Pommie Con Trick ?

[BrianJ]

Did anyone get caught?

Here is the story… My daughter was in London for a week in July ( working). I asked her to bring me back the latest copy of Yachting Monthly as we receive our copies here in OZ some two months after release.

She did, and I was pretty happy at having the most up to date copy.. As I opened the magazine, some inserts fell out. One turned out to be a “scratchy” which promised big prizes if I won. All I had to do was to scratch the squares… well imagine my surprise when I won UK pounds 25, 000.00.That’s about AU$75,000.00. Nice says I.

To claim all I had to do was to send my claim form and a stamped addressed envelope, plus UK pounds 29.00 (processing fee) to Casino Competitions in Cheshire. Plus make a telephone call to them.

I sent my stamped addressed enveloped, told them to deduct the UK pounds 29.00 from my winnings and send me the money. You guessed it, no reply. Now in today’s mail (a couple of months later) comes my stamped addressed envelope. More scratchies, yep I have now won UK Pounds 10,000.00 a few saucepans and cameras etc.

Plus an UK Pounds 50.00-holiday voucher FREE from Travel Quest (whoever they are)
Oh how lucky I am, I also have their brochure on their Limited Edition holiday packages

Now they do make it very clear that the prizes I have won are in no way connected to any magazine. So please don’t anyone think Yachting Monthly is involved in the “offer”.

Anyone want the prizes?

BrianJ

 

[davidhand]

I am not a lawyer but this seems pretty fraudulent to me. I am sure YM has nothing to do with it but if what you say is true they should at least make certain these people don't use their mag again. What are you comments YM?

 

[Strathglass]

Brian
Read the small print.
We get them all the time with about every magazine in the UK.
Read carefully, you will find that you have won one of six major prizes one of which is usually the let out such as a holiday. Perhaps for one person but to use it you must add flights, insurance etc only through their own agents. They are also only on pre selectable dates.
The trick is just reply to those you don't have to phone into and it just costs the price of a stamped addressed envelope and you might just win something.
They make their money from the high cost of phoning them from within the UK and then people do not take up the "prizes"

Iain

 

[jimi]

I think it is totally fraudulent and am surprised that the Office of Fair Trading has not stamped on it. I do wish that a reputable magazine would not associate themselves with these scams.

Jim

 

[robp]

See "Mag inserts" PBO Reader to Reader 21st August.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Aussie Con Trick

Just in case anyone is going out to Oz to watch the Ashes matches you should be aware of the following:

Three Brits and three Aussies are travelling by train to a Ashes match. At the station, the three Brits each buy a ticket and watch as the three Aussies buy just one ticket between them. 

"How are the three of you going to travel on only one ticket?" asks one of the Brits. 

"Watch and learn, mate" answers one of the Aussies. 

They all board the train. The Brits take their respective seats but all three Aussies cram into a toilet and close the door behind them. 

Shortly after the train has departed, the conductor comes around collecting tickets. He knocks on the toilet door and says,  "Ticket please." The door opens just a crack and a single arm emerges  with a ticket in hand.  The conductor takes it and moves on. 

The Brits see this and agree it was quite a clever idea. So after the game, they decide to copy the Aussies on the return trip and save some money (being clever with money, and all that). 

When they get to the station, they buy a single ticket for the return trip. To their astonishment, the Aussies don't buy a ticket at all!! 

"How are you all going to travel without any ticket?" says one perplexed Brit. 

"Watch and learn, cobber" answers an Aussie. 

When they board the train the three Brits pack into one toilet and the three Aussies cram into another nearby. The train departs.
 
Shortly afterwards, one of the Aussies leaves the toilet and walks over to the toilet where the Brits are hiding. 
 
He knocks on the door and says, "Ticket please."