[imagesource:flickr]

FlySafair is warning folks on Facebook to be cautious as there have been a couple of deceptive schemes making the rounds on social media involving fake flight offers.

One variant claims to provide a “free flights pass” for six months at a cost of only R38, while another promises a return flight and a weekend stay at a luxury hotel in Plettenberg Bay, also for R38.

It turns out, these offers are fraudulent advertisements created by a company based in Cyprus, reported Moneyweb.

They aim to deceive individuals into signing up for a membership with an unreliable online shop that sells party costumes. The schemes pose as lucky draws, prompting people to select a box for a chance to win free flights or a weekend getaway.

Subsequently, participants are asked to pay a R38 delivery or administration fee to claim their supposed prize.

Nonetheless, winners soon discover that divulging credit card information to Alwayspartys is a risky move. In the best-case scenario, you won’t get the promised six months of free flights or a weekend retreat in Plett, and you’re out R38.

Unfortunately, it gets even worse. The scam enrols you as a member of Alwayspartys and makes charges to your credit card every two weeks.

Stay cautious and avoid falling into this trap:

Image: Moneyweb/Facebook

The same goes for the scams that look deceptively good, like this one with people dressed in FlySafair uniforms in front of a FlySafair aircraft holding up a big boarding pass and proclaiming free flights for six months:

Image: Moneyweb/Facebook

Another version of the advertisement offers a FlySafair special; “Get a chance to fly free for 6 months. Click apply now to try and win your free flight pass.”

Once you click the link, you are asked to pick a box to see if you are a winner, but the only prize is a subscription to Alwayspartys, owned by Senkoza Limited in Cyprus. Then, the company has the gall to charge a subscription fee every two weeks for membership to Alwayspartys, which sells party costumes and decorations.

The costumes are a bunch of expensive nonsense and nothing you can wear in Plett because you won’t be flown there.

FlySafair chief marketing officer Kirby Gordon says the airline is aware of the scams and is fighting back.

[source:moneyweb]