Online travel agent Hotwire is warning consumers and potential travelers of a new scam administered via an old medium - a facsimile.
The scam involves a fax purporting to be a memorandum from the "H.R. Dept." to "All Employees." Within the fax, the company is offering vacation packages at a deeply discounted prices to employees through Hotwire. The fax displays an old corporate logo for Hotwire, presumably in an effort to falsely imply some involvement by the company in the offer.
Hotwire is telling consumers they should be aware that the only legitimate way to book travel on Hotwire is through its website, www.hotwire.com, or by calling the customer care number at 1-866-468-9473. Hotwire does not engage in telemarketing nor does it send faxes soliciting travel deals, the company said.
Hotwire did offer several helpful hints to prevent consumers from being victimized by illegal travel scams, including:
* Do not respond to any fax solicitations purporting to be associated with Hotwire - the phone numbers provided are part of a scam and are in no way associated with Hotwire.
* If you have communicated to individuals at phone numbers provided on the faxes before, cease further communications.
* Do not provide personal or payment information over the phone to any individuals reached at phone numbers listed on the fax solicitations.
* Report any fax solicitations you receive to [email protected]. Hotwire says your attention to the matter ensures that the company remains aware of any new variations on the scam, and may aide in identification of the fraudulent parties responsible.
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