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TALLAHASSEE, FL – Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that his office has sued a network of companies over an alleged travel scam. Suncoast Incentives, LLC and owner Nicholas Congleton allegedly enticed victims to purchase travel club memberships for thousands of dollars, but failed to provide the incentives advertised. The Attorney General’s Office has received over 500 consumer complaints about the companies.

Victims received advertisements for sales seminars that featured unauthorized images of various commercial cruise ships. The advertisements encouraged consumers to attend the seminars and receive a free cruise. Once at the seminars, consumers were allegedly told they would never have to pay retail price for travel again if they joined the travel club. Membership fees ranged from $2,495 to $7,495, and annual renewal fees ranged from $199 to $249.

The Attorney General’s Economic Crimes Division determined the free cruises were not free and included substantial fees, often over several hundreds of dollars. Additionally, investigators believe the companies had only contract with one condo association, and no contracts with any airlines, cruise lines, hotels, or motels. Former employees told investigators they would merely search online for price options, just as consumers might otherwise do for themselves.

Congleton is associated with several other companies, including Royal Palm Vacations, World Travel, and Capital Financial. The Attorney General’s lawsuit has requested the Court prohibit Congleton and his companies from selling any travel packages. The lawsuit also requests full consumer restitution and recovery of the costs of the state’s investigation and litigation.

A copy of the lawsuit is available online at: http://myfloridalegal.com/webfiles.nsf/WF/JFAO-7VWQLG/$file/SuncoastComplaint.pdf