexis Doug VP 866-383-8498.
Go Fish!
husband got his letter today in SE Michigan from Alexis Doug, VP. Phone 1.866.383.8498. Googled and found this site. Thanks Dean for posting the video link. Laughable! Look at all of them, they’re reading from the same script about thinking it was “too good to be true” and ironically, they ALL used their tickets to fly to San Diego!!!
http://www.dailymotion.com/playlist/x1l2ra_charlenejames_us-airlines-scam/1#videoId=xgx5ym
I just received the scam letter. This one signed by ‘Alexis Doug.’
uhhhhh! I can’t read anymore of these. I got one too, I got one too….
anyone have any real info.? Did anyone check it out?
I guess no one posting knows, none of this is really any help.
As in the post, here is someone that went:
http://www.kgun9.com/Global/story.asp?S=12741861
Hi all–Thanks for the BLOG,,
if it sounds too good to be True,
it usually is !
BEWARE–
new Format,, 2012,,
….OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS ENCLOSED….
it says-“These Documents are on Record
as being sent to you.”
it had those fold and tear edges,,
from: Awards Department,,
and inside was a Boarding Pass–
“We have been TASKED with notifying you
of this award.”
hahahahaha—-Tasked ???
1st thought,,
there IS NO US Airlines–duuhhhh,,
am VERY GLAD that all of you took the time
to at least write your comments here
about this SCAM,,,
hopefully, we help someone from
making a dumb mistake to such an
Obvious Scam !!!
JUST RECEIVED ONE TODAY, ONLY MINE SAID OFFICIAL DOCUMENT ENCLOSED,FINAL NOTICE 2012,NOTICE OF URGENCY:EXTREME,PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL,MUST BE CERTIFIED TO BE VALID,AWARD NOTIFICATION,FINAL NOTICE,AWARD DEPARTMENT,AND FOR ME TO CALL 1-866-364-0607,AND A NOTE AT THE BOTTOM THAT SAYS…THIS IS NOT A TIMESHARE OR LAND SALES OFFER, AND IS NOT A GOVERNMENT DOCUMENT…SINCERLY, AWARDS DEPT. WHAT A JOKE….