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Izzy
Hawk
Joined: Jun 06, 2006
Posts: 357
Location: Maple Glen, PA
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Posted:
Tue Mar 18, 2014 7:43 pm |
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Late last year (Sep/Oct I think) I posted that I was getting married in April ... Fortunately that is not the scam, but for a honeymoon I booked a trip to Hawaii for a 7 day cruise that included 4 motorcycle excursions. This apparently has turned out to be a scam. The trip was booked through a travel agency web site I found ... http://hdmotorcycletours.com/tours/ "Ride Hawaii"
I gave them my credit card, DL, and other information they requested. By February I had not received ANY reservation or confirmations. After hounding them with phone calls and emails, they finally gave me what they called a cabin reservation which was then cancelled two days later. When I hounded them about that, they assured me that this happens when they book groups and that I would not get all the final confirmations until 30 days before departure. 30 days before departure was last Sunday. Yesterday still not having received any confirmations, I contacted my credit card company and am disputing all the charges. I don't know yet if I will get all or even any of my money back, but I am sure going to give them hell until I do.
My reason for posting this is not for sympathy but rather to inform and alert you all in case anyone you know is considering this outfit ... do yourself a favor, stay away from them.
Apparently the travel agency is owned and operated by a woman named Rupal Maritnez in Carson City, NV. Her name was listed for a few travel agencies including HD Motorcycle Tours, GoGo Worldwide Travel, and Discount Travel. Once I had her name, I searched google and found similar complaints from other people. What a frickin mess!! |
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toddk
CB1100F
Joined: Mar 25, 2004
Posts: 2286
Location: Saratoga Springs, New York
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Posted:
Tue Mar 18, 2014 7:51 pm |
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Thanks Izzy, congratulations on your wedding, everything will work out, don't let them get away.
Best regards,
Toddk |
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Izzy
Hawk
Joined: Jun 06, 2006
Posts: 357
Location: Maple Glen, PA
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Posted:
Tue Mar 18, 2014 8:01 pm |
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Thanks Todd. I know everything always works out. I suppose I'm mostly angry at myself as I had a gut feeling something wasn't right about this even back in December ... But I was just enchanted by the thought of riding in Hawaii and went against my better judgement. |
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pn27416
Black CB750F
Joined: Nov 22, 2005
Posts: 964
Location: Coopersburg PA
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Posted:
Tue Mar 18, 2014 8:51 pm |
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My wife and I did our Hawaiian honeymoon with gogo tours, who look to possibly be the same as the gogo you mention. There is a warminster PA address. You anywhere near there, where you could drop in? |
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Izzy
Hawk
Joined: Jun 06, 2006
Posts: 357
Location: Maple Glen, PA
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Posted:
Tue Mar 18, 2014 9:45 pm |
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pn27416 wrote: |
My wife and I did our Hawaiian honeymoon with gogo tours, who look to possibly be the same as the gogo you mention. There is a warminster PA address. You anywhere near there, where you could drop in? |
I am minutes away from Warminzter. Will look them up now. Thanks. |
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SteveG
Silver CB900F
Joined: Apr 07, 2006
Posts: 1552
Location: Skaneateles, NY
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Posted:
Tue Mar 18, 2014 10:43 pm |
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Go get 'em!!!
Congrats too!
Steve |
_________________ \'79 CB750(810)F, \'81 CB900(985)F, \'82 CB900(Going to be 1100)F, \'82 CBX, \'06 WeeStrom, \'22 CanAm Ryker Rally |
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deandeib
Silver CB750F
Joined: Jan 29, 2013
Posts: 612
Location: Southeast PA
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Posted:
Tue Mar 18, 2014 11:47 pm |
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Congratulations Izzy!
And all the best to you and your bride. I'm sure the trip itself will be great. Just don't let any aspect of it (like the apparent scam, that may not be after all) steal any of your joy. Six years ago, my wife and I honeymoon'd in Key Largo. One night we drove down the street for some Chinese. In the hotel room after our food we got to the fortune cookies. Mine said, "Stop searching forever, happiness is right next to you". It's laminated and taped to our kitchen cabinet. Make as many great experiences as you can and take lots of pics and video.
Dean |
_________________ deandeib |
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silversurfer1050
Red CB1100F
Joined: Nov 09, 2004
Posts: 3845
Location: Wisconsin
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Posted:
Wed Mar 19, 2014 4:11 am |
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Izzy
Hawk
Joined: Jun 06, 2006
Posts: 357
Location: Maple Glen, PA
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Posted:
Thu Mar 20, 2014 2:21 pm |
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I know I'm biased being the victim but I believe this is a federal offense. FWIW, I contacted the local FBI agency in Philly. The investigator I spoke to told me they simply do not have the manpower to follow up on something like this. She said unless the crimes totaled at least $50K, they do not investigate it. She directed me to a website where I can file my complaint so it is on record in case someone in the FBI searches for and finds my information useful.
While this may not actually be viable I wonder if there are any rules, regulations, or procedures for private investigations? What if I collected all the pertinent information to build a case? Who do I then take it to? |
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Shawn_Mc
CB1100F
Joined: Jul 30, 2012
Posts: 2814
Location: Anaheim Hills, Ca.
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Posted:
Thu Mar 20, 2014 4:54 pm |
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Izzy wrote: |
I know I'm biased being the victim but I believe this is a federal offense. FWIW, I contacted the local FBI agency in Philly. The investigator I spoke to told me they simply do not have the manpower to follow up on something like this. She said unless the crimes totaled at least $50K, they do not investigate it. She directed me to a website where I can file my complaint so it is on record in case someone in the FBI searches for and finds my information useful.
