Wanderlust Weekly wanderlustweekly.org Advertising Deception internet Internet

My business, as many others, was contacted by Wanderlust Weekly with the web address: wanderlustweekly.org.

How I was approached: I was unexpectedly approached per email with Wanderlust Weekly pointing out that they wanted to feature my healing center on their site. A woman called Denise asked me to answer 3 questions. I was a bit suspicious since there was neither a phone number nor a physical address listed in the email. Besides, the email was sent from a gmail account. I thought that was strange for a bigger company. Then I was approached a second time.

I looked at Wanderlust Weekly’s website and shared it with another business owner because it just didn’t feel right. That other business owner was convinced that this was legitimate. Since this is not my culture (I am Swiss), I assumed I was just a bit too tough with my judgment. Once I had answered the three questions I received the following: 

Denise from Wanderlust, June 22

Ok Barbara this will be going up this week. Also we have a weekly city guide that goes out to Boston wellness enthusiasts (residents and travelers) who are looking for local recommendations, if you like we can include your branding, links and news for the next couple months so they can visit Laughing Buddha. No obligation but this is highly effective, please let me know thanks Barbara. =)

 Wanderlust Wellness Campaign -- Newsletter inclusion and ongoing promotion as a preferred destination for travelers heading to Boston, and local airbnb hosts so they can recommend you. (includes 60 days of ongoing publicity)

Audience -- Approximately 50,000 email subscribers (30% engagement rate)

Total Cost -- $60 (one time)  wanderlustweekly.org

Again, I was suspicious that there was something off. I again shared it with two other male business owners to get a different opinion on it. They checked the website and believed it was legitimate. So again, not feeling right about it I did pay the $60 per paypal..which I also thought was strange as there was no other choice.

Nothing happened. After 10 days and several emails my questions were posted… I had googled Wanderlust before I answered the questions and was also put off that other people were asked the same questions. Another redflag.

Needless to say that it took another 10 days until they posted two of my fliers. I thought it was strange that there was no format requested until you sent in the flier and then they require you to convert the fliers to different format. After communicating back and forth the same fliers (after 20 days) are still posted: http://wanderlustweekly.org/upcoming-events. How strange there is only about 10 for a company with about supposedly 50’000 members!

The whole website doesn’t really make much sense. If one looks quickly through it, it might come over as an actual site but again, take a closer look...

My emails with the request to receive the newsletters or an update were never answered.

However, here are several reasons I heavily believe this is a scam:

a)   Wanderlust Weekly represents as a media marketing company but no information about this company can be found on the internet

b)   There is no phone number or physical address listed on their website

c)   There is no information on the website about the company ie team members, when founded etc.

d)   Emails are sent from a gmail account (first red flag for a so called big company)

e)   Payment through pay pal

f)     No social media presence which is peculiar for an online marketing company

g)    Misrepresentation of business leading consumers to believe Wanderlust Weekly is affiliated with Wanderlust.com and Airbnb

h)   I was approached by another person who was scammed with the same story

Please help others not to spend their valuable time and money for a fraud.