World Connect review: Don't know how this company got my Contact details 93

Hi I received a call 20 May 2010, Ref J657 from World Connect, nr [protected] same thing, have to come in for the draw for same staff, plus food and drinks incl. I couldn't remember any competition that I entered for that and thought with the name World Connect it should be something to do with maybe a Cellphone place. Well thank goodness I search on internet for the name and saw all the people that "won"!

Thanks for the information!

Wow I cant believe how naive I am! When I first received the call I immediately said I'm not interested because its sounds like utter nonsense to me she somehow convinced me its legit! However ironically if you are promoting a company ie World Connect why is the site reference given as OurWinners? Thank god for Google and sites such as this one! Secondly I said to her i want email verification proof of being finalist and all details of the company, not surprisingly I never received this. I was certain I never entered but she was so persistent, ridiculously I almost got confused whether I had entered or had not. I was also invited to this 'Gilford Road' Im just so grateful to be aware now of their real reputation!

I received the same phone call on Friday 14 May 2010 saying that I also stood a chance to win a Chevy QQ Spark or one of the runner up prizes. The same lady, Sheila, called and said that I should leave my money at home. She said that they are aware that we are in a time when scams are around and that they are not associated to any travel schemes and would not try sell me anything. That it would take 30min then we could leave. She said that I had to bring my partner with so that if we do win the Chevy that he can sign witness. She asked me for my age, but the fact that I'm 23 didn't seem to be an issue.

The funniest thing is that my reference number is also J548. They can't even think of anything a little bit more original. The lady that called the second time to give me the directions was Tracey [protected].

Thank goodness for Google & the Complaintsboard.com!

Hulle het my ook nounet gebel. Ek het gelukkig voot die rekenaar gesit en hulle besigheid naam opgesoek. Hierdie copplaint site het eerste opgepop en ek het vinnig gelees en haar vertel wat ek lees. Toe gooi sy die foon in my oor neer. Dankie dan

Thank you Google and complaintsboard.com for the heads up they called me the same scheme even the same phone nr. A bunch of cruks when they gone call me again to give me directions I will give them my 2c about them.

Hey ppl thank you so much i recieved a call yesterday 20.04 2010 saying im in the final draw to win a car and since i'm 24yrs i should bring my parents or partner if he's more than 25 so that i can win this car. The've also faxed me invitation with a ref no J676. Tomorrow on the 22.04.2010 i was about to travel from witbank to midrand VIP Building thank goodness i decided to google the company world connect before travel to get more info. I'm surprise as did not enter any competition in a while plus i dont know where they got my contact. Thank you again for warning us, please somebody must do something about this.

same thing happened to me only his name was Adrain a indian guy form what he claims is a company called new vision but the frist lady said to me that this company's name is world connect . thank god for the internet .also got invited to 28 guildford drive in midrand. im a scaptic at heart so i knew it was to gud to be true . even though i am i still wana know of any body that really went the a what they came back home with .did they get any thing or where they never herd of again ?[human traficing is my suspision] ! has any body gone the nine rounds with them an lived to tell the tale ?

I received a call today (8 April 2010) to say that I entered a competition via sms last year October for a Chevvy Spark and is one of 5 lucky winners. I am guaranteed to win one of the prices. (List of prices is a Chevvy Spark, Ice maker, Quad bike, Ipod, Garmin GPS or Midweek Breakaway for 2 people.) But I have to be there in person in Midrand on Saturday the 10th. Didn't suspect anything funny as I do enter competitions from time to time, and I haven't won anything like this ever! I asked them to send me the details via fax to confirm.

Thank you to everybody that wrote to report this, and to Google! I am living in the Western Cape, so Midrand is almost on the other side of the country - I almost booked a flight in order to be there for the draw. Luckily I tried the hotline number as per the fax [protected]) and could not get through. So I Googled World Connect and what a surprise (or rather shock) to learn that it is a scam.

Got a call today (7 April 2010) with exactly the same details as listed above. List of prices the same (Chevvy Spark, Ice maker, Quad bike, etc etc). The agent was Thandi using telephone number [protected]). The latest scam will be 9 April in Midrand.

today 17 March 2010 i got the same call the lady's name was Busie, telling me i'm a guaranteed winner of some price and i have to come to their offices in Carlsworld to claim the prize as the sponsors will be in tommorrow 6pm. I was also told to bring my spouse with. Thank God i thought of google only to find all these comments. I'm suprised they still using the same tactic for such a long time and nothing can be done to stop them.

