I received a call last week from a company called Eat and Stay Free saying that I was chosen for a special short period promotion by purchasing only 109 dollars, I get to spend 7 nights in more than 100 hotels across Australia and New Zealand. By just purchasing 2 meals for each person each day, I can have free accommodation as long as I’m finish with my 7 nights voucher. I was impressed that night, I was really considering that promotion before this. By paying only 109 dollars for 7 nights and is even for 2 adults? Which means only 55 dollars per person! Cool…
The call was made by an Indian lady, I don’t remember what her name is (who cares?), explaining to me the terms and conditions over the phone for more than 40 minutes. When I showed myself interested in it, then she passed me to another Indian guy which she claimed to be her manager called John.
When I asked about the payment method, he was so convincing saying that they are a registered Australian company. Giving me the following details.
Address: 79, Oxford Street, Bondi Junction, NSW 2022.
ABN : 59111673968
I told him I need sometime to think about it, I will give him a call back if I’ve decided to purchase it, he says that this is a short period promotion, I won’t be able to contact him through the office number. (Huh?) He says that perhaps he can give me a call back and he is taking his risk to reserve the voucher for me. I asked him to call back to me yesterday for my decision.
I asked my friend, KahPeng, whether if he wants to share with me since the voucher is for 2 adults. He looked doubtful, my fault. I was the one trying to convince him about this promotion. Anyway, we decided to buy it after this.
This manager called back yesterday, and we talk about the payment method, he asked me for my credit card number and expiry date (Something fishy here), I was quite worried, how can I just give you my credit card number?! He tried to convinced me paying through credit card, but lucky me, I did not. In the end, he has no option but to ask me to pay him through money order.
The money order is send to a P.O. BOX, not even the address to the office. I was still blinded. I send the money to this address,
P.O.Box 1607, Bondi Junction, NSW 1355.
I’ve made my payment in the post office this morning. He called in to me again today for the money confirmation and asking me if any other of my friends are interested in this promotion, and I really did say to him maybe my friend Benjamin is interested in it, and ask him to call back.
KahPeng have a check on the internet later about this company just now, this is where the interesting part started.
The ABN number provided by the “manager” shows that the name is under Freedom Escape Pty. He even managed to find another ABN number which Freedom Escape was using ealier and it was deregistered! (Being canceled) He managed to find a forum regarding some scams from this Freedom Escape company on the internet, the promotion they were discussing in the forum are exactly like mine!
And there are more than 200 websites under the Freedom Escape domain name, Eat and Stay is one of them. The worst thing is, even the theme they used for these websites are the same! Oh god… Rubbish!
I quickly rushed to the post office just few minutes before it close. I managed to cancel my money order and cash back my money. Lucky me, imagine if I have use my credit card to pay him.
He called in the last time trying to ask my friends to purchase the promotion, this time I was prepared. I had everything in my mind on how to question him.
(Due to a long conversation, I’ve sort out, and only write the important one.)
Me: Is Freedom Escape under your company?
Manager: Where have you heard of it?
Me: I saw it from the internet, you all are related?
Manager: Freedom Escape is our mother company.
Me: I saw from the internet rumors that they are scammers.
Manager: We are not scammers, don’t worry. You had our ABN number, you can trace our company information.
Me: I can simply setup a company and register an ABN number easily, it does not prove anything.
Manager: You have paid to Eat and Stay, you have the receipt of it, if we did not give you the voucher, you can come out and show the receipt that you have paid to us.
Me: It only proves that I’ve paid you the money, for what? I have no evidence shows that you are going to send me the voucher. so?
Me: Speaking of ABN number, I even managed to find out that Freedom Escape previous ABN number was being canceled.
Manager: We are not Freedom Escape, we are Eat and Stay Free. (Now you say so…)
Me: I thought you all are under Freedom Escape?
Manager: We are not scammers, if you want, I can even give you my credit card number.
Me: I don’t want your credit card number, only scammers need that. (Like you asking for mine earlier.)
Menager: Look, we are company with good reputation…
Me: With those comments on the internet? I doubt that.
The following conversation was unnecessary. I told them I’ve cancel the money order, and probably will bring this case the the local police. He got a shock, I just shut the phone.
So beware guys, take note of this company. I would not say they sure are scammer. However, I’ve look through the cases discussed by other people in the forum, and with those comments, I must say it is not whatever they so call Special Promotion. The rest is up to you to judge.
P/S: Due to what I’ve written here, probably they have noticed what are the problems with their websites, when you see their websites, I’m not surprise they have changed it to look even more real to you all. Beware!
