Bahamas logo
Last Thursday I was having lunch before I headed off to the MEIC3 mobile event. For those curious, I went to Mission Burrito across from OCAD (it was a tasty burrito). Just as I was about to sit down and sink my teeth into my lunch, I got a call from an American number. I answered the call and a nice sounding guy named Chuck told me I had won a “free” 2 nights cruise to the Bahamas. He told me everything I wanted to hear and said I would just have to pay taxes of $217USD in relation to the government down in the Bahamas. At this moment a little red flag went off, but I continued to listen to what he had to say. As the conversation continued Chuck said I would have to pay with my credit card right then and there and couldn’t call back, after I requested if this was possible. I wanted to think about this to good to be true offer and make sure I could finish my lunch and hit the OCAD event.
Chuck went on to talk about an extended stay package he could offer me as I mentioned I was going to visit my aunt in Florida next month at the early outset of the call. He played up this angle with a very nice $2,700 USD Florida package that I could get for $250USD per person. Now it was at this moment that my little gut check from before was screaming total scam. However, I had no proof other then my gut and an offer sounding to good to be true. I politely put Chuck on hold and asked my friend Simon who I was having lunch with to run a search on this company. We looked up their name and found nothing. However, running a search on their phone number brought up more scam reports then a kid in high school who everyone knows sells weed.
When I went back to Chuck I found out he brough in help.. by the way of his manager. I told his “boss” the situation and politely said I would pass on the offer. I don’t like to make rash decisions and if I can’t call back later. That’s a deal breaker for me… especially if you gave me your phone number to begin with. I wonder if this was 30 years ago and the Internet isn’t what it is today, would I had taken this to good to be true sounding offer?
Also, what list did they buy my phone number off of?