I can not believe it! Michael called me again today 12/3. Didn't even wait for him to tell me why he is calling me againafter I told Tracey yesterday that I'm not interested. I just told him I am not interested in time share. He put the phone down without saying another word...LOL

I got the call on the 10th of March. Michael was his name and he gave me the same ref no as some of the other bloggers J351. Interesting hey? I had a chat with good old GOOGLE and voila! I saved myself alot of time and money. Yesterday 11/3 when Tracey called, I told her I wasn't interested. She put down the phone so quickly without even asking why.

I had a phone call on Monday from World Connect offering the exact same thing and saying that even if I did not win the car I was GUARANTEED one of the other top prizes!
Another phone call today from 'Tracey' (stage name I'm sure) to confirm the address and time. Even to say the dress code is Smart Casual HA!

Luckily this rang alarm bells as I had already been duped in to a similar 'prize draw' scam a few years back by a Company trying to sell me time share, I wouldn't be surprised if it was World Connect the last time too! Anyway I decided to check up on the web, and lucky I did.
Perhaps I'll attempt to inconvenience them by playing along but never actually turning up. I hope they go to some expense, I seem to remember snacks and drinks the last time but the free food wouldn't make up for the fuel costs. Ah well.

Can't believe this is still allowed to go on, and it's not just a problem in South Africa either.
Disappointing to say the least, why they have to mislead people is beyond me. Why don't they simply advertise time-share in order to sell time-share?!

Hi to everyone i also got a call too from micheal 08/03/2010...from world connect
He says i have to come to Midrand to collect 6 prizes with Ref No. J351

chevrolet spark
ipod
ice machine
suzuki 250
navigation gprs
trip-Botswana

I fell for it but since reading the above complaints, World connect could go and sharve all their prizes in their... cause i almost went with my family as they insisted inconveniencing my loved ones, running after embarrassment and disapointment THANX to all your mails.

They guys got me today, received a call and was given a J642 ref number and that someone will call 2moro with direction and gave them a wrong surname. what is the worst that they can do? with one's info

I just got a call from a guy from World Connect. Said I entered a competition to win a car via SMS in November 2009 (Huh?). I am one of the finalists and must attend the draw with my wife tomorrow in Midrand (Thursday). I smelt a rat, because I was present when my parents-in-law was smooth talked into buying Holiday Club points with a similar scheme in Vereeniging 12 years ago.
So I searched the web...(Luckily!)
There is another scheme running with a similar technique on the Margate beachfront in front of the Wimpy. You'll be confronted by a sales person - you won a prize! So you are driven to the La Cote d'Azur timeshare flats close by to collect your prize. There you are confronted by a extremely battle -scarred an -ready salesman that will sell you Stocks and Stocks timeshare. The only way to let him go of you is to ask if he could loan you some money, because your mother died in the Transvaal somewhere and you would just like to ...

Watch this space - it's gonna happen folks! :-) We, the consumer, are gonna have the last laugh! HAHAHAHAHA!

These guys have been catching us out for about 4 to 5 years now. I recall my ex-fiance received a call 4 years back from these fraudsters. We were there on a saturday afternoon & I recall a guy from the freestate furiously leaving as we were walking in. Why are these guys still allowed to continue with this scam for so long? What has happened to the consumer counsel? Lets get rid of these blatant liars.

Yup Yup Yup I just got the same call as all of you! Im not goign to repaeat the entire thing, but its pretty much axactly the same as all of the above!
Its been going on for so long now, when will it end!?
Thank you google for making it possible to put a little bit of light in our lives on the situasion!

