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Consumer alert: scheme using lure of free airline tickets hits mailboxes

PITTSBURGH,None — State police have issued a consumer alert about a letter arriving in the mail that claims you have just won two airline tickets.

Target 11 Consumer Investigator Robin Taylor found out it's a clever scheme to get your money.

I've been getting a lot of complaints from people who have received these letters saying they've won two round-trip airline tickets from US Airways.

It's tricky, because at first glance the letter appears to be from US Airways, but when you take a closer look, it says US Airlines, and that's not a real airline.

Lots of people in the Pittsburgh area have been getting these letters, including a state trooper in Westmoreland County.

The trooper did a little investigating and found out what they're really after is your credit card information.

When you call the number to claim your prize, the person on the other end of the line will tell you they need a credit card to hold the free tickets that you've won.

The Pennsylvania State Police have notified the attorney general's office as well as federal authorities.

"US Airlines is not a company.  It's very similar sounding a company to US Airways, and I think that's part of the scam that people are trying to get you to believe," said Stephen Limani, the public information officer for the Pennsylvania State Police in Greensburg.

We have also been looking into this scheme.

If you call the 866 number, they'll tell you that you've been chosen to join a travel club, but you’ll have to attend a meeting and then pay to join the club.

My advice is to throw the letter in the trash.