John Izzo writes:

'I would like to bring to your attention another type of scam that is being circulated over the internet. Sometimes, when you are surfing the Net, windows pop up and flash, saying you are a winner and all you have to do is fill a registration form to claim the prize. Stupidly enough, that is what I did. Among other details, it included name, address, telephone number and e-mail address. So far nothing looked unusual.

'Some weeks passed and I had forgotten all about it until I recently received a call from Florida. The lady on the other side had a pleasant voice. She asked for my name and confirmed my address. Then she said I was the lucky winner of a one-week dream holiday.

'The holiday offered all-inclusive accommodation at the Radisson Hotel, a two-day pass to Universal Studios with all the attractions and free rides, an all-inclusive cruise to the Bahamas and a two-night stay in one of their formidable hotels, rounding up to about $3,000. I could take four people. The offer was valid for 18 months.

'She then asked me if I had a Visa and said she would put me through to another branch manager for a registration form. All I had to pay in advance was $998. I asked why I had to pay, since I had not yet decided whether I was going to take it or not. Another person said they wanted to make sure that I had the funds available before sending me the tickets in three weeks' time.

'I then asked for further explanation - who or what company I was dealing with. The answer was 'Astar Travel' and they gave me an address and telephone number. They even asked me to go on my PC and check their site.

'This is when I made the big mistake of giving them my Visa card number and expiry date, which he said he would have to verify. He then asked for the last three digits, and this is where I became suspicious and said no.

'By that time they had accessed my card without the three-digit code and found out there were no available funds. Fortunately, I only have a Visa debit card, which is linked to an ordinary bank account, which I only use for buying from the internet. I only transfer money when I know I'm buying something.

'Another person asked if I had another credit card and encouraged me to make a transfer. I said it was impossible and he immediately hung up. These people have the ability to make you believe that they are real and cleverly try to gain your trust.

'I immediately accessed the internet and searched Astar. Consumer sites popped up, talking about how these people manage to take your money without your consent. I phoned the card centre, cancelled my card and asked for a new one to be issued.

'This is an eye-opener. Anyone could fall for something like this. I fail to understand how no action has been taken against these people in America and how their operation is legal.'