Vian form World Connect phoned me yesterday congratulating me on being a finalist for the competition I entered via sms last year in June for a lucky draw for a Chevy Spark. She told me that my number has been drawn and that me and my partner are one of the 16 finalists for the lucky draw in Midrand on Wednesday, 20 January 2010. I had a suspiscion that this was a hoax and asked her whether the transport and accommodation to get to this draw was included. She was a bit baffled and I had to exlain to her that I live in the Eastern Cape. Her responce was that I may nominate someone in Joburg to attend the draw on my behalf. She gave me her number [protected] and told me to phone her back as soon as I have a representative. She also told me that every finalist would win a prize such as quads, ipods, holiday packages, etc.
Thank goodness I looked up this company and came accross these complaints. I would not be able to have faced my friend in Joburg should he have gone to this hoax draw.
I am very curious to find out how these people get hold of our cellphone numbers and how they are still going without being caught?

hahaha lucklily i asked him what company he was phoning from... checked it out on google and landed up on this website! A guy name Frazer, he sounds like an african american male with a very deep voice and strange accent.

I asked him is this time share but he spinned me a story - no not at all this is a normal competition and i was in a lucky draw for a chev spark... I actually got more exited when he mentioned something about a quad bike!

I think I should send someone in my place who can go and crash that party maybe a bum from the street who can go and eat all their food up and sleep and snork aloud during their proposal pitch and then just walk away and tell them sjoe i really would like to go on your stupid holiday but I dont have the MONEY... EISH! MET EISH JA!

Just got a phone call from them, told me the same, that i entered a competition about 3months ago via sms and im 1 of 15 lucky people. i MUST come with my wife to sign as a witness incase i win the car...also i will get a free meal as there is also a resturant there... what a load of crap... not interested

I received a call about 10 min ago, this guy said my cell no came up as i endered a compention in June sometime, he even gave me a time of the sms that was send, he said the draw is the 28 Nov 09 at 11am. Well, VIP Building, Midrand just sounded familier, so i investigate a bit, the guy faxed me a voucher with a meal ticket for 2 and the tel no was [protected] / Ryan, ref no : J660, well, that number just ring, and ring, and ring, and ring. I'm sure this is another scam. Well, sorry for them, I'm not intrested!

I called a call from a LORRAINE today at lunch 12.11.09 with the same promises to all the other pipo I asked her where I enetered the competition she could not say she asked to fax me the brochure I agreed and and empasied I go woith my husband thank God I googled the company to my bewilderment I found lots of complaints and I thank my God that I checked it and what made me check it was I could not get through on that no [protected].These pipo think we are fools and do not have things to do like them I hate the timeshare story and ech time anyone calls you claiming you won a compeptioion you did not enter just know it's the timeshare story.

SOMEONE HAS TO STOP THEM IT'S UNFAIR TO WASTE PIPO'S TIME AND FUEL

Hey members, Im also recruited yesterday, 04 Nov 2009. I received a call from a guy telling me that I've won a trip to anywhere in SA.

Initially, I entered sabc2 competition (DIY nutsman Riaan). Yesterday I was told that the draw was done on the 12th of Oct 2009 and I was unlucky, but I won a 5 days trip for two to anywhere in South Africa. The prize will be valid for 12 months (07 Nov '09 until 07 Nov '10).
Im still waiting for a phone call from the manager for the directions to 28 Guildford at Midrand.

People Im 300kms away from Midrand. Im in Ermelo, Mpumalanga. I would have waisted my leave days, my time, my money, my last dear fuel, my energy, loaded more than 600kms to my car for nothing because of these bloody scams.

Guys lets work together and take this company to someone for help.
These people are not that clever because they're using same strategy, same address, tel no & ref no to catch us.

Worried
Lynette

so the server's psu decided to die and i could not take the call - i hope he calls again!?!

i got the same call and have forgotten his name now. he sounded mid 30s and in a big workshop kinda room..very suspect.
so he's gonna call back at 3. he called via telkom line. so i googled like all clever people.

Thank you guys n ladies, now i'm supercharged with info to ask..

i'll post my find below!

Hi

I received a call on Friday, 16 October 2009, from a person named Michael from the number [protected]. Apparently I sent a sms on 27 September 2009 to enter into a competition, and I could win one of six prizes
1. A Chevy Spark
2. A Garmin GPS
3. A Suzuki quad bike
4. Ice maker
5. Apple Ipod
6. A holiday to Botswana

I was given a reference number J351 and was told that a member of their management would phone me later to inform me which prize I have won. I would then have to attend an event at Voda World in JHB to collect my prize. I was asked to dress smart-casual as photographs would be taken for The Sunday Times.
They asked me to bring someone with to sign as a witness.
I was suspicious and therefore went to GOOGLE and searched for “World Connect competition” to see which competition they were running at the time.
What did I find? All these complaints of this company ripping people off!
I could not believe that they even use the same reference number!

