Travel Voucher Scam Exposed

[george]

Travel voucher scam exposed

Restrictions make `privileges' useless

BANGKOK: -- The Consumer Protection Board has warned of a scam in which victims are lured to sign up for travel privileges, only to find they are full of restrictions.

Secretary-general Anuwat Dharmadhaj said the board will insist on prosecution once the case goes to police investigators. Mr Anuwat said the operators, whom he declined to name, set up booths at tourism fairs and ask people to fill out personal information forms.

Customers were then offered free accommodation vouchers at tourist destinations in exchange for a 90-minute meeting.

Some are inveigled to pay a 5,000 baht deposit to guarantee they intend to use the privileges. Once at the meeting customers were prodded to apply for long-term membership for special privileges, and were humiliated if they refused.

Mr Anuwat said the membership contract was unfair and many had signed without reading it carefully.

``When they try to use their vouchers or use the rights in the contract, they find there are too many restrictions,'' he said.

--The Post 2004-04-12