FRENCH LICK, Ind. — It’s that time of year for a certain kind of fraud, and one credit union here is warning its members over what it is calling a “sophisticated” scam that other CUs may also want to be giving attention
According to Crane Credit Union, the new mail scam targets Indiana residents by exploiting the name of one of the state’s most iconic landmarks, with numerous reports from members of fraudulent letters appearing in local mailboxes designed to look like official correspondence from the French Lick Resort.
Crane Credit Union told WBIW the scam letters claim the recipient has been “chosen” to receive a complimentary vacation package, typically including:
- A multi-day hotel stay for two adults and two children.
- Up to $150 in “spending money.”
- A retail value estimated between $550 and $750.
Recipients Urged to Make Phone Calls
“The letters instruct recipients to call a specific phone number to ‘activate’ their prize. However, authorities warn that this is a phishing trap designed to harvest sensitive financial data,” WBIW reported. “According to Crane Credit Union and consumer protection reports, callers who dial the number are connected to a fraudulent ‘travel department.’ The operators—who are not affiliated with the resort—will ask for a credit or debit card number under the guise of covering ‘incidentals,’ ‘service fees,’ or a ‘refundable deposit.’”
As credit union leaders are aware, and as WBIW cautioned, in many cases, the scammers use the information to make unauthorized purchases or sell the data on the dark web. In other variations of the scam, the “free” trip is used as bait to lure victims into high-pressure sales presentations for illegal or unregulated vacation clubs, the report added.
The French Lick Resort has officially confirmed it is not sending these letters and has no affiliation with the “giveaway,” and WBIW reported the Better Business Bureau (BBB) noted these “Golden Ticket” style scams often resurface during the spring and summer travel seasons.
