Guy Quenneville
Northern News Services
Wednesday, May 23, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - The Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce is warning the public to be wary of a travel company that collected personal information from many who attended the recent Chamber of Commerce Trade Show.

Chamber president Jim Eirikson said the chamber has received a half dozen complaints from people who believed they won a trip from Astar Resorts, not an invitation to invest in time-shares.

"It's unfortunate," said Eirikson. "It's not something that we want to have happen as a result of the trade show.

"We understand (Astar) had a draw for a free trip for two to either the Bahamas or Florida. They were collecting people's names and addresses for the purpose of balloting."

Some gave Astar financial information.

"In two cases, people were getting charged on their VISA for the trip. One person said they had been charged $900 dollars, for incidental charges, I think."

The chamber alerted the RCMP.

"The RCMP said there was no illegal activities involved. But in our view, it was worth telling people about, due to the complaints we were getting."

According to RCMP spokeswoman Roxanne Dreilich, whether anything illegal occurred "depends on how (Astar) word their solicitation to receive information from clients. This is their business. So they probably covered those legalities in their wording, she said.

"The ballot information that people filled out clearly stated that a credit card number and other information was required. (Astar) didn't obtain the information in a surreptitious kind of way. It was given to them."

Alex Gresl, general manager of the Chamber of Commerce, said Astar was run through the database of the Better Business Bureau - a national watchdog group that keeps tabs on suspicious business practices - prior to the trade show.

"Nothing stood out that would warrant any concern," he said.

Gresl said Astar's methods are common among exhibitors in trade shows down south.

"It's a sign of the times. Yellowknife is growing and getting pulled into that circle."

Tara Kearsey was among those who gave information and was later called by Astar.

"I was walking around the trade show and there was a man with gray hair asking people to enter for a door prize," Kearsey said. "It looked legit. There were a lot of people filling out ballots. There was some print on the ballot, but I didn't have time to read it. I was chasing my two-year-old."

A woman from Astar called Kearsey last Thursday and told her that she had won a free trip to Florida. Kearsey would be responsible for getting herself there, but the rest of the package - which included a pass to Universal Studios, a pub crawl, a cruise to the Bahamas, and later trips to Las Vegas and Puerto Vallarta - would be cost-free except for surcharges totaling $798.

"It was very, very detailed - a flood of information."

Kearsey was suspicious and told the woman she wasn't prepared to commit just then.

"The woman called me back Friday after work. I told her that I had spoken to the Chamber of Commerce and that the RCMP had been informed.

"I confronted the caller: 'I know who you are. People know about you and what's going on. I'd appreciate it if you didn't call me back.'

"The woman said quickly, 'OK, thank you!' and hung up the phone."

Kearsey can't believe Astar is not guilty of any wrongdoing.

"It's disheartening go to the trade show, which has a very good reputation, and have this happen."