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
They must we making their way up the East Coast, just got the letter today. I really want to call them and waste their time since I just wasted 10 minutes of my own time researching.
WOW! Do I feel lucky! Got my letter today from “US AIRLINES” funny though, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of an airline by that name. But they MUST be legit, because their Vice President, Jocelyn Hall actually took the time out of her busy day to hand address a letter personally to me to let me know that I have qualified for an award of TWO roundtrip airline tickets on her airline! That’s right folks! Not one but TWO airline tickets! How lucky can a gal get! I know she was busy because she forgot to put a return address on the envelope, AND she must have typed the phone number wrong because when I did a reverse number lookup on Yellowpages.com it said the number didn’t exist, and I don’t know how this lady wasn’t on Linkedin since she IS the Vice President of the very famous US Airlines, I mean who doesn’t know about US Airlines? You would either have to be living under a rock or attempting to be scammed if you never heard of this woman and her famous airline! I just feel soooo special to be one of the chosen few to have qualified for this very “special” offer! The rest of you can just eat your hearts out!
Our letter was hand addressed with a real stamp. It was dated March 21, 2011 and received a couple of days later. The vice president listed was typed Jocelyn Hall, although signed J Hall. The phone number given was 1-866-219-6842.
I too received one in West Michigan from our hero “Generous” Jocelyn Hall. I have to hurry and call 1-866-437-7729 because my time is running out. I surely don’t want to let those alternates collect on this once in a lifetime scam, oops I mean deal.
Just received the same letter from Jocelyn Hall. Act now or they two tickets will go to the alternate.
Got a letter like the ones above today from Jocelyn Hall VP, phone 866-219-6842 – They must have a slew of VP’s and a big bank of 866 numbers or maybe each VP only lasts a few days. Think I’ll scan the letter and send to the Atty General.
Got mine today. They’re branching out to the Boston area. Very unprofessional letter, signed by Jocelyn Hall, and I “must” respond by march 30th… Today is March 28th. And it lists a different phone # 866-341-6498. I’m forwarding it to my contacts in the Mass Attorney General’s office.
Yeah Jocelyn’s a busy girl…I got one of her letters too. And she’s got a lotta phone numbers: 1-866-918-3297 was the number given to respond to.
Got our letter today. Felt suspicious like everyone says, US Airlines? Never heard of it.No return address? Bogus!!! No company address or advertiseing on letter? Think not!
Surprised to see so many VP’s and “different” letters. Will take to post office tomorrow.
Got mine today in Nebraska. Jocelyn Hall at 1-866-219-6842. I did win – I got to read all your hilarious comments for FREE! Thanks for being here and saving me from this. I feel sorry for all the people who don’t have access to the internet and can’t easily check on it. If it looks too good to be true . . .
I got my letter – signed by J Hall herself, and the ph # on mine is 866-918-3297. So I called to have a little fun. I asked for the VP, and the young man had to check if she was in or not. Of course she wasn’t – it was because it was too early there. ( A little before 9:00 AZ time.) He wanted to help me himself. I told him I was actually wanting to speak to Ms Hall since she had personally signed my letter, and I was just wanting to have a little fun with her, since this is all just a scam, but if he wants, I can have some fun with him, too. He said no, that he is just trying to work his way through college. I told him him that I’m sorry, but that’s just a terrible way to work his way through college, but about that time he hung up on me. I really don’t know why he would do that! But that’s sad – a young man with no more integrity that that, working a scam like this, he’ll probably end up being a lawyer some day, too.
I got the exact same letter today.. I live near Savannah GA, I called the number, ( while using *67) gave them my “control number at the bottom” and verified my address and told them to take me off of the list.. wow this kind of crap is so annoying.. I am wondering who sold them my address?
Thanks so much for the postings. I had no intention of buying into anything, but you saved me the time of going to the seminar to learn how bogus this really is.
the number they gave me was 866-995-7188. After calling the first time, I had a few other questions, but every time I tried to call again, they just hung up on me as soon as I got to someone to speak to. They must keep your number on file and ignore you after the first call. I live in Georgia. I’m glad I looked into this. It WAS too good to be true, as I suspected.
