The Scammer Story

This is in reference to Rod’s “Dear Scammers” posting. For those of you that don’t know yet, this is the story…

I went to the Vancouver Wedding Fair this past weekend and entered in a contest for a trip for two to the Cook Islands and another one for a cruise. On Tuesday, I get a call saying that I won a cruise for two and I got soo excited I actually screamed. Just to make sure, I asked them which contest I had entered and they told me that it was from the one I entered at the Wedding Fair. I was then convinced this was legit.

After about 10 min of describing the trip, the rep wanted to confirm my address. When I asked what company they were calling from, the rep told me Ramada Plaza Resorts. I thought to myself “Ramada wow.” Then before, they let me off the hook, they asked for my credit card to secure the spot and not thinking twice, I gave it. From the moment the call ended, I was doomed.

Within a few minutes, I realized that I had been duped. This wasn’t legit at all. I tried calling the number back which had appeared on my call display to demand my money back but no luck, the number DIDN’T WORK! I also called the number they had provided me, and it was closed! 2 minutes after I put down the phone, and they’re CLOSED?! I called the bank to check if my card had already been charged, and it HAD! Before I knew it, I was $600 in the hole! SIX HUNDRED BUCKS!!

I checked my email later to find a letter from the organizer of the wedding fair, saying these people had snuck in at the last minute and apparently are scamming all the people that had entered their “contest.”

I hope to end this nightmare by next week. So if you get a call from Imperial Majesty Cruise Line or Ramada Plaza Resort or anything that sounds similar, tell them what Rod’s picture says: “F*** off.”