tags: Scams
Ameri-scam.
May 23rd, 2005, by Rich.
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Two months ago I wrote a short article about a telemarketing call that I received from AmeriVacation. It has very quickly become one of the most viewed pages on this site, and also the most commented upon, by many people who are worried that they have been conned.
With just a little digging I’ve started to unearth some more information on AmeriVacation, and some “companies” that appear to be related.
It appears that AmeriVacation is only the latest front. They set up a website, to appear legitimate and then cold call people, anyone whose number they can get using an automated calling mechanism (which is very simple to do with a computer). They then sell a package that is not what it appears to be and then make it very difficult to obtain a refund.
Sadly the people that get scammed are often the most vulnerable people who can least afford to lose such a large amount of money.
Through my digging I discovered a little about the history of the scams, and a little about how they’re all related. What follows is a brief review of the links so that others may pick up the trail more easily.
The currently active websites (which can be linked through identical wording, identical phone numbers, IP addresses that resolve to the same physical machines, etc) are:
- www.amerivacation.com
- www.expertholidays.com
- www.yourvipholiday.com (bad press) (more)
- www.flbahamastravelhome.com
- www.mydiscountholiday.com (bad press)
- www.doublevacations.com
- www.affiliatedtravelnetwork.com
- www.brilliantholiday.com (bad popup press)
- www.destinationcenter.net
- www.myffc.com (bad press)
- www.mydiscountholiday.com
- www.floridaholidayusa.com - discovered July 2005
- www.holidayfloridausa.com - discovered July 2005
- www.sunrisetravels.us - discovered August 2005
- www.imperialvacation.com - discovered August 2005
- www.5starholidays.net - discovered August 2005
- www.floridatouristbureau.com - discovered August 2005
Now, anybody that sells a holiday from Florida, or sells a holiday to Florida must be registered. The last entry in the above list , “mydiscountholiday.com” claims a Florida Seller Of Travel License Number of ST35170. In fact, this next list of sites all claim to have that same license number.
- www.mydiscountholiday.com (bad press)
- www.usafamilygetaway.com (bad press)
- www.sandyvacationsllc.com (bad press)
- www.floridabureauoftourism.com
- http://www.destinationsforyou.com
- http://www.celebrationpromotions.com
Another useful thing for linking companies is the address, several of these companies have used “600 North Highway 1792, Suite 120, Longwood Fl 32750″ including:
- www.yourvipholiday.com
- www.usafamilygetaway.com addres link also mentioned here
That link is important because without it these appear to be two separate groups of companies, when in fact, it’s one big cloud.
The next link in the chain is the phone number, all the sites below are connected because they use the same UK freephone number 0800-917-7462. What’s especially nice is that three of them have also decided to share testimonials too!
- www.windsorvacations.com
- www.myvacationschoice.com
- www.vacations-paradise.com (bad press)
- www.sohovacations.com -bullshit testimonial (bad press)
- www.centuryvacations.com - bullshit testimonial
- www.firstclicktravel.net - bullshit testimonial
- www.usafamilygetaway.com
The other address in use is “7632 Southland Blvd, Orlando, FL 32809″ and this is used by:
- www.myffc.com
- www.mydiscountholiday.com
- www.brilliantholiday.com (bad press)
- www.destinationcenter.com
Currently www.destinationcenter.com looks like a bit of a sales force advertisement. However, by looking at the caches on google and web.archive.org, it’s apparent that it was also used as travel sales site (hence I got the address match above), selling these same packages - i.e. not just a coincidence, this was the same outfit.
So, who’s behind it? Well, according to this story, it all comes back to to a Altef Hemani (aka Alex Hemani), who has a history of such scams.
His name is as good as mud on the internet, so he’s tried to combat this by buying a few websites and and writing eulogies about himself.
Each of those sites, incidentally, is owned by the same company: Travel Express Investments 385 Center Point Cir, Altamont Springs, FL 32701.
