Got a call from "Bill" about a trip I had won! I apparently filled out a ballot at Sexapalooza. That show was like 7 months ago like I remember that!!
Anyways crap about a disneyland  trip to Orlando and free rental car, all enclusive and so on. My phone dies a lot every 5 mins or so cause it fell in the lake! Good thing too cause I had time to google it and I ended up here!
"Bill" called back going on and on about $199 so I cut him off and I said "do I have to give you credit card info cause I don't have one?" he said " you checked off a box saying you have a credit card" I would never fill that out cause I don't have one.
So he said "Ok well bye" and that was all!!!
Total scam told my friends that went with me to the show!! Wish I could have that 10 mins of my life back!!

Got a call. I had won a trip to the Bahamas.

My Boyfriend and i were at the Winnipeg Comic-con and filled out 2 balets each for the free trip to vegas.  Boyfriend called me and told me had won the trip but didnt like the terms wich included paying up front.  I have now recived calls on my home and cell phone im not answering and there not leaving messages. So its a scam.

I filled out a ballot for a "free trip" at Winnipeg Comic-con and received a phone call from a private number offering me a trip to orlando with a cruise to the bahamas for $299/person and they wanted my credit card information. Soon after I turned it down I was receiving phone calls from this 718 number. I'm guessing that after reading all these other posts that 718 number is connected to the "free trip" scam.

This phone number has just reached me and claimed that I won this trip from the Edmonton Taboo Show, and needing a major credit card to claim the prize. First of all if you ever win anything you DO NOT have to secure your winning with a major credit card. Plus the guy was VERY pushy and claiming I could just get my husband credit card number from his invoices, NOT one company will ask you to do this unless its a scam. My brother in law called this number back and it wasn't in service to phone back and it was down in the States the phone number.

If it seems too good the be true it probably is, don't fall for a scam, I will be reporting this incident with the RCMP and possibly writing to the local newspaper on this, as people do get scammed and ripped off (however we didn't and we don't want others to fall for it)..


Just one answer if you need a major credit card and everything all your personal information so you can get his so called website for all your info.. My sister and brother in law won a REAL trip like this and it was legit however they didn't have to pay upfront and had a GREAT honeymoon... Do your research before falling for things like that!!!

Ok.. first of all, what do you expect when you give your information (filling out a ballot)? That you're not going to be contacted on anything? Wow, a lot more idiots in this world than I thought.

Second, it is 100% legit.  Do you think this company would still be in business after all of these years?  It's a highly discounted vacation package with intentions of time share, I've actually been 2ce (on the Florida package & Mexico package).  You're not staying at the Hilton or anything like that, but for the amount you pay, it is definitely worth it for some nice sun instead of this crappy Canadian weather we're having all the time.

If you don't like to be contacted, DON'T FILL YOUR INFO OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is it rocket science? Apparently so.

Just got a call from beerfest in Calgary, an obvious scam

I just had a similar call from a ballot I entered at the Vancouver outdoor show.  It definately sounds like a scam although they try very hard to convince you that it must be legimate because they have to be a real business to get a booth at the show (yet they don't have a website) and he also said that the credit card company would cover me if it was a scam, which I don't believe as technically you are giving them authorization to charge your card!

Just attended the NY Food & Wine show.... same M.O.

I'm going to send a formal complaint to Reede Exhibitions, the parent company of the show.

The best way you can get back at them is to tell them to call you back later at your "home" number, which, you should actually provide them with the direct line to your local secret service office, which handles fraud cases.

The link to your local number can be found here:

http://www.consumerfraudreporting.org/cfr.php ... d_offices.shtml

Best of luck to everyone!

Yep, happened to me too - filled out a ballot at the Taboo Sex Show in WPG this past weekend - when they asked for the credit card (which I did have on me) I told them it was at home and no way to retrieve it.  They just said they had to terminate the call then - I would never give my credit card out over the phone - or pay for "fee's" before booking a "free" holiday cruise...

i took it.....it was great....im hear readin the comments n i find it funny that everyone here that sayin its a spam no one toke the vacation and got spamed and they are sayin its a spam...Well i took it na im sayin ITS NOT....ITS FOR TIME SHARE!!!!!!