Got a letter today, Jocelyn Hall and have to respond by march 30th husband called :X They said all we have to do is go to the airport in Grand Rapids, MI and pick up our tickets after we pay for the taxes and get a tour of the airport as well… not sure what is up, but definitely a lot of posts on here saying its a scam so… I guess its better to believe the hundreds of posts on here than the one letter from the mail. However, I searched the US airlines Fly the US skies and found some videos of people saying that it is legit… I don’t know what to believe going to take it to the travel agent down the street tomorrow or to the airport and see what they say, if its legit or they say otherwise I will let everyone know… Not going to be suprised if its a scam tho…
Just got one yesterday from “Jocelyn Hall,” and mailed out of Phoenix, AZ. I’ve gotten similar things in the past. I had no doubt it was a scam, but I wanted to see if there was any legal action that I could participate in to stop these things. The phone number on mine is 1-866-337-7935.
Received the letter today, Vice President’s name is Jocelyn Hall – boy with this many different VP’s their payroll must be enormous! The number provided is 1-866-918-3297.
You would think that with all the people who are currently aware of this scam that someone by now would have put them out of business.
Received my letter, it was signed by Jocelyn Hall, hand written envelope and a real stamp! Must respond by March 30th, 2011. Tickets are valid anywhere in the Continental U.S. from any international airport. This part is the best, the retail value is up to $1,400.00. Certain restrictions apply. Phone number 1-866-219-6842. What a joke !!!!!!
I’m in Ohio. And just got one today.
Both the wife and i knew it was bogus just by the hand written envelope.
So i googled the supposed VP “Charlene James US Airlines.”
And found a CRAP load of videos talking about how legit it is. lol!
But…EVERY single persons video was almost identical in what they said…what order they said it in.
OH! …And they ALL went San Diego. lmao
I guess SD must be the hot spot. lol
Theres about 20 some videos or more. It’s hysterical to watch.
Just google what i did…and its the first couple ‘links.
Can u get any more OBVIOUS? lol
Live in Georgia, and got the letter today (3/31). It’s dated March 21; postmarked Phoenix, AZ, on March 28; and says I “must” respond by March 30! (That was yesterday! Not only is their scam poorly done, they can’t even get their “schedule” right!) My letter uses “Jocelyn Hall” and 866-995-7188.
I got mine today in Florida, as well. Funny thing the Vice Presidents name is Charlene James and her number is 866-218-8451. I saw the fake letter head without any addresses and knew it had to be another type of scam out there. Reminds me of the “Nigerian Scam” circling around. By the way, I got that one too! If its too good to be true, it usually is. Im so glad everyone is commenting on the web, really is a nice wake up call.
Got one today too. Charlene James @ 866-579-6083.
I got one today, april 1st. How appropriate!
Has a signature of Charlene James. No return address. The code at the bottom is probably to track which batch the letters came from, or who gets the commission when they dupe someone.
I’ll be calling from a payphone to mess with them.
Number was 1-866-341-6497
I’m in Columbus, OH
I got mine yesterday, dated 3/28/11. I am in Pgh, PA and had Charlene James 866-579-6083. I knew it wasn’t a real airline and as far as I know, no real letterhead doesn’t contain and address and printed on cheap, thin paper. I was thinking of calling just to put up a fight, but I’m afraid that somehow they’ll get more info from the phone # or that it’ll be one of those $200 phone call scams….
I got mine today 4/2/11 from “Charlene” 1-866-218-8451…
i too got the letter and called. It sounded like a scam. and then i did a search and found no US airlines with VP charelene….. the letter claimed that they had tried to reach me and I had 3 more days to respond.
i never entered a generic name airline raffle. thanks for this site. It validated my suspicions. Thanks again
They’re in Illinois now. Jocelyn Hall. 229-2387.
I just got one too! I’m in pittsburgh. Charlene James vice president 1-866-579-6083
Buyer beware…The letters are hitting Illinois….Mine was signed by Charlene James at 1-866-271-1167…Was told by agent to look up their web site at http://www.TravelsandDeals.com …
Got my offer today – 1st class stamp, handwritten envelope. I am in Chicago. Knew it was too good to be true – Googled it and found this group. Damn, I love the Internet.
Received this letter today; obviously, a fake…They are now hitting Florida.
