Marriott Rewards - Blue colored Bonus Bucks - fraudulent or valid???

I traded 2 $50 BBs for a $100 BB with another FTer on CC. The one he sent me was blue colored and looked a little different but had all the info as the pink ones. I asked the TP where he got the cert and whether he had used one like it. He indicated he had traded for it and had used 3 of 5 certs he received (no problems), traded one to me, and had one left. I honestly didn't know if it might be a new issue (one I hadn't seen before)...or if they might be different coming from different places.

I used it at a hotel outside the US and received an email from them this AM stating the certificate was fraudulent. They have charged my credit card the $100.....which, if the cert is fraudulent, they certainly should (in my opinion). They also want to know where I got the cert.

Has anyone ever seen or used one of these...or are they fraudulent? :confused:

If the one you have is blue in color rather than the current red, with the hologram security seal on the right rather than on the left and round rather than rectangular, it may be counterfeit.

I asked in a thread some time back, and Marriott informed me that they were not issuing Bonus Bucks in that format.

Thanks, Counsellor, for sharing your experience. That describes it to a "T".

I traded 2 $50 BBs for a $100 BB with another FTer on CC.Just out of curiosity, why did you trade?

Have you spoken to the FTer with whom you did the trade? I assume he was not a long time and frequent poster here on the Marriott forum. Obviously his indicating that he had traded for it (red flag) and had used 3 of 5 certs he received with no problems (in hindsight this appears to be a lie).

Once you tell Marriott which poster it is, I am sure FT will assist them in locating him and getting to the truth. Did Marriott threaten any punitive actions similar to those done by the airlines? Closed account, forfeiture of points, etc.

The few times I have briefly thought about using CC, my mind conjures up situations similar to yours. I tend to err on the side of caution which make life very safe, but also quite boring.

AAupgrade I agree with you 100% on this.
I have even refused "trade" offers by long time posters here whom I have not had interactions with.
I have traded with friends made though Flyertalk.

Why did I trade....because someone needed 2 $50BBs, which I had, and a $100 worked for me as I had an upcoming stay at a Marriott. Thought I was doing something that would work out well both ways. I consider FTers friends, and if I can help someone out, then I will. I guess I will have to modify that sentiment.
My TP has been an active member of FT for many years and has over 1000 posts. His communication with me has been excellent and he sent me the $100 via Paypal within hours of my notifying him of the situation. From reading some of his previous posts on FT, I did not have the feeling he intended to defraud me.

never mind

Dalm-in this instance it sure seems to be very much of an honest mistake-and kudos to the honorable FTer you were trading with.
HOWEVER this is not always the case so buyer beware.

Triple7-the terms on the various BB's are not interchangeable.Often 2 $50 BB's will be more valuable than a single $100 BB because of the type of property you stay at.

so the take away from this is that there are fake BB's being issued somewhere=and once again Flyertalk has proven itself to be of great value to travelers.

If the one you have is blue in color rather than the current red, with the hologram security seal on the right rather than on the left and round rather than rectangular, it may be counterfeit.

I asked in a thread some time back, and Marriott informed me that they were not issuing Bonus Bucks in that format.


Counsellor, I think I found your previous thread on this, but I did not see a response by Marriott. I would be most interested in seeing that as I have one of these $100 Bonus Bucks as you describe right now. I probably got it in a trade as well and I would need to go back and research that if it turns out to be a fake.

Would anyone be able to post a picture of the supposed fraudulent certificate here?

I'd do so, but all I have is a poor black/white photocopy.
It's interesting to hear that kanerf has one of these certs and that it was also acquired through a trade. Maybe with some due diligence the source can be found.
The email I received regarding the fraudulent certificate advised me not to use them if I had any more of them (which I don't).