# Message on answering machine: free Caribbean cruise? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 29, 2005, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-on-answering-machine-free-caribbean-cruise/333297 "2005-11-29T23:53:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2005, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-on-answering-machine-free-caribbean-cruise/333297/1 "2005-11-29T23:53:25Z")
When I got home from work last night there was a message on my answering machine telling me that I had won a free cruise in the Caribbean. The message accent was either Canadian or American (I can’t tell the difference) and the contact number to “claim” the prize was Nashville based. Is this a new scam that’s doing the rounds? ---
**Author:** ![Amaranta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Amaranta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amaranta)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2005, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-on-answering-machine-free-caribbean-cruise/333297/2 "2005-11-29T23:56:50Z")
Well, have you entered any contests for free cruises lately? And the fact it’s from an American company… it seems to me you most often have to be an American resident to enter American contests. I’d guess scam. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-on-answering-machine-free-caribbean-cruise/333297/3 "2005-11-30T00:06:03Z")
I’d guess scam, too, and these things aren’t even that new- I’ve been getting messages like that on my machine for years. On the principle of “If it sounds too good to be true, it almost certainly is”, I just delete them from my machine once I figure out that’s what it is. [Here](http://www.cruisecritic.com/cruiseplanning/articles.cfm?ID=88) and [here](http://www.expertlaw.com/library/consumer/cruise_vacation.html) are some details of what a “free cruise” scam might be. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-on-answering-machine-free-caribbean-cruise/333297/4 "2005-11-30T00:14:49Z")
While apparently not applicable to the OP’s situation, I’ve heard of another kind of ‘free cruise’ offer which is legitimate, but geared towards forcing a captive audience to watch a sales pitch about vacation property or something of that kind. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-on-answering-machine-free-caribbean-cruise/333297/5 "2005-11-30T00:31:12Z")
I thought the whole thing sounded a bit sus. I certainly haven’t entered any contests. Even if the offer were genuine, it seems like an odd way to promote a product. I can’t see many people from this part of the world taking up the offer, considering the costs involved in flying half-way around the world to the cruise’s departure point. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-on-answering-machine-free-caribbean-cruise/333297/6 "2005-11-30T04:58:40Z")
Hey, I got one of those too, about a week ago! A guy with an American accent. Interesting they’re targeting Aussies it seems, but I have no idea what the actual scam might be. I have been on a Carnival cruise in the Caribbean in 2000, but I never enter any contests. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-on-answering-machine-free-caribbean-cruise/333297/7 "2005-11-30T05:33:08Z")
> [@](#): > > Congratulations! You have just won a free cruise to the Bahamas! Now, if you’ll just give me your credit card number, to cover our handling fees and taxes, I’ll send you all the details on your trip!" If this sounds too good to be true, it is. Here’s the most common scenario: the scam operator will likely charge the amount to your credit card, collect the money and be gone before you know it. By the time you call back to see where your tickets are, the telephones will usually be disconnected, there will be no forwarding address and you will have to dispute the charge with your credit card company. > > [Cruise Critic](http://www.cruisecritic.com/cruiseplanning/articles.cfm?ID=88) Also, here’s a [very good link](http://www.expertlaw.com/library/consumer/cruise_vacation.html) with other things scammers will do to you.