Omg i just got back from the vacation and i had a wonderful time....i dont knw if u guys are talkin about the same Fbc Vacation but no one every told me i won the vacation they told me i Qualified for a discounted vacation which it was everything was perfect the cruise was GREAT OMG my boyfriend and i had sooooooo much fun the only thing i didnt lik but i guess was the reason y they were doin this vacation was for TIME Share but i guess it was worth it cuz i would do it again...take a tour and get a 75% discounted vaction.....hell Yeah im signin up again next year You guys dont knw what u just messed!!!!!!!!!!!

I was also recently at a "Food and Wine" show and filled out several contest ballots.  I also got a call from FBC vacations and was immediatly skeptical of the $299/person fee I would have to pay to recieve my "prize"  which kept getting better and better as the call went on.  From 8 nights in the bahammas, to 8 nights in the bahammas plus a cruise! plus 4 days in Mexico!!

Went to a bridal show in Nashville, TN. Same thing happened to me about the 8 day cruise/florida and it required a $299 deposit for each person. He gave me a website caribbeancl.com. I told him I didn't have a credit card and immediately he hung up. Total scam.

a received a call 10 minutes ago .. i have no idea how they received my information because i never sign ballots for trips .. and he said i signed one this weekend and that i had won a free trip to the bahamas .. i was instantly sceptical. he told me someone probably signed up for me ( yeah right)
he asked if i was of age and if i travled with any major credit card. i said no .. then he says oh well sorry then you need a credit card and hung up!!!!!!!!! how do these people not get caught?

First of all, BIG thank you to everyone who contributed to this page, I was almost going to say yes until I searched the "company" and found this.
About a week ago, I went to Sexapalooza in Ottawa, and I know I filled out a lot of forms for prizes, but I'm 99% sure I didn't fill anything out for a free trip.
Definitely got a call today from "FBC Vacations" (Florida Bahamas Cruise).  I think his name was Carl. I was driving at the time, so he said he would call me back with the information.  Anyways, he told me all the details of the trip - 3 days in Orlando, a cruise to the bahamas then 3 nights in Fort Lauderdale, car rental included, air fare included, and I could leave anytime within the next 18 months with no restrictions. All I had to do was pay $299. It definitely seemed too good to be true, especially since I didn't remember filling out a ballot.
Anyways, I listened to his whole spiel, then when it came time for me to give my credit card number I was VERY wary (especially since I had been frauded before). I told him I wasn't comfortable giving out my number and hung up.  I then called a couple of friends who had gone to Sexapalooza with me, and both of them had received the same phone call.
Remember, anytime you have to pay to "claim" a prize, it's a FRAUD! Legitimate operations don't make you pay for prizes. They are also understanding if you want to take the time to research them, not pressure you by saying that if you don't accept right at that moment, then they will go onto the next person.

They just called me and wouldn't let me take an hour to think about it. They offered a trip to Florida and the Bahamas as well as a 2 trips to Vegas. Went to the beer festival and that's where they got my number. They were really really persistent about getting my credit card details for the $299/person deposit.
Had a bad feeling from the start especially because FBC vacations has no website!

Total scam, glad I didn't do it.

I received a call from this number telling me that I just won a free b*** j**. Then I was told I had to pay a $49 "handling fee". I told the guy to go f himself. He said that would be an additional $24 so i hung up.

I am from Lethbridge, Alberta. Attended Beerfest approx. two weeks. ago. Not going to lie, I enjoyed a few brews and was having a great time. Apparently at some point in the night i filled out a ballot at one of the kiosks for a "free trip". To my surprise I get a call today from a private number informing me that i just won a vacation to the Bahamas!!!!! I never win stuff like this!!!! So, i was a little pumped. The gentleman (Andrew Thomas..... might as well be John Smith) on the phone goes on and on about an 8 day vacation to the Bahamas, 3 day vacation in Florida, car rental, cash for theme parks, meals covered, you name it. At the very end he states, all you would have to cover is the $299.00 service fee per person, and $149.00 port fees or some crap. I quickly got on the internet while chatting him up, and found this site. Thank god. I just got back from Vegas last night, and i am pretty sure all of my brain cells have not recovered, so there was a good chance i might have given him my credit info. Anyways, what i can add to this site is the fact that not only did I win a trip, but so far 4 out of the 7 people i went to Beerfest with have also "won". That, and when I questioned the validity of the company and asked for the offer in writing "Andrew" immediately got pissed off, told me he was just going to call the next person in line and promptly hung up. For the best.

