Value Group - Making People Rich (not!)

mike65

Anyone got a letter in the post containing "cheques" which are just waiting to be converted into real cash?

You did?

Then just ring 1580 CON JOB and wait for 8 minutes while some bird prattles away as you pay over 18 Euro in phone tarrifs!

More here
http://www.tiscali.co.uk/money/guardian/features/2005/02/12/capitalletters.html

and here
http://money.guardian.co.uk/scamsandfraud/story/0,13802,1435740,00.html

One born every minute and Value Group know it.

Mike.

BuffyBot

Mmm..seems half of Ireland got these in the post this morning

KdjaCL

/me hangs up


dammit


kdjac

Wertz

BuffyBot wrote:

Mmm..seems half of Ireland got these in the post this morning

Yeah...the half that are registered to vote.

I had a great discussion with a workmate today about the similar tactic offering thousands in prizes "One of which you have won!"...he couldn't grasp the concept that out of the 3 "Gold prizes" that the only one he would get if he paid €20 in calls would be the one costing less than €20...

I love how they hide the actual prize by verbal trickery...for instance;

"You have won one of the following:
~Media Centre PC~
~Home Cinema surround system~
~Widescreen DVD~
~Multimedia Laptop~

Call now!"

So that'll be the widescreen DVD then... :rolleyes:
Don't I even get to choose which movie, since I already paid the face value?

Zascar

How the hell can these guys get awy with such a scam? My dad showed me the one he got, 4 cheques for €75,000, €50,000, €35,000 and €20,000. It sas: Remember, you are Guaranteed to recieve awards up to €75,000. They say they reserve the right to add, remove, change or edit any of the rules at any time, and terminate the promotion at any time for any reason! This can't possibly be legal, can it?

mike65

The regulators, OFFRIP say they are looking into it...

Mike.

solo1

I got one of these too, at my workplace. It reminded me of those letters from Nigerians who just need my bank account to deposit their millions. Heh heh.

I tore it up and threw it away. Bastards - taking advantage of vulnerable people should be a crime.

green_onions

Got a letter in the post today from a crowd called Value Group. Says I've been chosen to receive four awards. With the letter is four printed cheques for €75000, €50000, €35000 and €20000. All you have to do is ring the numbers on the cheques (which are 1580 numbers btw, costing €2.40/min) to get an activation code which is then filled out on the back of the cheque, sent back to them and then you can claim the cash. But it's all a bit suspect to me. The T&Cs of it all seem suspicious as well.

Website is www.value-group-ireland.com but there's feck all on it. Plus they don't have a proper address but a PO Box no.

Anyone else get these???

whiskeyman

yup - my mother got one of these.
She's too wise and clever though to know to well its a scam.
I fear many people (esecially the elderly) may fall victim to this.
Note all the small print how its "an ongoing promotion" and its not a "competition or lottery".
Anyone, especially of a legal background, know how they can legally get away with such clear scams?

seamus

Threads merged.

ionapaul

The people behind this are SCUM - I have more respect for computer hackers who illegally steal from banks than these people who legally steal from confused, trusting or old people. What a way to make a living

whiskeyman

ionapaul wrote:

The people behind this are SCUM - I have more respect for computer hackers who illegally steal from banks than these people who legally steal from confused, trusting or old people. What a way to make a living

Is there anyway to scam the scammers?

Something like this http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3887493.stm

Anyone got ideas? I'm sure nearly everyone would join in.
Come on boardsters! Lets unite to stick it to this shower of scum!

mad m

Wife got cheques in post yesterday,heard on radio it was a scam.Ripped up in bin.

No thank you.



Well i hope they werent real

stagolee

im sure their wise to this by now but its a good read anyway
http://www.man1bank0.com/

Hobbes

anyone got a scan of them? Also look on the paperwork for a printers code (the company that printed them).