Art Auction Credit Card Scam

[JadeNikki]

I just got back from my first cruise on the Carnival Inspiration. I don't know if this is a normal thing, but I thought I'd post it for those who don't know about it. This has nothing to do with the fact that most people think the art auctions are scams in themselves-just read another post about it and don't even want to get into that.

 

Anyway, I went to an auction on the ship for fun, to see what it was about and whatnot. Park West told us we could get a free print by becoming a member of their little club, and handed out a membership form. We started filling it out and a friend I was with questioned why they needed our social security number. I read over it and it was actually a GE credit card application.

 

Now, I'm assuming most people would see things like SSN and Co-applicant and pass on the "great offer", but there were people in the room feverishly filling them out so that they could get a free print, and I wanted to put it out there for anyone who might be going on a cruise/to an auction for the first time, or who just generally doesn't read things carefully.

 

Apologies if this is common knowledge, but like I said, it was my first cruise and I didn't want anyone to be tricked.

[Keith1010]

Good post and good information for those who were not aware.

 

Keith

[Arzeena]

I just got back from my first cruise on the Carnival Inspiration. I don't know if this is a normal thing, but I thought I'd post it for those who don't know about it. This has nothing to do with the fact that most people think the art auctions are scams in themselves-just read another post about it and don't even want to get into that.

 

Anyway, I went to an auction on the ship for fun, to see what it was about and whatnot. Park West told us we could get a free print by becoming a member of their little club, and handed out a membership form. We started filling it out and a friend I was with questioned why they needed our social security number. I read over it and it was actually a GE credit card application.

 

Now, I'm assuming most people would see things like SSN and Co-applicant and pass on the "great offer", but there were people in the room feverishly filling them out so that they could get a free print, and I wanted to put it out there for anyone who might be going on a cruise/to an auction for the first time, or who just generally doesn't read things carefully.

 

Apologies if this is common knowledge, but like I said, it was my first cruise and I didn't want anyone to be tricked.

 

Yes I have seen that too. It's some kind of pre approval for credit at Park West auctions.

[paul929207]

Thanks for the warning

[Hlitner]

Park West has had more then their share of bad publicity (and lawsuits) and has been dropped by several other cruise lines. You might want to Google "cruise line art auction scams" and live and learn.

 

Hank