I got the FBC Vacations call today from 'Harry Church'. Basically same deal as everyone else on here... Great vacation that I won by entering at the TABOO SHOW in Vancouver. All I had to do was immediately secure the trip with $598!

The scam number for those interested was... +1 718 228 1763

And yes... Taboo organizers have been notified.

I just filled out a ballot for a vacation. he said i  won a vacation for 2 to florida and the bahammas. just pay $299 pr person and everything is included. i was very excited until he asked for my credit card. i didnt give it to him instead i looked up fbc vacations and came to this. i never gave him my cc info. thank god.

yes I got the cal I filled out  the info at a Ren. fair age of Civery in Las Vegas Nv.  It sounds lagit, and for the amont they are asking its worth it.  ill write another call detail once I get the confirmation. the phonecall was recorded and its on file  if its not lagit then they will have a law suit on hand.

wrong


IF YOU WIN - you are not required to pay anything upfront!  If you would do the reseach you would have known it was a ripoff.

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/telemarketing/tel17.shtm
Prize Offers: You Don?t Have to Pay to Play!
Congratulations, it?s your lucky day! You?ve just won $5,000!
You?re guaranteed to win a fabulous diamond ring, luxury vacation or all-terrain vehicle!

If you receive a letter or phone call with a message like this, be skeptical. The $5,000 "prize" may cost you hundreds of dollars in taxes or service charges ? and never arrive. Your "fabulous" prize may not be worth collecting. The diamond is likely to be the size of a pinhead. The "vacation" could be one night in a seedy motel, and the ATV, nothing more than a lounge chair on wheels!

Scam artists often use the promise of a valuable prize or award to entice consumers to send money, buy overpriced products or services, or contribute to bogus charities. People who fall for their ploys may end up paying far more than their "prizes" are worth, if they get a prize at all.

What these people are likely to get - especially if they signed up for a contest drawing at a public place or event ? may be more than they bargained for: more promotions in the mail, more telemarketing calls and more unsolicited commercial email, or "spam." This is because many prize promoters sell the information they collect to advertisers.

Worse yet, contest entrants might subject themselves to a bogus prize promotion scam.

And The Winner Is...
Everyone loves to be a winner. A recent research poll showed that more than half of all American adults entered sweepstakes within the past year. Most of these contests were run by reputable marketers and non-profit organizations to promote their products and services. Some lucky winners received millions of dollars or valuable prizes.

Capitalizing on the popularity of these offers, some con artists disguise their schemes to look legitimate. And an alarming number of people take the bait. Every day, consumers throughout the United States lose thousands of dollars to unscrupulous prize promoters. During 1999 alone, the Federal Trade Commission received more than 10,000 complaints from consumers about gifts, sweepstakes and prize promotions. Many received telephone calls or postcards telling them they'd won a big prize - only to find out that to claim it, they had to buy something or pay as much as $10,000 in fees or other charges.

There's a big difference between legitimate sweepstakes and fraudulent ones. Prizes in legitimate contests are awarded solely by chance, and contestants don't have to pay a fee or buy something to enter or increase their odds of winning. In fraudulent schemes, however, "winners" almost always have to dip into their pockets to enter a contest or collect their "prize."

Skill Contests
There's one notable exception: skill contests. These are puzzles, games or other contests in which prizes are awarded based on skill, knowledge or talent - not on chance. Contestants might be required to write a jingle, solve a puzzle or answer questions correctly to win.

Unlike sweepstakes, skill contests may legally require contestants to buy something or make a payment or donation to enter.

It's important to recognize that many consumers are deceptively lured into playing skill contests by easy initial questions or puzzles. Once they've sent their money and become "hooked," the questions get harder and the entry fees get steeper. Entrants in these contests rarely receive anything for their money and effort.

Consumer Protections
Several consumer laws help protect consumers against fraudulent sweepstakes and prize offers promoted through the mail or by phone.

Telephone Solicitations
Telemarketers frequently use sweepstakes and prize contests to sell magazines or other goods and services. These telemarketers make an initial contact with consumers through "cold calls," or take calls from consumers who are responding to a solicitation they received by mail.