All I can say is thanks to everyone who has posted their complaints especially the person who started this complaint. You saved many people going through a lot of trouble for NOTHING!

O, and thank you GOOGLE!

Well no one is doing anything because IT IS STILL GOING ON! I received a call 10 minutes ago by someone named "Michelle" from a company called World Call Connect (they sometimes use other company names as well). I was told I was a "guaranteed" winner from a competition I entered in May for a Nissan Lavina, but have also won a quad bike, GPS, weekend away and free meal for two. I'm supposed to go to 28 Guildford Road in Midrand at 2pm on Thursday with my valid drivers' license to collect my prize. Was even given a "reference number". It sounded a bit strange to me so I googled the address and found the scam (I've copied a link to a blog for others who have fallen for the same scam by the same people. Most of the time the address for the company is the same although sometimes the name of the company changes)
http://singe.za.net/blog/archives/948-Youve-won-a-car-Scam-Carlswald-Design-Quarter.html#comments

I took down a number for "Michelle" - [protected], which matches up to one of the numbers other people had been given.

What I want to know is if it has been going on for this long, and they keep using the same address and same numbers and names can something not be done? Can they not be reported? Because they just seem to keep going. And how on earth did they get my contact details because I'm very wary of giving out information? Some of the bloggers say it was through insurance quotes but I have never asked for a quote.

Maybe everyone who has been scammed should pitch up there and demand answers.

I can't believe that I almost took half of my day tomorrow to go to this "car competition draw". I have just received a phone call few minutes ago with the exact same story, 28 guildford road, VIP Offices, consolation prizes, everything! Thank you guys for sharing your experiences with us. What a waste of time it would have been!

HEY GUYS...GOT THIS CALL TODAY 2009/08/13 AT 10:30AM SAYING THAT I ENTERED THIS SAME COMPETITION ON 11 MAY 2009 (THE BEST OF ALL IS MY PHONE WAS STOLEN LAST MONTH BY A CAR ROBBERY) SHE (MICHELLE ) SAID I WON ONE OF THESE PRICES AND MUST COME FOR THE LUCKY DRAW FOR THE CAR ON SATURDAY 2009/08/15 AT 09:00AM AT THIS SAME ADDRESS THAT YOU ARE ALL TALKING ABOUT.SHE ASKED ME IF IM WORKING AND IF MY FIANCE IS ABOVE 25...AND THAT I MUST BRING A VALID DRIVERS LICENSE AND HAVE WON A HOLIDAY...LUCKILLY MY MOM WORKED FOR THIS KIND OF STUFF AND WARNED ME...THANKS FOR ALL YOU GUYS!

haha, how funny is this. Has anyone maybe gone to give more feedback on what happens there?

I just got the same phone call, cant remember the persons name (I'm bad with names okay, hehe).
She 1st told me I entered this competition by sms, so I 'm thinking, I have smsed a couple of competitions, so I ask her when exactly and she says to me the competition ran from last year November to end of May '09, so anytime inbetween. Then she gives me my reference number J548 (whats with the "J" numbers) Anyway she tells me I am a GAURANTEED winner of 1 of 5 prizes, 1 - Car, 2 - Garmen, 3 - Offroad Bike, - 4 Weekend away in either Botswana, Mosambique or Cape Town, cant remember the other prize. She then says I must come saturday either 9am or 1pm for the competion draw, it will only take half an hour for the draw to be finished and then you get a free breakfast or lunch, depenting on what time ofcoarse you have chosen to go. So I agree to everything, trying to be open minded, and say I wil go 1pm. She then makes sure I have my ref. number and says another lady will phone me tomorrow to confirm and give me directions etc.

LUCKILY before I put the phone down I asked what the companies name was that was doing this competion and I came to google it. If they phone back tomorrow, they're getting a piece of my mind!

