Pati and Beebee were walking to the beach when a guy on a motorcycle called to them ("Do you speak English?"). They stopped - dumb idea. He said he was working for the Thailand department of tourism and wanted to ask them questions about their vacation in Phuket. This led to Pati and Beebee holding scratch-off cards to try to win a prize for answering the questions (there was the faint whiff of rat in the air).
Pati scratched his card and it revealed that he had only won a backpack. The survey guy seemed a little sad for Pati. Beebee then scratched her card and the guy's eyes went round as saucers (he wasn't native Thai). He said "Oh my gosh, you have won the grand prize!" He shook Beebee's hand and said this was great news for him too. Apparently anyone who discovered a grand prize winner got a prize himself.
Beebee had definitely won one of six prizes: (1) an iPad 2; (2) a luxury cruise; (3) 20,000 Baht in cash (a.k.a. $600 USD); (4) a laptop; (5) a dream holiday; or (6) an iPhone 4s. The survey guy then apologized and said "People just won the cruise and the laptop so those prizes aren't available." It sounded like Pati and Beebee had better act fast! He also wanted to make it clear that the iPhone was not the latest version (only version 4, not 5). Boy, that luxury vacation was looking good. Because of Beebee's good luck, he said it was urgent that they attend the "90 minute holiday presentation" and collect their prize. Gosh, where did that come from?
Pati and Beebee told the salesman they couldn't go immediately because they had an activity scheduled (they really did). The survey guy thought this was unwise but Pati and Beebee held firm. He then wanted to schedule a time the next day to pick Pati and Beebee up so they could collect their prize. Strangely enough, they were busy that day too (possibly because the rat smell was getting pretty strong). Try as they might, Pati and Beebee could not think of a time that they were free. The survey man was vexed! Finally, because it was getting really hot, Pati suggested that the survey man give them a number to call when they were free to be picked up. The survey man didn't think this was a good idea because prizes were slipping away and his boss was "a pretty busy man." However, this seemed to be the best Pati and Beebee could do so he relented. (The number [called from the US] is 011 66 84820134 and The TripAdvisor web site has a list of hotels for anyone who would like to be picked up. For example, lobby of the Indigo Pearl would be a lovely place to have them pick you up. Tell them Kishor sent you).
Pati and Beebee thought this was just another time share scam but learned that there is a special twist in Phuket. It seems that the scammers rent buildings for a couple of years that they present as their timeshare. Then they disappear with the money and the real owners of the building retake possession. The timeshare purchasers find themselves out of luck (and they say you can't get rid of a timeshare). To offset this problem, the scammers offer amazing deals!
When they realized their vacation would end before they had time for their "90 minute holiday presentation," Pati scratched the space on Beebee's card that told exactly which of the grand prizes she had won. It was the "dream holiday!" With a little research, they learned that this holiday was in the actual timeshare. They also learned that whenever someone tries to collect their prize the timeshare is fully booked. Those places must be great!
Pati scratched his card and it revealed that he had only won a backpack. The survey guy seemed a little sad for Pati. Beebee then scratched her card and the guy's eyes went round as saucers (he wasn't native Thai). He said "Oh my gosh, you have won the grand prize!" He shook Beebee's hand and said this was great news for him too. Apparently anyone who discovered a grand prize winner got a prize himself.
Beebee had definitely won one of six prizes: (1) an iPad 2; (2) a luxury cruise; (3) 20,000 Baht in cash (a.k.a. $600 USD); (4) a laptop; (5) a dream holiday; or (6) an iPhone 4s. The survey guy then apologized and said "People just won the cruise and the laptop so those prizes aren't available." It sounded like Pati and Beebee had better act fast! He also wanted to make it clear that the iPhone was not the latest version (only version 4, not 5). Boy, that luxury vacation was looking good. Because of Beebee's good luck, he said it was urgent that they attend the "90 minute holiday presentation" and collect their prize. Gosh, where did that come from?
Pati and Beebee told the salesman they couldn't go immediately because they had an activity scheduled (they really did). The survey guy thought this was unwise but Pati and Beebee held firm. He then wanted to schedule a time the next day to pick Pati and Beebee up so they could collect their prize. Strangely enough, they were busy that day too (possibly because the rat smell was getting pretty strong). Try as they might, Pati and Beebee could not think of a time that they were free. The survey man was vexed! Finally, because it was getting really hot, Pati suggested that the survey man give them a number to call when they were free to be picked up. The survey man didn't think this was a good idea because prizes were slipping away and his boss was "a pretty busy man." However, this seemed to be the best Pati and Beebee could do so he relented. (The number [called from the US] is 011 66 84820134 and The TripAdvisor web site has a list of hotels for anyone who would like to be picked up. For example, lobby of the Indigo Pearl would be a lovely place to have them pick you up. Tell them Kishor sent you).
Pati and Beebee thought this was just another time share scam but learned that there is a special twist in Phuket. It seems that the scammers rent buildings for a couple of years that they present as their timeshare. Then they disappear with the money and the real owners of the building retake possession. The timeshare purchasers find themselves out of luck (and they say you can't get rid of a timeshare). To offset this problem, the scammers offer amazing deals!
When they realized their vacation would end before they had time for their "90 minute holiday presentation," Pati scratched the space on Beebee's card that told exactly which of the grand prizes she had won. It was the "dream holiday!" With a little research, they learned that this holiday was in the actual timeshare. They also learned that whenever someone tries to collect their prize the timeshare is fully booked. Those places must be great!
Posted with Blogsy
When I said "Joe sent me"
ReplyDeleteSomeone laughed out loud behind the green door.
Perhaps I should have said Kishor sent me.
"The Green Door" by Jim Lowe
ReplyDelete