I just "won" a cruise for 2 to the bahamas, what's the catch?

[ceczar]

i just answered the main phone line at my office today and since i was bored decided to listen to what was obviously a recording.

it said if i completed a quick phone survey i would get 2 free tickets to a cruise to the bahamas. i decided to go through with it to see what the catch was or if it was just one of those "you may have already won" things, and it was a pleasantly quick 10 yes or no questions i answered with my keypad.

at the end someone got on the line and asked for the name to put on the tickets. since obviously there must be some catch, i asked what it was, thinking there may be something else i have to buy, or if i'm just entered into a raffle, or if i have to sit through a time share presentation, or am i now on some marketing list based on my answers, and to every question she just said that there was no catch, it was a reward for completing the survey.

so i gave my name, number and zip code and she said a booking agent would call me on monday to schedule (supposedly the tickets are good for anytime in the next 12 months).

so who has experience with this stuff and can tell me what i'm missing about this obviously too good to be real deal?

[Willeh]

I think you can answer this question...How much do you value your kidneys?

[soko]

I had an old girlfriend who almost fell for one of these things.

Googled "Free cruise tickets scam"

http://www.expertlaw.com/library/con...n_fraud.html#1

[By-Tor]

[ QUOTE ]
tell me what i'm missing about this obviously too good to be real deal?

[/ QUOTE ]

db won the other ticket.

[ceczar]

[ QUOTE ]
I had an old girlfriend who almost fell for one of these things.
Googled "Free cruise tickets scam"

http://www.expertlaw.com/library/con...n_fraud.html#1


[/ QUOTE ]

guess the most likely explanation was that they were just lying to me when they said there were no time share presentations. was holding a modicum of hope someone would come on here and say "they're telling the truth, i got a free cruise too and it was great"

[soko]

Unlikely there will be a presentation, more likely they are going to ask for an upfront fee, a deposit or something, then you will not be able to get in contact with them agian or you are going to arrive on the cruise ship and find out it costs $30 for a hamburger after you've left the port.

[prohornblower]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
tell me what i'm missing about this obviously too good to be real deal?

[/ QUOTE ]

db won the other ticket.

[/ QUOTE ]

I like db, but this is still hilarious

[Jeff_B]

Yeah my girlfriend decided to enter me and her into one of these one night at some bar... I didn't know she did it (I was very drunk) and got a call a few weeks later with a voicemail saying I won but I had to call the next day since I got it really late...

I told her and she was like cool... next morning she gets a call saying she won the grand prize as well...

I asked people I know at least 20 people who won this crap..

they want you to pay "port taxes" and thats how they get your money

[ceczar]

thought i'd make a followup post now that i have some more information.

[ QUOTE ]
they want you to pay "port taxes" and thats how they get your money

[/ QUOTE ]

the "booking agent" finally called me today to go over the details and get me to pay for port taxes upfront. (they can't really make money on these though, at only $59/person)

the place isn't a total scam. they do actually have a website. Imperial Majesty Cruises. but by the end i was able to get it out of her that there are time share presentations you have to see while on your trip. i got the impression they make a decent amount of money from extra excursions you can pay to go on while on the trip (special small boat trips and the like)

[TheBlueMonster]

Legionnaire's disease