These days you have to question everything with so many scammers out there.
And I am going to stop picking up "Withheld" numbers, as it always seems to be some company trying to sell something, if its important, they'll have my work tell, or email, lol

Mel, 25 June 2009

I received the same call yesterday 23 June 2009 from a woman called Sheila working for World Connect. She also said that I was one of ten lucky couples to receive the same prizes. I asked a few times if this was anything like the timeshare and holiday club presentations and she assured me that it was not and that I will definitely not leave there empty handed. She also went as far as telling me to leave my credit cards and check book at home, because they didn't want to sell us anything. The address that was given to me was 28 Guildford Rd, Midrand. She said that I could not come alone and I had to bring my partner. I informed her that my husband could not make it so she said I had to bring a partner, who had to be a male because the competion is supposedly for couples only.
I decided to look up the company on the internet before I went and am I glad I did. Thank you to everyone who posted their complaints. if it had not been for all of you I would also have gone and wasted precios time and money. I really hope these people get caught very soon before more innocent people are caught by these scammers.
Lee, 24 June 2009

I've just had a call from Nick, for World connect, also telling me that I have a one in fifteen chance of winning the Spark, and will get a guaranteed prize of either a week's holiday, ice machine or quad bike. He even went as far as telling me to leave my credit cards and check book at home, because they didn't want to sell us anything.

Excited, I called my partner, who advised me to Google the company name, as he'd been caught by similar scams before. Thank God I did.

Thanks for the complaints and warnings - I was invited to 28 Guildford Rd, the infamous address, next Tuesday (the public holiday). I'm glad I didn't waste a precious day off on people who lie and scam you!

Stupid idiots at World Connect...how the hell the got my number I will never know but for the past 3 months i have been receiving sms's for a competition for a Chevy spark - at all hours - day and night.

Today I receive a phonecall from Michelle [protected] from the ZIT Offices No 28 Guildford Street; Carlsworld Midrand inviting me to World Connect's offices at I have won a nominal prize and will know tomorrow if I have won the draw.

I queried this as I do not recall ever entering this competition but remember it well as the sms's annoyed me as they were arriving at 04:00am...

It then turns out that this is the company that calls me monthly asking if I am a Mrs D Bezuidenhout who entered a competition. I am never Mrs D Bezuidenhout; I have not entered any competition and this is clearly false advertising at its worst.

I emplore which ever agency in SA who deal with this kind of nonscence to investigate this company. Now that I have taken the time to check the internet - I am horrified; surprised; shocked and amazed at how many complaints have been lodged and clearly nothing is being done.

Hi Just spoke to Godfrey(a Manager), Cindy and Tracy (a Manager) [protected] from world connect. Asking similar questions, to verify the authenticity of the '1 IN 15 chance to WIN a CHEVY'.

1) Is this connected to any sales related scheme - Answer No
2) Where did they get my details - Various answers, sms comp, survey...

I under no uncertain terms told them that they are CROOKS and should their misrepresentation. Wish I had the time and money to actually go there with an independant auditor to verify their draw process, clearly there should be one of the fifteen...'thousand' that wins a car...

Thanks for all the posts I WOULD HAVE BEEN SCAMMED if not alerted by all of you. Have copied this link to GM South Africa, wonder if they know of so many of their SPARKS being given away?

Hi there fellow bloggers this just happened to me too... 1 june 09

I just received a call from a consultant called Michael.
He told me i entered a competition but i know i didn't, i got a sms from them but never entered.

He said I could win one of six prizes
1. A Chevy Spark
2. A GPS
3. A quad Bike
4. Ice maker
5. Ipod
6. A holiday - to either Botswana, Mazambique, or the Garden Route.

I was given a reference number J351, too. This sort of advertising is dishonest and should be illegal.

and just to top all of this off, i had a follow up call from Tracy at World Connect last night to see if i would be coming today, and she hung up on me because i gave her a piece of my mind about their organisation and the scam that they are pulling...it is shocking!

Added to Stephens comments:My husband received the same call from Jackie ref:J558.I agee with all of you this is ridiculous.We also had a feeling this was to do with holidays & timeshare as with numerous similar experiences over the years.Just need to know whee do they get our personal info from?I also Googled Worldconnect and Im glad I did.
Saves us alot of time & money.
Thanks for the comments-Lets hope something is done here.
Jay D.

I already sent an email to truth@sabc.co.za
I also emailed newsroom@etv.co.za