Look what came in the mail (Michigan). Seems that Charlene and the other VPs are now “the awards department”, no signature, but the same voucher and “Official Documents Enclosed” BS. Funny to here the stories of messing with the phone jockeys.
Found your site with Google. Same story as Antony above. Got letter today – in Chicago. Printed signature by Charlene James. Phone number listed is 866-271-1167. Thank you very much for having this page set up. You’ve prevented many from being defrauded. BTW, the envelope is postmarked from Phoenix, AZ.
Got one today must respond by April 6th from Charlene James. 1-866-216-2461
Got my letter today. What a joke! My husband and I were entertained enough to Google the company, which lead me to this website. I am surprised how long this has gone on and how many people have gotten the letter. I feel REALLY sorry for people out there without internet who might fall for this.
I received a letter today. It didn’t look very professional so I looked it up and bingo…I found this website. This is refrickulous!
They been bugging the hell out of me every week. People call with a real loud background and they was calling from the Philippines. They call and call and call and I hang up. Then I got the infamous letter in the mail with **NO** return address only a post mark of Phoenix AZ and a actual stamp was used. It contained the “U.S Airlines” letterhead with a (866)271-1167 contact number this time..”Retail value of this award is up to $1400.00. Certain restrictions apply.
This is one of the only reports of calling also happening. I think it is a coincidence.
Got mine in Worthington(Columbus),OH. The phone number changes and corresonds to what city the mailings to, although the character’s names stay the same. Mine from Charlene James(1.866.341.6497). Scammers preying on the unsuspecting…
I just received the same letter from The Charlene James. Did some research, and turns out that this “company” has a different VP depending on what state you live in. Plus what company hand writes your name and address, and they didn’t even get my name right. They even go as far as posting fake testimonials if you google it. How do I know they’re fake? After watching about a half a dozen of them, turns out theses people are all reading from the same exact script with the same white screen in the background. Seems like they all took the same flight to San Diego. The videos are entertaining, but this has scetchy written all over it.
Got mine today. How totally funny. I knew it was a fake because they had my maiden name on an address that I bought after I was married. I have been married for 15 years and lived here for over 13 years.
Well it has hit Florida too… people will try anything. my number to call for free tickets is 866-271-1168, just in case any one feels left out. feel free to take my free tickets!!
We are in Pittsburgh,PA.Today we received one of these letters from Charlene James, VP at US Airlines (Fly the US Skies). The postmark is from Phoenix, AZ, and just like Matt — who posted a comment above and who is also in Pittsburgh, the phone # is 1-866-579-6083. The interesting thing is that it was addressed to my husband and used his first name. Except for official documents like Social Security, his passport, and his driver’s license, my husband goes by his middle name. He is even listed only by his middle name in the phone book. So maybe this is a clue to where they are obtaining their mailing list. Our last letter from them was in November 2010 and was from Foster-Simmons.
Got it also, in Florida, VP name Charlene James, phone: 1-866-271-1168, need to respond by April 13 latest, haha. Will the next state be Alabama?
I recieved mine yesterday..VP Charlene James number 1-866-220-2310. I figured this was a scam from the second I saw. Thanks for confirming.
I am in Florida and got one two I knew it bogus b/c of the black and white logo which was US Airlines not US Airways and is not their logo or tagline (I’m a graphic artist so these things stand out to me) also their was no other info after Vice President which almost all business people do regardless of what the logo is. The thing that made me laugh the most was that it was an actual letter. I thought people had given up on mail scams now that their is email. . .
I live in Niles Illinois and received my letter yesterday. I know you don’t get anything for free so I googled their phone number and found this very helpful blog. Hope this helps someone who may want to call and not become a victim.
Got mine today in Florida. Do they really think that most Americans are that stupid? I hope we aren’t. Started to send it back to them with a note saying “Get a life!”. May still do it.
Got mine today, number 1-866-893-4402
They are using linked numbers..you can have as many numbers as you want..tied to one true number. This you only see when your phone dials..
Got one today here in Rhode Island. Looks like yet another VP! Angela King!
When you do a Google search for the phone number (866-218-8449) you find a bunch of “Thank You US Airlines” videos. Mostly posted on foreign video-services. Guess I’ll get my tickets the old fashioned way, by spending way too much on my American Airlines rewards card!