What’s especially interesting is that the administrative contact for the domains is Arif Rajan who may be the same business man whos only newsworthy moment until now was that in 2002 he was was questioned and released without charge regarding money laundering for terrorist organisations.
Sources
Naturally the information I’ve been able to gather and present here is all freely available to the public. Please feel free to check, corroborate, dispute, disprove or otherwise extended it through your own investigation.
I have found the following resources most useful:
- http://whois.net/ which provides information about the owners of domain names.
- http://sunbiz.org/ which provides information from the Florida Department of State regarding companies, and the persons legally responsible for those companies.
- http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/ the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which regulates travel in Florida.
September 7th, 2005 at 1:14 pm
i have also been conned by this company [sunkissedtravel.com]. purchased a package 3june,tried to cancel next day been trying ever since.i have rang them on numerious occasions,someone will call you back ,after youve been on the line for 30 mins.no one calls you back.no response to emails ive sent.i am disabled cant afford to lose this kind of money or pay phone charges this is costing me.i would be gratefull for any help with this matter
September 7th, 2005 at 3:35 pm
I just received word that starr-getaways.com has cloned itself and is now also accessible through the new name of myholidayexperts.com.
It looks like the page redesigner remembered to change everything but the page title, which still says “Welcome to STARR GETAWAYS!!”. Oops.
This is much the same kind of refit as happend to the amerivacation site when it was also used by FlordiaHolidayUSA.com and DisountHolidays.com
September 8th, 2005 at 1:31 am
Dear Christina,
My comments on here had nothing to do with you so why don’t you mind
your own business. My problem with this site is that it is named
wrong, that is what has infuriated me. Seems to me if you look at the
people(Altef Hemani, Arif Rajan, Alamin Jessani) behind these scams they are not American, no matter if they live in this country or not. I’d be glad to ship their asses over to you and let you have them in your country. So I think that you need to GET A LIFE *****!!!
September 8th, 2005 at 10:59 am
Ah, I see we have another Jackie B here :)
The poor woman may be falsely accused of things I have said/done as regards the travel saga. LOL
Congratulations to Christina for getting her refund!
September 8th, 2005 at 11:24 am
USCitizen commented (in Christina’s direction) :
All posts can be read and commented on by anyone, that’s why USCitizen has been allowed to post.
USCitizen arrived here and demanded to be heard, suggesting that the content herein is only “what we want you to hear”, which, by allowing USCitizen to repeatedly comment, I aimed to disprove.
USCitizen’s posts have done wonders for proving the legitimacy and simple honesty of the rest of the messages because we’ve been able to re-state the issues in order to explain them to someone who’s trying very hard not to listen. This can only help future victims, readers and contributors.
Today USCitizen stated:
This is what I mean when I say that USCitizen is “trying very hard not to listen”.
When this point was initially made, it was explained that it is the article not the site that is called “Ameri-scam”. The reasons for its naming were clearly listed; as was the fact that there is no anti-American sentiment herein.
Whilst the scams certainly could be damaging to the reputation of Florida and America, there are effective measures in place that protect consumers, and which therefore protect and enhance that reputation.
Describing to people how and why they are protected should only appear harmful to the narrowest of minds.
Yes… so having had that explained, USCitizen still wanted to argue more, so again said the site was named wrong only this time because it uses “a US Domain”. Again, it was shown that this is not the case.
Above is a good example of why USCitizen’s comments appear confused to readers. The names Hemani, Rajan and Jessani are indeed all listed on the domain registration details (or websites) of travel companies that are mentioned above. Hemani and Rajan were named (with a reference to the source) in the above article as being related to the companies.
There is no apparent logic behind this duality, USCitizen appears to just want to have an argument. Sometimes USCitizen appears angry towards these people, and wants them to stop what they are doing (as we all do), and then at other times, USCitizen is suggesting that by enlisting their interest, this site might be swamped and unable to continue helping people.
Confusion reigns supreme in the head of USCitizen.
