Bogus Holiday Clubs, Beware

Have you ever gotten a call or received an email telling you that you have won a holiday to one of the most coveted destinations? If you haven’t, then you most likely have heard of a friend or a friend to a friend who has gotten such an invitation. That is how common this scam is.

I first heard it with a friend of mine who was very excited to have won a trip to Egypt. She visualized herself going to the Egyptian tombs, dressing up as Cleopatra, viewing the pyramids and sipping cold water in the desert. Nothing ever sounded so exhilarating.

As expected of any winner, she queried on how she could get her hands on the gift. She got directions to the building where the winner would attend a short presentation in regards to the trip. On getting there she was ushered into a meeting room where a smartly dressed man introduced himself as the marketing manager and sat down. He then continued to explain to a group of people, who had apparently been informed that they have won, that the trip would cost half price with accommodation, food and a chauffeured cab. He was persuasive that this is the best offer one can get.

My friend started to doubt the man and decided to ask for time to get some money and come back. Her research showed that the man she had met had actually inflated the cost of visiting Egypt and that there exists many more travel companies that offer a better package. Further findings revealed that the ‘marketing manager’ and his team were conning a number of people with false allegations of winning while they only want to make money.

So the next time someone calls or emails you telling you that you have won a holiday, investigate further.