Posted in: Recent Updates | Tagged:

Is Hotel Room Offer A San Diego Scam?

Published Wed, 14 Apr 2010 09:30:06 -0500

Last updated Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:32:43 -0500

In the last week or two, a number of comic book professionals have been approached by an individual offering San Diego Comic Convention-scheduled hotel rooms at very good prices. Even in locations such as the Grand Manchester Hyatt, which is meant to be block booked out by Al Gore and his health convention.

HELLO COMIC-CON EXHIBITOR ATTENDEE:

Have you made your hotel accommodations for the show yet? Did you get first choice? XXXXXXXX has no booking fees, change fees
or cancellation fees and YOU WILL NOT BE CHARGED UNTIL YOU RECEIVE YOUR CONFIRMATION NUMBERS! Why not take care of your rooms now in order to get them as close to the convention center as possible, and at these rates, you are getting a 4 or 5 star hotel at a 3 star hotel rate.

Please call me or email if any of these hotels interest you:

Courtyard by Marriott (8 blks) $189 shuttle availability
Doubletree Hotel – Front St (1 mile) $149 shuttle availability
Doubletree Hotel – Mission Valley (3 miles) $169 no
Hard Rock Hotel (1 blk) $259 shuttle availability
Hilton San Diego Bay-front (HOST) (1 blk) $249 shuttle availability
Manchester Grand Hyatt (2 blks) $199 shuttle availability
Omni San Diego Hotel (2 blks) $199 shuttle availability
Marriott Gaslamp Quarter (2 blks) $202 shuttle availability
Marriott Hotel & Marina (HOST) (Adjacent) $239 shuttle availability
Westin Gaslamp Quarter (5 blks) $179 shuttle availability
Also for your information I can help you with all of your shows, that you are currently working on, as we have inventory across the country and internationally too. I look forward to hearing from you.

It seemed to good to be true.

I posed as a comic book professional (I know, I know, bit of a stretch) asking about rooms. This was the back-and-forth conversation that followed.

What can you tell me about Hyatt availability?

The Manchester Grand Hyatt is still available. How many rooms do you need and what are your arrival dates? Please advise.

Can I ask how you've managed to pull this off? The Hyatt is reportedly booked up by Al Gore and his boys, equally hotels in the vicinity are seemingly full.

I totally understand… We are a wholesaler. We go through some of the same contacts that the "others" do… only we are not as big so therefore can cut some-of the headaches out. ie., like "general public" availability vs. our availability… Oh and by the way, I've just booked XXXXX Comics who is exhibiting as well…

I've just spoken to senior contacts at XXXX Comics, those who deal with said bookings, who not only say that you are not their contact but they have never heard of your company.

Without breaking any client agreements, at this point, I would like to invite you not to use XXXXXXX as your travel and housing agency.

So there you go. I've used XXXXX just to be on the safe side. And it's always possible that you may be able to get a great hotel deal at the rates advertised. But just not me anymore it seems.

As always, as in any transaction, buyer beware.

***

Also, talking of scams, this email has been sent to certain comic book pros…

From: Jesse Young
Date: April 14, 2010 7:46:53 AM CDT
To: undisclosed-recipients: ;
Subject: Terrifying Experience !!! Help.

I'm writing this with tears in my eyes,my family and I came down here
to Cardiff,United Kingdom for a short vacation unfortunately we were
mugged at the park of the hotel where we stayed,all cash,credit card
and cell were stolen off us but luckily for us we still have our
passports with us.

We've been to the embassy and the Police here but they're not helping
issues at all and our flight leaves few hours from now but we're
having problems settling the hotel bills and the hotel manager won't
let us leave until we settle the bills,I'm freaked out at the moment.

—
Jesse J. Young
Co-Founder/Publisher
Saint James Comics, LLC
www.WhoisSaintJames.com