US Airlines Scam For 2 Roundtrip Tickets
by The Unemployed Mom on 15/04/11 at 10:20 am
We received an envelope that appeared to have our home address hand written (upon further inspection it was obviously from a printer). I immediately thought something was fishy since there was no return address. Also, it was postmarked from Phoenix, Arizona.
For laughs, we opened it. The letterhead said “US Airlines” with the caption “Fly the US Skies”. Now, I used to travel a lot in my previous life (before my child came along) and never heard of US Airlines. Sounds like someone is trying to be clever with a cross between US Airways and United Airlines. Here is what the letter indicated (see below).
NOTE: You must respond no later than April 13th, 2011
Dear X,
I am pleased to inform you that you have qualified for an award of 2 roundtrip airline tickets. Congrulations. These tickets are valid for travel anywhere in the Continental U.S. from any major international airport. 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 1-866-220-2310.
Regards,
<printed signature that is supposed to look like ink>
Charlene James
Vice President
The bottom of the letter also had reference numbers (consisting of two letters – five numbers) as well.
Stuff like this makes me furious. I didn’t even waste time calling, but instead decided to make it public just incase anyone else receives a similar letter! I googled it and sure enough, there are tons of people out there reporting these scam letters. In exchange for credit card information, they are promised round trip tickets which are NEVER received! Don’t fall for this stuff. If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is!
August 2011 UPDATE: A kind reader sent me the following photos of the travel voucher received. While this is not what my letter looked like, I wanted to share since the company is trying to be more creative with their scam tactics!
Virginia
May 12th, 2012
I just gor my letter but it is from Oklahoma City, OK and has my name printed it. It came in a postcard type form that needed to be opened on the sides. It said “Official Documents Enclosed” No signature. But same letter and for tickets worth up to $1298.
Tina
May 12th, 2012
Got my letter today. I also do lots of sweepstakes thought might be real. But googled phone # 866-285-8247 and found this site. My respond date was May 16 and Grace Pell is the VP. Thank you for starting this thread so we can all be saved from this scam!!!!
Peter Gold
May 12th, 2012
Got mine today and thanks to sites like this scam exposed
joe
May 13th, 2012
We received our AMERICAN AIRWAYS letter on May 12th, wanting a
reply on May 16th, plus no return address. Hmmmm suspicious
don’t you think? Our letter too, was from VP Grace Pell with
two large cap letters followed by 5 numbers at the bottom.
SCAM WRITTEN ALL OVER IT. They must think we do not watch TV,
we do and we are going to take this letter to USPS on Monday.
They are not getting our attention or money. We will drive to where+
we want to go. We will not be SCAMED. Hope no one will take these
letters to heart, like the elderly, thinking it is true. That worries me
more.
Jeremiah Johnson
May 13th, 2012
Yeah…. I got my letter today. But it was from Grace Pell. What a joke!
Slithy Toves
May 14th, 2012
Just got my traveldeals letter. It was signed Jane Rice, VP. Text is similar to the prior US Airways scam.
Dear [Slithy],
I am so pleased to inform you that you have been qualified for an award of 2 roundtrip airline tickets. Congratulations. These tickets are valid for travel anywhere in the Continental U.S. from any major international airport. The retail value of this award is up to $1,399.00. Certain restrictions apply.
We have attempted contacting you several times without success. This is out final attempt. If we do not hear from you soon, we may need to issue the vouchers to the alternate.
Matt
May 14th, 2012
Mine came from Phoenix. Also from Grace Pell, for tickets worth up to $1298. Scammer.
