Oasis Travel

Oasis Travel Fraud/Scam, Internet

13th of Dec, 2010 by User794739

I received a call from an unknown number this morning at 11:22 am, stating that due to recent shopping at "local Wal-Mart and gas station" I was receiving a $200 gift card I could use at such locations.
I was immediately skeptical, because the man addressing himself as "Kevin Manwell" sounded nothing like a Kevin Manwell. He sounded like a typical, foreign telemarketing scammer. However, I feigned interest and allowed him to continue his pitch.
He stated my address, to ensure the card would be delivered, which I found very unsettling. "Kevin" then began telling me I would be charged two dollars for taxes, but then chalked it up to his company being located in Arizona. Hello? Shipping and handling is very different from taxes.
First red flag.
He then began asking about my Visa card, expiration date and the card number itself. I told him I was uncomfortable giving out such information over the phone, or to anyone for that matter. Again with the 'only two dollars, call your bank, look at it online, we will only be charging you two dollars, sir.'
Second red flag.
I then asked if he would hold for a moment, and immediately typed 'Oasis Travel Scam' into Google and was greeted with many accounts of the same vein. Scam, scam, scam. I told him that, while the deal was very appealing, I wasn't going to give our personal information, and that maybe someone else could receive the gift card.
He then hung up. Surprise.
Not satiated with humiliating the man, I went to the website in question to try and get back at him and his 'company.' I called the 'contact us' number, and was greeted by a woman named Wendy. I calmly stated, "Hello Wendy, I believe I was just contacted b one of your employee's," and she cut me off there.
She sounded almost pitiful, stating she was the victim of fraud, and that I had hopefully not given any information regarding my credit card. I explained that I had not, and she asked if it was about the $200 gift card.
This is a problem not only to the people on the receiving end of annoying phone calls, but also to a legitimate business owner. It is wrong, and hopefully with some help, no one will have to deal with these thieving, conniving con-artist in the near future.

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