Winner, winner! Chicken Dinner!

Scalded Dog · 02-03-2015, 01:22 PM

I got a call last night... the caller had my cell number, and my name.

The call was from a company that administers prizes, and they were officially notifying me that I had won the VIP Tour of the Pawn Stars store in Las Vegas, NV! I had entered a drawing last October, and I was the winner!

Now, I was there in October... and, somebody out front was trying to get people to drop their name and number into a box to win a VIP tour of the store. However, I do not enter those things--- ever--- so I simply walked on by. I have never given my name or number to anybody there, or under any circumstance like that. I AM indeed baffled as to how they knew that I had been there in October. I'm polling the audience here for ideas... let me know if you've got ideas. Do they use license plate tracking, maybe?

Anyway, this person kept describing the great prize package that TLC was preparing for me. TLC was even upgrading me to TWO tickets... so I could even bring my wife! TLC was really making this an awesome prize, with free hotel nights, free food, complimentary gambling, all kinds of great stuff. In addition to the VIP tour of Pawn Stars, it also included VIP tours of Count's Kustoms, and a few other show locations.

I asked if I'd be able to meet the cast members... almost a stupid question, because, duh, a VIP tour surely means THAT, right? Well, I was told, it was possible, if I went at the right time and they happened to be there. Wait, WTH? So, my VIP tour doesn't include anything more than I get when I just walk into the store?

Of course, since TLC was investing so much into the prize, they wanted a LITTLE guarantee that I'd be there... just $200. I'd have that refunded to me, of course, with things like a restaurant gift card, usable at THOUSANDS of restaurants across the U.S.

I said I would think about it... but was told that I had to decide now... this phone call was my ONE opportunity to accept or decline.

Of course, any "prize" that you have to pay money for, AND any "prize" that MUST be accepted now and only now, is a scam. I declined, hung the phone up.

It wasn't until today that it hit me... "TLC" (as implied, "The Learning Channel") has nothing to do with Pawn Stars, or Count's Kustoms, or any of the other TV shows the tour included. Those shows are History Channel shows... not TLC! I did a quick Google search, and discovered (no pun intended) that in this case, "TLC" stands for "Timeshare Liquidation Corporation!" Yep... it's all a timeshare scam.

People who had fallen for this one (because, apparently, many thousands of people have "won" the VIP tour package, as my Google search revealed!) said that they were made to attend timeshare meetings, that the "free" hotels were free except for the $50 per night "booking fees," and that the food gift card was essentially unusable anywhere... and besides, it was more of a coupon for a percentage off, rather than "free food."

I'll admit it, for a few brief moments, I thought that I had won... my basic human weakness of desire to be "a winner." Luckily, common sense kicked in before I let the ol' "winners high" suck $200 (or more, after I handed over my credit card number!) out of my net worth.

Don't fall for this one!

pickwithaustin · 02-03-2015, 01:24 PM

About as phony as the actual show itself (and the rest of faked "reality" TV).

Scalded Dog · 02-03-2015, 05:22 PM

HA! Just for giggles, a few minutes ago I called the phone number again, from a different phone. I used a fake name, but said that I had gotten a message telling me to call.

The woman actually said, "Well, I don't see your name... uhhh.... but, anyway, congratulations, you are the grand prize winner of our VIP tour of Pawn Stars!"

She then told me that she has been TRYING to reach me, and she was glad that I had called back!

I had intended to ask her things like, "Hey, what does 'TLC' stand for?" but I ended up being so intrigued by the realization that the wording of her spiel was EXACTLY--- and I mean, syllable for syllable--- the same as the person from last night. Even the little 'asides' and little comments, designed to make us 'friends' (like, at the description of the complimentary slot play (where you USUALLY win a pretty big jackpot, but even if you don't, hey, it was somebody else's money, so no big loss, right?), don't forget about me when you DO win! Heh heh... hee!). No lie, the words were EXACTLY the same. I listened for about ten minutes, until I was sufficiently bored, and I hung up. Forgot to go through my line of questioning.

cornelia · 02-04-2015, 01:21 AM

Thanks for the heads up! These phone scams are really scary. Scammer will do anything just to get other people's info and scam them out of money. So it's really a good thing when you guys share info like this. We are already warned ahead, even before we get a call.

cornelia · 02-04-2015, 01:23 AM

I found several complaints on this particular scam at Callercenter.com that included the scammer phone numbers. I encourage everyone to check on the posts and be aware of who's behind the calls.