The Telemarketing Sales Rule helps protect consumers from fraudulent telemarketers who use prize promotions as a lure. In every telemarketing call involving a prize promotion, the law requires telemarketers to tell you:

the odds of winning a prize. If the odds can't be determined in advance, the promoter must tell you the factors used to calculate the odds.
that you don't have to pay a fee or buy something to win a prize or participate in the promotion.
if you ask, how to participate in the contest without buying or paying anything.
what you'll have to pay or the conditions you'll have to meet to receive or redeem a prize.
The Telemarketing Sales Rule prohibits telemarketers from misrepresenting any of these facts, as well as the nature or value of the prizes. It also requires telemarketers who call you to pitch a prize promotion to tell you before they describe the prize that you don't have to buy or pay anything to enter or win.

Written Solicitations
Many sweepstakes promotions arrive by mail as a letter or postcard that instructs the consumer to respond by return mail or phone to enter a contest or collect a prize.

The Deceptive Mail Prevention and Enforcement Act helps protect consumers against fraudulent sweepstakes promotions sent through the mail. The law prohibits:

claims that you're a winner unless you've actually won a prize.
requirements that you buy something to enter the contest or to receive future sweepstakes mailings.
the mailing of fake checks that don't clearly state that they are non-negotiable and have no cash value.
seals, names or terms that imply an affilia-tion with or endorsement by the federal government.
Skill Contests
Skill contests also are covered by the new Deceptive Mail Prevention and Enforcement Act. The law requires the sponsors to disclose in a clear and conspicuous way:

the terms, rules and conditions of the contest.
how many rounds of the contest you must achieve to win the grand prize.
the time frame for the winner to be determined.
the name of the contest's sponsor.
an address where you can reach the sponsor to request that your name be removed from the mailing list.
Just Say "No"
Another way to protect yourself is to request that your name be removed from mail and telephone solicitation lists.

The Telemarketing Sales Rule requires telemarketers to keep a "do not call" list of consumers who have asked not to be called again. Calling a consumer who has made this request is illegal and can subject the telemarketer to a hefty fine.

The Deceptive Mail Prevention and Enforcement Act requires companies that use direct mail to maintain a similar "do not mail" list for consumers who call or write and ask that their name be removed from the mailing list.

This new law gives caregivers the right to have the names of the friends and loved ones under their care removed from the mailing lists of undesirable solicitors.

Another way to reduce mail and telephone solicitations is to contact the Direct Marketing Association to request that your name be placed on its "do not call," "do not mail" and "do not email" lists. Association members agree not to solicit consumers who have requested that they not be contacted.

To have your name removed from direct mail marketing lists, write: Direct Marketing Association, Preference Service Manager, 1120 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036-6700. To have your name removed from telemarketing lists, write: Direct Marketing Association, Preference Service Manager, 1120 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036-6700. To "opt out" of receiving unsolicited commercial email, use the DMA's form at www.e-mps.org.


A Dozen Ways to Protect Yourself
The next time you get a "personal" letter or telephone call telling you "it?s your lucky day," the Federal Trade Commission encourages you to remember that:

Legitimate sweepstakes don?t require you to pay or buy something to enter or improve your chances of winning, or to pay "taxes" or "shipping and handling charges" to get your prize. If you have to pay to receive your "prize," it?s not a prize at all.


Sponsors of legitimate contests identify themselves prominently; fraudulent promoters are more likely to downplay their identities. Legitimate promoters also provide you with an address or toll-free phone numbers so you can ask that your name be removed from their mailing list.


Bona fide offers clearly disclose the terms and conditions of the promotion in plain English, including rules, entry procedures, and usually, the odds of winning.


It?s highly unlikely that you?ve won a "big" prize if your notification was mailed by bulk rate. Check the postmark on the envelope or postcard. Also be suspicious of telemarketers who say you?ve won a contest you can?t remember entering.


Fraudulent promoters might instruct you to send a check or money order by overnight delivery or courier to enter a contest or claim your "prize." This is a favorite ploy for con artists because it lets them take your money fast, before you realize you?ve been cheated.


Disreputable companies sometimes use a variation of an official or nationally recognized name to give you confidence in their offers. Don?t be deceived by these "look-alikes." It?s illegal for a promoter to misrepresent an affiliation with ? or an endorsement by ? a government agency or other well-known organization.