While this may not actually be viable I wonder if there are any rules, regulations, or procedures for private investigations? What if I collected all the pertinent information to build a case? Who do I then take it to? |
I think the problem might be the jurisdiction. Because its a fraud over state lines, it falls into the bucket of the FBI. The problem seems to be the the FBI arent interested in frying this particular fish because its too small. You may be able gain some attention by putting together a number of people that have been defrauded, how you'd actually do that is tough. The FBI loves that wire fraud stuff, but if its not enough money...what do you do?
Figuring that your case is average, how many of you would it take to breach 50K? |
_________________ Use your head and be respectful, stupid aint cool. |
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norm
Silver CB900F
Joined: Jan 13, 2010
Posts: 1401
Location: Melbourne Aus
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Posted:
Thu Mar 20, 2014 10:06 pm |
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I have no idea how it can be done but some years ago a bloke bought a bike from a supplier in India that was a dodgy seller but he had a web site. The buyer who had paid for the bike and hadn't recieved it, set up his own web page titled "Madan Motors is a Thief" so anytime anybody googled Madan Motors they also got the site to look at. After some time they agreed to refund his money if he took the web page down. He did, money refunded and he put the web page straight back up again. I think it is still there to this day |
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Izzy
Hawk
Joined: Jun 06, 2006
Posts: 357
Location: Maple Glen, PA
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Posted:
Fri Mar 21, 2014 6:56 pm |
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norm wrote: |
I have no idea how it can be done but some years ago a bloke bought a bike from a supplier in India that was a dodgy seller but he had a web site. The buyer who had paid for the bike and hadn't recieved it, set up his own web page titled "Madan Motors is a Thief" so anytime anybody googled Madan Motors they also got the site to look at. After some time they agreed to refund his money if he took the web page down. He did, money refunded and he put the web page straight back up again. I think it is still there to this day |
Thats funny, and I am considering putting up a blog page that will contain header/meta data that would allow it to come up in a google search appropriate to this travel agent. I'll post the link if and when I do that. |
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Izzy
Hawk
Joined: Jun 06, 2006
Posts: 357
Location: Maple Glen, PA
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Posted:
Fri Mar 21, 2014 8:54 pm |
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pn27416
Black CB750F
Joined: Nov 22, 2005
Posts: 964
Location: Coopersburg PA
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Posted:
Fri Mar 21, 2014 9:28 pm |
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Good idea on the blog Izzy! Norm, love your story as well. Stick it to these crooks.
Maybe try a collection agency? We have at work once in a while and some of them get pretty tough and pesty while keeping it legal. |
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Izzy
Hawk
Joined: Jun 06, 2006
Posts: 357
Location: Maple Glen, PA
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Posted:
Tue Apr 15, 2014 4:59 pm |
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As of last Friday, I got all my credits back! I was getting quite concerned, but Friday I looked at my account and to my amazement there were all the credits.
Phew! What a relief!! |
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cbxdog
Rest in Peace
Joined: Mar 08, 2005
Posts: 12974
Location: The Sticks
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Posted:
Tue Apr 15, 2014 5:01 pm |
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Izzy wrote: |
As of last Friday, I got all my credits back! I was getting quite concerned, but Friday I looked at my account and to my amazement there were all the credits.
Phew! What a relief!! |
Good for you Iz,, glad it worked out |
_________________ 1979 CBX
1979 CBX
1979 CBX
1980 CBX
1983 CB1100F
1980 CB1100RB Replica SC05 engine
1982 CB1100RC
1982 CB1100RC - basket case
1970 HD FLH
1976 HD FX
1983 HD FXRT
1988 FX 85th anniversary
1970 AMC Javelin
1982 AMC Spirit 360 5 speed |
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sillygoose
CB1100F
Joined: Oct 18, 2012
Posts: 2567
Location: Skaneateles, NY
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Posted:
Tue Apr 15, 2014 5:05 pm |
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Now you can enjoy your honeymoon a little better, glad it worked out for you. Hope you find a nice bike rental in HI. |
_________________ 1983 CB1100F
1981 CB985F |
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deandeib
Silver CB750F
Joined: Jan 29, 2013
Posts: 612
Location: Southeast PA
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Posted:
Thu Apr 17, 2014 9:17 am |
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Congtatz Izzy! Glad it worked out and a good lesson and advice for any of of us other potential victims of asshole scam artists. Guess your web post was effective. Now go and enjoy. |
_________________ deandeib |
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Pointdiver
CB1100F
Joined: Aug 14, 2005
Posts: 3201
Location: Cape Cod, MA
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Posted:
Thu Apr 17, 2014 5:41 pm |
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Glad it worked out for you! |
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PGSmick
CB1100F
Joined: Nov 04, 2004
Posts: 2437
Location: Newton, MA
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Posted:
Thu Apr 17, 2014 9:14 pm |
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Izzy wrote: |
As of last Friday, I got all my credits back! I was getting quite concerned, but Friday I looked at my account and to my amazement there were all the credits.
Phew! What a relief!! |
I'm happy you got your end back (except for the anguish, of course). While I have no particular sympathy for the credit card company, I wonder if they ate the charges or whether the purveyor is feeling the sting? |
_________________ Peter.
1100 X 2 & 750
"Once you know how it's supposed to work, you can almost always figure out why it doesn't."
Gadgets: Fixed By Smicks |
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