I’m sure that Christina will be able to afford a much bigger and happier life now that she has received a full refund. Christina’s comments are useful; they give hope to other people that have been conned. Christina has a reason to be here. Christina is helping by contributing knowledge.
USCitizen has his or her own agenda and has constantly sidestepped questions whilst having just about every comment responded to in full. Obviously some of the questions posed to USCitizen require time in order to formulate an adequate response; complex, difficult and probing questions such as:
USCitizen appears stuck on broadcast mode, yet doesn’t bother to check the facts before posting, which is why so many times, USCitizen has been corrected (e.g.FEDMA).
The anonymity afforded to USCitizen so far has become the equivalent of a digital clown costume – there may be honest reasoned opinions underneath but these are now are obstructed by the garish mask and diversionary novelty squirting flower.
Today the anonymity stops. Last week I set up a temporary automated email address for this site, and until USCitizen sends a message to that address from his or her ISP email address, with a real name (and also quotes the false email address that’s been used) all future posts from USCitizen will put in the ignore queue, or discarded.
Its really rather sad that following USCitizen’s initial misguided attempts to stand up for the good name of America, his or her angry, rude and racist comments are the only thing here that reflects negatively on the country’s reputation – fortunately the rest of the world knows better than to judge 295,734,134 citizens based on the comments of just one anonymous coward.
September 8th, 2005 at 11:54 am
BRAVO! At long last, we are rid of the annoying drivel. Empty tins certainly do make the most noise. Thank you for ridding your ‘loyal’ readers of the irritation, Rich.
I’ll let you know if I get a response from USC in my personal e-mail inbox. If so, I’ll post it here. Should be good for a laugh.
I sincerely hope there will be many more success stories posted here, such as that of Christina. Thanks to all of you who have contributed and if you’ve not yet remedied the situation, know that you’re not the only frustrated purchaser of USA travel packages!
September 8th, 2005 at 12:18 pm
I have just been informed by another purchaser of a Sunkissed Travel package, that her boss has agreed to back her financially to seek legal advice and if need be, sue Sunkissed by way of edictal citation in Florida. This person has not yet posted on this blog. Being backed by British POUNDS will make this a more affordable option for her than for many other readers here.
She is pressed for time due to other travel commitments. I would therefore assume that she will obtain the legal advice soonest. There must be some impressive IT lawyers in in London!
This would be a most interesting exercise. I will keep you all informed should she proceed with a law suit.
September 8th, 2005 at 5:01 pm
Hi Guys
I live in the Virgin Islands and received a package from Sun-Kissed Travel. I thought it was bogus and came online searching, that lead me to this page. I called the Florida Agency that regulates sellers of travel and they confirmed that Sun-Kissed IS INDEED a legit company registered and regulated by them. Their licence number is ST35333 (as posted on http://www.sunkissedtravel.com). If you want further proof you may contact the Florida Agency at 1-850-488-2221.
Sean
British Virgin Islands
September 8th, 2005 at 5:50 pm
Hi Rich.
Thank you for responding to USCitizen on my behalf. I expected there would be a comment from he/she that would sound much like the one I recieved. But to be honest I had decided not to answer what ever came from that side, I mean, I do not think you can teach or tell a person like that anything.
You are right, the only reason I can imagine, for someone not wanting to go to the USA after visiting this side, would be the chance off running into USCitizen in person.
And Rich, thank you for helping me get my refund, your site has been very helpfull to me.
Yours Christina
September 8th, 2005 at 7:04 pm
Hi Sean, thanks very much for your message, it corroborates the information I was given by the same department a couple of months ago, when the license was pending renewal.
As well as letting travellers check whether a seller-of-travel license is valid, the DOACS also provide information on the past performance any license holder, for example, Sun-Kissed Promotions Inc. have fielded an all-time total of 63 complaints, 38 of which have been closed satisfactorily, one was passed to another agency and 24 are currently open and ongoing.