SCAMS AND HOW TO AVOID THEM

I remember our first cruise. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed the guest lecturers. One of the lecturers showed us how easy it was to pick pocket someone. There were about 400 people in the audience. He showed us a taping of how he had just pickpocketed 15 people from the audience. He had pickpocketed watches, wallets, jewelery and even someone's silver buckeled belt.

Here are a few scans:

1. "Fake Baby" - a few people are gathered around you and a woman with a baby "trips" and throws her "baby" into your arms. That "baby" is a doll and while you are grabbing for the baby, other people - sometimes children will be taking your wallet or camera from you.

2. "Pizza Anyone?" - In hotels around Disney World, people were finding pizza delivery menus conveniently slipped under their doors. There was a line for your telephone, credit card and delivery time. Oops...you just got duped by identity thiefs.

3. "Don't take that Rap" - in NYC, a singer stands on the corner and shouts, "Check out my music" and hands you a free copy of his CD. He seems nice and even offers to autograph it. Great, right? NO, once you are holding the autographed disc, his buddies surround you and demand that you pay him for the disc.

4. "Watch out before you grab your cab in Las Vegas" - One of the common scams in LV is a cabbie who INSISTS on unloading your bags when you arrive to your hotel or airport. He says he is in a hurry, slams his trunk shut and speeds away. When you turn around and recover from his rudeness, you realize that he sped away with a piece of your luggage. ALWAYS note the driver's name, name of the cab company and cab number.

5. "But it was free" - Free massages by the water sounds relaxing, right? One of my dearest friends had their wallet stolen as he enjoyed his "free" massage by the water in Thailand.

If you have any stories to share, please let me know.
The more that we share these stories, the safer we will be!
Mari

SOUTH COAST PLAZA: BE PAID TO SHOP!!!

My clients have an opportunity to enjoy many value added amenities because of my association with VIRTUOSO. An example of this is at SOUTH COAST PLAZA in Costa Mesa, CA. South Coast Plaza is one of the few malls in the country that are a part of Virtuoso.

The Virtuoso amenities include:

****Complimentary daily valet parking

****Entrance to ACCESS VIP Suite offering complimentary refreshments and a dedicated

concierge

****Gift of a South Coast Plaza leather luggage tag

****BEST OF ALL!!!! $50 South Coast Plaza gift certificate to guests staying at:

Montage Laguna Beach

Pelican Hill

The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel

St. Regis Monarch Beach

(one certificate per room per hotel per year)

This fun opportunity is for people who live outside of Orange County. So, for ANYONE who loves to shop...please contact me about "Shop 'till You Drop" at South Coast Plaza or staying at the hotels that I've listed.

Happy Travels!

Mari Marks

mari.marks@protravelinc.com