02-03-2015, 01:22 PM	#1
Scalded Dog Drives: 2011 1LT Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Crestline, CA Posts: 3,029	Winner, winner! Chicken Dinner! I got a call last night... the caller had my cell number, and my name. The call was from a company that administers prizes, and they were officially notifying me that I had won the VIP Tour of the Pawn Stars store in Las Vegas, NV! I had entered a drawing last October, and I was the winner! Now, I was there in October... and, somebody out front was trying to get people to drop their name and number into a box to win a VIP tour of the store. However, I do not enter those things--- ever--- so I simply walked on by. I have never given my name or number to anybody there, or under any circumstance like that. I AM indeed baffled as to how they knew that I had been there in October. I'm polling the audience here for ideas... let me know if you've got ideas. Do they use license plate tracking, maybe? Anyway, this person kept describing the great prize package that TLC was preparing for me. TLC was even upgrading me to TWO tickets... so I could even bring my wife! TLC was really making this an awesome prize, with free hotel nights, free food, complimentary gambling, all kinds of great stuff. In addition to the VIP tour of Pawn Stars, it also included VIP tours of Count's Kustoms, and a few other show locations. I asked if I'd be able to meet the cast members... almost a stupid question, because, duh, a VIP tour surely means THAT, right? Well, I was told, it was possible, if I went at the right time and they happened to be there. Wait, WTH? So, my VIP tour doesn't include anything more than I get when I just walk into the store? Of course, since TLC was investing so much into the prize, they wanted a LITTLE guarantee that I'd be there... just $200. I'd have that refunded to me, of course, with things like a restaurant gift card, usable at THOUSANDS of restaurants across the U.S. I said I would think about it... but was told that I had to decide now... this phone call was my ONE opportunity to accept or decline. Of course, any "prize" that you have to pay money for, AND any "prize" that MUST be accepted now and only now, is a scam. I declined, hung the phone up. It wasn't until today that it hit me... "TLC" (as implied, "The Learning Channel") has nothing to do with Pawn Stars, or Count's Kustoms, or any of the other TV shows the tour included. Those shows are History Channel shows... not TLC! I did a quick Google search, and discovered (no pun intended) that in this case, "TLC" stands for "Timeshare Liquidation Corporation!" Yep... it's all a timeshare scam. People who had fallen for this one (because, apparently, many thousands of people have "won" the VIP tour package, as my Google search revealed!) said that they were made to attend timeshare meetings, that the "free" hotels were free except for the $50 per night "booking fees," and that the food gift card was essentially unusable anywhere... and besides, it was more of a coupon for a percentage off, rather than "free food." I'll admit it, for a few brief moments, I thought that I had won... my basic human weakness of desire to be "a winner." Luckily, common sense kicked in before I let the ol' "winners high" suck $200 (or more, after I handed over my credit card number!) out of my net worth. Don't fall for this one!

02-03-2015, 01:24 PM	#2
pickwithaustin Drives: 2011 Camaro 2SS/RS Convertible and: Join Date: May 2014 Location: Central Texas Posts: 1,863	About as phony as the actual show itself (and the rest of faked "reality" TV). __________________ --------------------------- Currently in my Garage: 2011 Camaro 2SS/RS Convertible \| 1980 Corvette Stingray \| 1981 Firebird \| 1968 El Camino \| 2007 Crown Vic Police Interceptor \| 2001 Silverado \| 2001 Blazer \| 1965 Chevy C-10 \| 2007 Harley Softail Custom \| 2013 MX-5 in Copper Red Mica \| 2000 Corvette Convertible \| 2010 Corvette Grand Sport \| 2006 Audi A3 Turbo \| 2008 BMW 328i

02-03-2015, 05:22 PM	#3
Scalded Dog Drives: 2011 1LT Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Crestline, CA Posts: 3,029	HA! Just for giggles, a few minutes ago I called the phone number again, from a different phone. I used a fake name, but said that I had gotten a message telling me to call. The woman actually said, "Well, I don't see your name... uhhh.... but, anyway, congratulations, you are the grand prize winner of our VIP tour of Pawn Stars!" She then told me that she has been TRYING to reach me, and she was glad that I had called back! I had intended to ask her things like, "Hey, what does 'TLC' stand for?" but I ended up being so intrigued by the realization that the wording of her spiel was EXACTLY--- and I mean, syllable for syllable--- the same as the person from last night. Even the little 'asides' and little comments, designed to make us 'friends' (like, at the description of the complimentary slot play (where you USUALLY win a pretty big jackpot, but even if you don't, hey, it was somebody else's money, so no big loss, right?), don't forget about me when you DO win! Heh heh... hee!). No lie, the words were EXACTLY the same. I listened for about ten minutes, until I was sufficiently bored, and I hung up. Forgot to go through my line of questioning.

02-04-2015, 01:21 AM	#4
cornelia Drives: 2011 chevrolet camaro Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: san francisco Posts: 2	Thanks for the heads up! These phone scams are really scary. Scammer will do anything just to get other people's info and scam them out of money. So it's really a good thing when you guys share info like this. We are already warned ahead, even before we get a call.

02-04-2015, 01:23 AM	#5
cornelia Drives: 2011 chevrolet camaro Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: san francisco Posts: 2	I found several complaints on this particular scam at Callercenter.com that included the scammer phone numbers. I encourage everyone to check on the posts and be aware of who's behind the calls.