Gypsianna Popovitch
May 14th, 2012
just found this site when i googled the phone number on a letter just received today (5-14-12) with response date of 5-16-12 also, from “Grace Pell, VP” as well. with GW-27812 at bottom, value up to $1298.00 anywhere in continental us. from “US Airlines”. I had not entered any contests so knew this was a bit off to begin with. BEWARE. The name on it is a pseudonym I use online for looking into information about schools etc. for my sister and for other such things so I know it came from the internet.
john harding
May 14th, 2012
OMG I just got this today may 14th with the name grace Pell as well.I knew after opening it it was a scam but for S&G I decided to call them and $%y@$ with them..oh did it feel good. They said it was from a travel agent with in 20 miles of me tying to get there name out there. OH WHAT A JOKE. So told them no did not want the tickets and they tried to tell me they could transfer me to a different department where I could do a cruise with a small port fee and taxes. how many people out there do fall for that crap
Amy DeFrain
May 14th, 2012
I also received a letter. The letter was written exactly like the one described above, word for word. But mine says it is from traveldeals and signed by Jane Rice VP. Phone number is 1-866-284-0994. It also has the two letters and five numbers at bottom. There should be a way to unish these scammers.
Dean Arnold
May 14th, 2012
We got the US Airlines letter today: May 14. Glad I checked. Also, from Grace Pell. Really suspicious as noted; hand printed address.
All that get this should scan it and send it to the Postal Inspection Service, USPS. They have a webside.
I REALLY appreciate those of you who exposed this and then commented on it!
Shawna
May 14th, 2012
Ha ha, got mine today too. Who do we report it to? It is mail fraud.
Pam
May 14th, 2012
I got mine today – but it doesn’t have a signature! Thanks for putting this up!! Mine came from Phoenix, AZ all the way to Norther IL – The jig is up on these low life scum bags!!!
Mary Ann
May 14th, 2012
Just got mine today. Smelled a scam the minute I saw he envelope.
CJ
May 14th, 2012
Gor mine today, I’m from the western suburbs of Chicago. Handwritten address and same details as everyone else explains above. The phone to call is 866-285-8247. Got this dated may 7, received on may 14, need to respond by may 16th. Geez! They don’t give ya much time to reply to their scam, do they?! Lol
Kay
May 14th, 2012
Got my letter today and had a good laugh at it. Could they at least TRY to make it look real? Dopes.
Bob
May 15th, 2012
Got mine from Jane Rice. Was tempted to call and give them a fake credit card. Turn about is fair play.
Chuck
May 15th, 2012
I also received a letter from Jane Rice “Vice Pres.” of Traveldeals for 2 round-trip tickets for travel anywhere in the continental U.S. It doesn’t mention an airline, it just says from any major international airport. The real tip off is that they say they have attempted contacting me several times without success. How did they do that? I had no phone mail messages or any other type of communication from them. They just want you to open up your bank account and let them grab some of your money.
joe
May 15th, 2012
Today, May 15, I husband took our letter from American Airways to the
USPS, the postal lady behind the counter told my husband to just
throw it away. My husband replied, I want to see the Postal Inspector.
The postal lady said she would give it to the Postal Inspector. We will
not be notified of the out come per the postal lady. We do not feel
comfortable with the passive way it is being handled. How will be
stop SCAMS? If our Postal Service has I don’t care attitude. Our
elderly is at risk to be SCAM by letters such as these.
malachi
May 15th, 2012
I just got the same thing today from Oklahoma City, OK (permit no. 324) and mine had a typo in my last name. Phone number they listed to contact them was 1-866-277-2363
dbd
May 15th, 2012
Also received identical letter – almost word for word. What worries me, is that the letterhead says, “travel deals – powered by Expedia Affiliate Network.” The mention of Expedia – a legit travel site made me look twice and then decide to google it! Isn’t that sad?
Frogger
May 15th, 2012
Mine looked exactly like this! Thanks for confirming it is a SCAM!
LAME
May 15th, 2012
I got the same form letter from Grace Pell, V.P. US Airlines. My husband and I both thought it looked suspicious. So I googled Grace Pell, US Airlines and the phone number. Surprise, I landed at this website. I believe I will scan in the document and the envelope and send to the post master. I hope they are aware of this scam and are able to put an end to this non-sense. As many of you had already posted, I am worried about the elderly and people with intellectual disabilities. Not to mention other people who are easily victimized. Thank you to ‘The Unemployed Mom’ for starting this page and discussion!
