Scammers lure victims with free airline tickets

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- If you receive a letter that looks like it's from an airline, claiming you've been awarded tickets, beware. Officials say they are part of an intricate gimmick by travel agencies.

Who wouldn't like to get a letter in the mail saying you have won two free airline tickets.

"We caution consumers to really read the fine print," said U.S. Postal Inspector Pamela Durkee.

The letter says the recipient must attend a seminar. Postal inspectors refer to solicitations like this as the classic bait and switch.

"They bait you with two free tickets. You are like, 'I'm going to get two free tickets of course I'm going to go to this meeting.'"

But you find out once you go to the meeting, it's not that easy.

"Here comes the high pressure sales pitch and the presentation that you're going to miss an opportunity if you don't sign up for this travel club. There is a lot of pressure to sign up and it's well over $10,000," said Durkee.

Inspectors say these solicitations are usually full of red flags. In this case, it's a variation of the name U.S. Airlines versus U.S. Airways.

"An unsuspecting consumer would get this solicitation for free travel tickets, two airline tickets, it might not register at first that U.S. Airlines is not a carrier," said Durkee.

Hundreds of victims complained to inspectors and said the letter was completely misleading.

"They were saying they had to go to a sales seminar, high pressure to purchase the travel club, and victims say they didn't get their tickets," said Durkee.

Postal inspectors say if it sounds too good to be true, it likely is.