Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona is alerting consumers to postcards being sent out across the Tucson area promising two round-trip airline tickets, a three day hotel stay, and a $50 Priceline.com Hotel Cash Card.

The postcards, which display the logos of US Airways, Priceline.com, and several well known hotel chains, urge consumers to call a toll free number where they’re told they need to attend a sales presentation for a vacation club in order to claim their vouchers.

Consumers who contacted BBB said they attended a sales presentation conducted by a company called Travel Authority, located at 1880 River Rd. Ste 100, in Tucson. BBB has attempted to contact the company to learn more information about them, but has yet to receive a response.

BBB warns that these types of presentations conclude with attempts to enroll consumers in discount or wholesale travel clubs, often promising steeply discounted rates for hotels, cruises, flights and travel packages.

In BBB experience, the upfront costs of enrollment in these programs are rarely if ever recouped. Promised travel discounts rarely materialize, customers find they must navigate a myriad of blackout dates and legitimate travel consolidators, lodgings, airlines and rental car agencies in some cases do not recognize credentials issued by these types of groups.

The company that fulfills the airline and hotel vouchers, Smart Travel and Incentives, is based in Orange, Florida, has a ‘D’ rating with BBB and has received 42 complaints since February of 2012. In response to past complaints, Smart Travel has stated that they sell their vouchers to third party companies- in this case Travel Authority- who use the vouchers as an incentive for a product or service the company offers.

A copy of Smart Travel’s terms and conditions for the airline tickets states that a deposit of $100 is required to collect the tickets, as well as a $75 processing fee for each ticket. Consumers are charged additional surcharges for travel during “peak season,” during conventions, and seven days before and after holidays.

For more information about travel clubs or other consumer issues, visit www.tucson.bbb.org or call (520)888-5353.

Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona is warning consumers of a scammer calling consumers offering a free Rosetta Stone English program, claiming all you have to do is pay the shipping.

A consumer was offered the “free Rosetta Stone English program” and agreed to pay the shipping charges. The caller was supposed to get back to the consumer to collect the shipping charges but never got that call. The call the consumer did get was from someone identifying themselves as an agent with US Citizenship and Immigration Services. The caller demanded that the consumer pay $800 for the Rosetta Stone program or they would be arrested and deported by an immigration officer.

BBB called the number, 909-939-4126 and spoke to the scammer, who was posing an immigration officer. As soon as he found out the BBB was calling, he hung up. We called the number again and there was a recording saying US Citizenship and Immigration Services, press one for English and two for Spanish. We pressed one, the phone was answered by a man saying “Justice Department, FBI, how can I help you?” When we started asking questions, he hung up.

This man is not working for the Justice Department, the FBI or the Citizenship and Immigration Services. He is using scare tactics to get people to pay $800 for the Rosetta Stone program.

Immigrants can be particularly vulnerable to these type of scams. There are language barriers, separation of family and friends, lack of understanding of US laws, fear of deportation, fear of law enforcement and cultural differences.

If you are interested in purchasing Rosetta Stone, go directly to the company, your local bookstore or your local computer software company. You can also check with your local library to see if they may have a copy you can check out.

Remember if it sound too good to be true, it probably is. If you have to pay anything at all, it’s NOT FREE. And never let anyone pressure you into giving them money for something that you think is not legitimate. If you or anyone you know has received a similar call, contact your local BBB and your local police department to report them.

Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona is hosting an orientation lunch in Sierra Vista on Wednesday, March 14, for both Accredited and non-accredited businesses, who wish to learn about the services and programs BBB offers to businesses.

Businesses will learn about the many benefits of being a BBB Accredited Business, what the 500,000 southern Arizona consumers who used BBB last year were looking for, and the various educational classes BBB offers for businesses, consumers, and military personnel.

The orientation will be at the Sierra Vista Chamber of Commerce, 21 E. Wilcox Drive. Email kbryant@tucson.bbb.org by 5 p.m. March, 12 to RSVP. Complimentary lunch is provided with an RSVP.

For more information contact Kory Bryant at (520)732-9823 or email kbryant@tucson.bbb.org.