Natasha
May 16th, 2012
Got mine a few days ago and just got around to investigating. I knew it was a scam instantly, but out of curiosity, wanted to see what else was being said. Mine is from Jane Rice with TravelsDeals powered by Expedia Affiliate Network. The thing that really caught my eye when it came in the mail was the Phoenix, AZ postmark. You see, last October I had my debit card number stolen. Just the number, not the card. It was being used in stores in Phoenix, AZ (they apparently captured the number and printed up a fraudulent card). I’m in the Detroit, MI area and have never been to Phoenix. Or Arizona. My card issuer caught the odd spending and froze my account and I got my money back the next day via my credit union. But it just seemed odd to have an obvious scam coming from the same area that was part of the credit/debit card fraud thing.
Donna
May 16th, 2012
I got the letter here in Florida, too. It was mailed from Phoenix. Out of curiosity, I googled the account number and got an ad for offshore bank services.
Jennifer Gilman
May 16th, 2012
I made an appointment like a fool but just now cancelled. Whew! How could I be so dumb
Jennifer Gilman
May 16th, 2012
Called up a d made an appointment. Cancelled just in time.
Di
May 16th, 2012
Just got my letter today! Funny as hell, I wounder what they really want? I’m going to call to SCAM them!
My letter was signed by the Awards Department
1-866-277-1527.
Cornell
May 16th, 2012
Yep got mine too. Do not give them your email address like I did. Now I got to keep both eye open for their scam.
ski
May 16th, 2012
I actually received my second letter today (FINAL NOTICE—-oh-oh!!!. I travel quite extensively and can tell you that US Airlines does not exist; at least not as a commercial flying entity. This is worse than a scam, it’s mail fraud.
atcs
May 16th, 2012
I live in Chicago and I also received exact same letter yesterday. It is post marked from Phoenix and says it’s powered by expedia affiliates. Even I knew it was a scam but still had to look and see if expedia had anything to do with this. It’s kinda scary to know once you use a trusted name people think twice and misplace trust. My biggest thing is how they got my address and what can I do about it. I’m definitely happy for sites like this!!!
leo
May 16th, 2012
I also received this letter and I called and made an appointment after all what did I have to lose. I was not signing anything.well I showed up they look at me and told me there was no room for me that there sorry for the inconvenience after I also confirmed the appointment 2 hrs before.There was elderly people only when I should up.I was rejected because I’m younger.THIS IS A SCAM FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE.
Rick
May 16th, 2012
I got the Jane Rice letter, dated May 7, 2012, reply by May 16, etc. Same as others. I called this evening (May 16), spoke with someone who explained it is a promotion for a travel agent in Tinley Park (or at least that is where they want me to go to meet them)…they wanted me to make an appointment, give them my email address, but did not ask for any CC info over phone. Basically, my read is that this is a time-share or cruse line high pressure sales deal…..I’ve actually setup an appointment, they’ve given me an address, time, asked for my email address to send me confirmation/etc. I agree, totally sounds like either a scam, or at best, a classic high pressure sales thing. I don’t plan on going to the appointment. They stated it had to be for a couple, not a single person, etc…Anyway caveat emptor…
Stacy
May 16th, 2012
I got a letter today, too… It was signed by Lucille Dune and from American Airways in Phoenix, AZ. I googled and found two Youtube videos which are almost identical and so fake looking… horrible actresses… they’re really going through a lot of trouble to scam people out of their money…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTFFpeBPjOY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIoQOWPZ1rs
Chris Osborne
May 17th, 2012
I just got one of these letters….it is infuriating!
GMan
May 17th, 2012
Got one today iin Boston postmarked from Phoenix AZ typewritten from a Lisa King at US Airlines, envelope handwritten, to call 1-866-223-6093 to claim airline tickets.
Bill Nigh (@BillNigh)
May 17th, 2012
Yep, we got one too. Waste of talent idiots. Once again ‘too good to be true’ rings true.
Jose
May 17th, 2012
My came from Lisa King today 5/17/12 US Airlines up to $1298.00
I am glad that they said this is the last attempt.
Rhett
May 17th, 2012
just got one today…Lucille Dune VP. Shouldn’t this be pretty easy to stop. Of course, this Justice Dept is more worried about other things
.