It?s important to read any written solicitation you receive carefully. Pay particularly close attention to the fine print. Remember the old adage that "the devil is in the details."


Agreeing to attend a sales meeting just to win an "expensive" prize is likely to subject you to a high-pressure sales pitch.


Signing up for a sweepstakes at a public location or event, through a publication or online might subject you to unscrupulous prize promotion tactics. You also might run the risk of having your personal information sold or shared with other marketers who later deluge you with offers and advertising.


Some contest promoters use a toll-free "800" number that directs you to dial a pay-per-call "900" number. Charges for calls to "900" numbers may be very high.


Disclosing your checking account or credit card account number over the phone in response to a sweepstakes promotion ? or for any reason other than to buy the product or service being sold ? is a sure-fire way to get scammed in the future.


Your local Better Business Bureau and your state or local consumer protection office can help you check out a sweepstakes promoter?s reputation. Be aware, however, that many questionable prize promotion companies don?t stay in one place long enough to establish a track record, and the absence of complaints doesn?t necessarily mean the offer is legitimate.



To File a Complaint
Consumers who believe they have been victimized by fraudulent promotional offers also should contact their local postmaster or the U.S. Postal Inspection Service by phone, toll-free, at: 1-888-877-7644; by email at: www.uspsoig.gov; or by mail at: U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Office of Inspector General, Operations Support Group, 222 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 1250, Chicago, IL 60606-6100.

If you have a problem with a sweepstakes or prize promotion after participating, and you are unable to resolve the problem directly with the company, contact:

The Direct Marketing Association, ConsumerLine, 1111 19th Street, NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20036-3603; phone 202-955-5030; fax 202-955-0085.
The Better Business Bureau where the company is located.
Call for Action, a network of radio and television station hotlines that offer resolution services for consumers. Call 301-657-7490 or write: Call for Action, 5272 River Road, Suite 300, Bethesda, MD 20816.
The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

July 2000

its a great vacation..
do you have any thing to proof that some body paid and didn't get the vacation..or want to cancel and didn't take his money..
if any of the abocve its a scam.. other than that its an offer you take or refuse

How do we know when the scam isn't working on the phone?  WHEN THE CROOKS COME ON THIS SITE TO TRY TO RUN THE SCAM.

Like this moron.  

You aren't fooling anyone on here, scum. Go back to the boiler room where you belong ... well, actually you belong in JAIL but we can only hope ...

Are you kidding me this is a great deal.  If you are active person and like to save money this is the great dial for $598 (USA)
I took it while signing up at the Wasaga Beach Festival.
Just came back and had a great time with my family
Take a look at this:
4 Days 3 Nights Orlando, Florida
3 Days 2 Nights Fort Lauderdale
Car Rental for the Entire Trip
Up to a $100 Coupon
Bonuses
·2 nights and 3 days cruise to Bahamas
All INCLUSIVE
·4 days, 3 nights in Mexico
·3 days, 2 nights in Las Vegas, NV

its a great trip i took it
15 days for 599.00 2 adults 2 kids
car rental included
what do you need more

That's funny, I filled out a form at that same booth at the 10k fest and I won a cruise to the Bahamas...yeah don't think I'm going to go along with this.

some guy just called me and said i won a free trip to florida and a cruise and bla bla bla, i got the company name and googled it during the call and this site came up. Thanks everyone btw i got it from a different phone number 7185309126. they claimed i filled out a ballot at the havelock country jamboree.

I filled out a ballot at Dauphin's Countryfest in MB. I got a call a week later from a man saying I won a trip to the bahamas. I was not at home and could not give him my information so he said he'd call back 2 hours later which he didn't. He called back the next day but by then I heard rumors of the trip being a scam because several people in my town had also got the same phone call. Therefore I didn't answer. A month later a women called me about the same trip. She said I won a trip for 2 to the Bahamas and two nights in Vegas; a few other mentionables about Disney land & a cruise. It would cost $299 per person and $149/person for air fees. I explained that I thought it was a scam because of the first call I got. She then gave me a website of theirs to check out (bahamascelebration.com). She then wanted my credit card number which i was not eager to give up. I told her I was not interested &  she said ok & hung up. I don't know if the trip is or is not a scam but I am not willing to put it to the test.