When it comes to official looking documents received in the mail I typically think of checks, bills, or important information from government agencies. What I received in the mail got me thinking ‘beware of travel scams’. Yesterday I received a very official looking form letter and check from a company called US Airlines. The check was a voucher for $1,298 and marked to be paid to US Airlines on my behalf to purchase travel certificates. The letter said they tried to contact me several times but the number on the check is not one I recognized.
The hair on my neck stood up a bit and I got that funny feeling in the recesses of my brain that said, “If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.” I didn’t recall having entered any giveaway or answered any survey that would have resulted in this “prize” so I did some more examination of the document and then some research on the internet. There was no return address, no representatives name on the letter like a president, CEO or manager, no indication of how and to what number they tried contacting me.
The only identifiable information on the check and letter was
- the name US Airlines (perhaps trying to make you believe this is from US Airways),
- another company name where the banks name usually is called Travel Union, Scottsdale, AZ 85251,
- the phone number 1-866-955-1930 (please don’t call it),
- and the signature on the check of Sue Hall.
- The routing numbers at the bottom of the “check” were completely bogus with symbols that looked like zeros and even when you took them out the length of the routing number was not correct.
Firstly, I’m a mom and wife. Professionally, IT consulting is my job and blogging is the outlet for my passions. I write about things that affect the everyday life of a stay-at-home parent or any parent for that matter such as parenting, relationships, discipline, the media, product reviews, giveaways, social media, food, cooking, gardening and anything else that might come my way.
