I happened upon this WEB site by chance after we returned from a cruise. When we docked in St. Maartin we were approached by locals trying to get us to attend a seminar for a travel club. They give you bogus scratch off cards, where the female always has the winning ticket that entitles you to some jewerly or other valuable trinkets. Once they get you in their lair (just down from the cruise dock) they give you the hard sell, etc, etc, hey we have all been thru timeshare presentations so you know the routine. My husband and I have been in St. Maartin before so we said what the heck we would have a little fun with them. We laughed our way thru the presentation and eventually escaped. Funny how some people just don't understand that if it is too good to be true, then it isn't, but suckers are born every minute and they snared a few from our boat.
Don't you think the cruise lines have some responsibility to warn their passengers that these scam artists are out there? Reading the ealier post about expansion to Antigua makes me shake my head.
So, with this in mind and a few minutes to spare at the keyboard, I did a little research last evening (thank you Google) and came up with some additional contacts for those of you that have been taken advantage of.
Seems as if Mini Vacations (a.K.A. Grand Getaways Travel Club) has morphed into Grand Incentives: http://www.clearwater. BBB.org/commonreport.html? Bid=90017298President: Jose Martinez 941 552 7885 X1477
Emails: [email protected]
People who may be able to get you a refund - Swart Baumruk & Company CPA717 E Oak StKissimmee, FL 34744-4580 (407) 847-7466&Jose Luis Martinez
9040 Town Center ParkwaySuite 213Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202Tel (941) 552-7885 x1477Fax (941) [email protected]
Also, seems as if Jackie Callaway from Tampa Bay 8 News has been doing some investigations into Mini Vacations. You just have to see her videos taken at the Mini Vacations HQ building in Sarasota.
Check this out at: http://www.tampabaylive.com/programming/callforaction. Shtml
Or you may want to tell Jackie your story via email at: [email protected]
While I was not scammed personally I feel bad for those of you who were. I hope my few minutes of research will help you get your money back. Speak loud and clear, to stop this scam from continuing to impact those who can least afford it. Let your elected representitives know that Florida is a haven for this type of activity, maybe they can apply pressure.
BrendaKissimmee, Florida
U.S.A.
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