 KrisnatharokCaveat EmptorPremium
join:2009-02-11
Earth Orbit
kudos:7 | Hilton Grand Vacation scam? Before I start, I want to make clear that I *am* an HHonors member and frequently take trips on behalf of business and stay at Embassy Suites. Whether this caller got my info from the inside, a hack, or was actually legitimate, I can't say.
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I got a call today from 702-699-7902 claiming to be "Leann, Hilton employee # 21843" offering a "private vacation offer not available to the general public."
The gist was this--I pay either $150 for Myrtle Beach or $250 for NYC and get a 3 day / 2 night pass that I can use anytime in the next 6 months as long as I book within the next 45 days.
Allegedly I could take up to 4 people and the only requirement is we listen to Hilton's 2 hour pitch to buy into a vacation home (a time share, I guess).
She claimed it was a "live" promotion that the special low rate wouldn't be available unless I took it right then on the phone and gave her a credit card number.
She only asked what my smoking preference was, my marital status, and income bracket ($50-80k, $80-100k, $100-150k, or over $150k).
I asked if she could provide me an email from a Hilton or HHonors email address and she said no. I asked if I could call the 1-800-HHONORS phone line and get connected to her and she said no, she was in a call center in Las Vegas.
I asked if I could take a number and extension and check with the wife first and she said I could put her on hold. I asked if she could call back in a couple of hours and she said once we hang up she has no way of getting my number back.
I eventually just hung up on her as she couldn't convince me it wasn't a scam.
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A quick google search indicated the following pages to that phone number, with some users saying it's a scam, and others saying it's legit Hilton marketing:
»800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-702-699-7902
»whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/7026997902
I'm curious if it's just Hilton or a Hilton affiliate selling time shares, of it's an actual scam trying to get your credit card information.
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If we lose this freedom of ours, history will record with the greatest astonishment, those who had the most to lose, did the least to prevent its happening. |
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 ArchivisYour DaddyPremium
join:2001-11-26
Earth
kudos:18 | Sounds like you acted appropriately. Regardless, if you can't get ahold of them outside of that single phone call, what recourse would you have to follow-up or verify any of the stuff you did on the phone? How would you get a receipt of purchase? Even if it was legit, I wouldn't take them up on the offer, just because of the lack of future communication.
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A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have. -MLK |
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KrisnatharokCaveat EmptorPremium
join:2009-02-11
Earth Orbit
kudos:7 | Well, she claimed everything would be emailed to me once I provided my CC, but no dice, I'm not that dumb (or maybe just too skeptical). |
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ArchivisYour DaddyPremium
join:2001-11-26
Earth
kudos:18 | Did you read your links? They're an indy company trying to sell timeshares from Nevada. They will probably continue to call you and they frequently violate the do not call list.
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A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have. -MLK |
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KrisnatharokCaveat EmptorPremium
join:2009-02-11
Earth Orbit
kudos:7 | I did, which would mean she lied about being a Hilton employee, which leads me to conclude no reputable company will lie to customers right off the bat...
Too bad that call came into my desk or I woulda hopped on the class action lawsuit. |
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 starreemPremium
join:2000-12-22
Raleigh, NC
 ·AT&T U-Verse
| reply to Krisnatharok
I've recently had a frank conversation with my +80 y.o. parents. (It unfortunately felt like I was talking to children) They grew up in a time where indeed someone might come knocking on your door, or call you on the phone with a legit offer. Not any more. My Dad gets it, but my Mom won't, I'm afraid. I urged them to get it into their heads, in no uncertain terms that any, and everyone, unsolicited was a scam.
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Vuja De - The feeling you've never been here before. |
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 psafuxPremium,VIP
join:2005-11-10
kudos:2 | reply to Krisnatharok
Several points stand out.
"She claimed it was a "live" promotion that the special low rate wouldn't be available unless I took it right then on the phone and gave her a credit card number."
"I asked if she could provide me an email from a Hilton or HHonors email address and she said no."
" I asked if I could call the 1-800-HHONORS phone line and get connected to her and she said no, she was in a call center in Las Vegas."
" she said once we hang up she has no way of getting my number back."
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It may be legit but these four points alone would lead me to say "Good day" (I *said* good day!).
Any legit offer should allow you the option to think about it.
If the offer was through Hilton, they may have a call center handle the calls on their behalf (which would explain the email issue) but they fact they "had no way of getting your number" indicates it was nothing more than a robo-caller. A legit call center handling Hiltons' affairs would be able to call you back and you would be able to call Hilton to confirm everything before agreeing to anything.
I'm not sure I would get knee-jerk happy with the info provided and say '100% scam' but it's at the very least shady and likely suspect. It may be a real offer but whether or not Hilton is -actually- involved is debatable at this point. Probably not.
The fact that even some people are claiming 'scam' is more informative than those saying it is legit. The same thing can't be both - do the math. Shills happen. |
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| reply to Krisnatharok
I almost fell for them, but I felt suspicious, so I looked them up on »www.tellows.com, there I found out that they're a bunch of scammers! |
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