I got involved in a real comedy of a scam involving a too-good-to-be-true offer of a vacation to Tahiti. First the deal was $400 for two people and included roundtrip airfare for 2 people from Los Angeles to Tahiti, hotel, inter-island flights and one meal a day. Just wire the money to this guy in Las Vegas. Ridiculous, huh? But someone I trusted said Mario Haubert from OnlyTahiti.com was good for it. And Chuck figured that the worst that could happen was that we paid off someone’s gambling debt in Las Vegas.
Well, I sent OnlyTahiti.com $400 on Aug. 3, 2007, and then was foolish to send him another $400 a few weeks later. He promised to send me airline confirmation codes, but he kept putting me off and putting me off.
Months later, after he disconnected his phone and claimed to have had his e-mail disrupted by a virus, I got an intermediary to get him to call me. And he finally agreed to refund my money in January.
Yet, here it is almost March, and I still am no closer to seeing Mario Haubert return my money.
On Monday, after I first blogged about this, he called me from a “caller ID blocked” number, all indignant that I could think that he was pulling a scam. “I would never screw you,” he insisted, telling me I would have my money on Thursday.
Thursday came and went.
He called me twice today (Friday, Feb. 22) to say that he got an e-mail from his bank saying that a check to cover my refund had been received. His banker said the money wouldn’t clear his account until next Friday, Feb. 29.
“I give you my word, Kathy,” Haubert said. “The latest it will be is Friday.”
Yada yada yada.
I’ve excerpted some of the e-mails and phone conversations from this guy below.
It’s a bit embarassing for me to admit I sent this guy money, but I hope no one else gets taken in by this nonsense — or sees it for what it is: a pathetic comedy.
Date: August 3, 2007 2:35:50 PM PDT (CA)
From: “Mario Haubert” <m.haubert@hotmail.com>
8 DAY / 2 TAHITI / 2 MOOREA / 2 HUAHINE / 2 BORA BORAALL INCLUDE / LAX -TAHITI / INTERISLANDS FLIGHTS ……$400WESTERN UNION TOWILLIAM GULP / LAS VEGAS
Aug. 25, 2007:
| Taxes and Service Fees: |
Air Reservations.Prices quoted are subject to additional charges, including but not limited to: (i) Airport Passenger Facility Charges that range from $2-$18 USD, depending on itinerary; (ii) Federal Segment Fees of $3.20 USD per segment (defined as a takeoff and a landing); (iii) the September 11th Security Fee of $2.50 USD per flight segment (maximum charge per trip of $5.00 USD one-way, $10.00 USD round-trip; (iv) a Travel Facilities Tax of up to $13.40 USD per round-trip for domestic flights beginning or ending in Alaska; and (v) for international itineraries, foreign and U.S. government-imposed charges of up to $200.00 USD per round trip, depending on routing and destination. Air fares may be subject to additional restrictions, may not be available on all flights, and may change without notice. Specific fare rules are provided prior to purchase.
Kathy
Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2007 21:04:42 -0700
Subject: Reservations for Tahiti
To: m.haubert@hotmail.com
Hi, Mario, I haven’t heard from you regarding our reservations for March.Can you confirm that you received my e-mail from last week, please? And that you are sending our confirmations so we don’t have to cancel this trip and request a refund?Thanks,hello Kathy ,confirmation coming tomorrow . thank you
Oct. 18, 2007: “I’ll get you confirmation dates this weekend.”
Jan. 14, 2008: “I am paid on the 28th of the month [and will refund you then]“
Jan. 18, 2008: “refund by the end of this month”
Feb. 18, 2008 via phone: Will send money on Thursday (Feb. 21, 08)
Tags: mario haubert has my money, onlytahiti.com, tahiti scam, vacation
