| |
| Author |
Message |
|
| Guest |
 Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2005 1:52 am |
 |
|
|
|
Gold Coast Orlando Boiler-Room Phone-Scam (Beware!)
I got a call from a company claiming to be "Gold Coast Resorts of Orlando, Florida". They use a consecutive number dialer and when they get a live person on the phone, their computer plays a recorded message offering a four-day and three-night stay at a resort hotel in Orlando, Florida and free passes to Disney World or Universal Studios for $99 (initially). The message tells you "If interested, press 9 to talk to a sales representative".
So, I did and a man came on and elaborated on the charges. I came to find out that the total package for three cities in Florida totalled nearly $400 and that plane fare is not included. He said "You must have a credit card and register for the deal today to qualify for the discount". If you register today, you have a two-year period in which to schedule the booking. Or if you want, you can transfer the tickets to someone else or even resell them on E-Bay at a profit. (Jeez! How stupid do they think I am?)
After a period of my questioning, he admitted that I would have to sit through a 90-minute presentation to hear their sales pitch about the resort hotels. Then he said he would have to talk to his supervisor to get a cheaper price as there would be only myself making the trip. So "his supervisor" came on the phone and cut the price in half then added a $58 registration charge.
Then I asked for the name of the corporation owning "Gold Coast Orlando". He said "That is the name of the corporation". I said "What exactly is the street address of your company?". He excused himself for a minute and put me on hold. Then he came back and said "P.O. Box 7769, Orlando Florida." I said, "I asked you for a physical street address". He said "I can't give that to you. I don't know exactly what it is. If you asked for the street address of Walmart Corporation, they wouldn't give it to you either. They would give you a post office box number". (Yeah, right. I rather doubt that statement).
Then I asked "Then what are the addresses of the Hotels at which I will be staying?" He said "They are along Highway 121" (or some similar number). I said "Hold on. You can't give me the exact coordinates or street addresses of your hotels at which I will be staying? Look here, I don't want to drive down there only to discover that the hotel at which I am booked does not exist." He abruptly slammed the phone down in my ear. (It seems there is admission in silence.........especially after a loud noise).
Upon investigating on Google, I discovered that the only apparently legitimate resort company bearing the name "Gold Coast" is in Australia and they have an elaborate, legitimate website in which their street address is clearly displayed. <http://www.goldcoastbookingcentre.com.au/gold-coast-accommodation/contact-us.htm>
There is also the Gold Coast Casino in Las Vegas. <http://www.goldcoastcasino.com>
Nowhere on these websites is Orlando Florida even mentioned.
Beware of any phone calls from a company claiming to be Gold Coast Resorts of Orlando Florida. They do not exist. It is (apparently and allegedly) a boiler-room-phone-scam "phishing expedition" designed to get your credit card number and max-out your account before you even know what has happened. You won't be able to find them and most likely, neither will the FBI.
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
All times are GMT
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
|
