Post by "Pop" Stran on Jan 29, 2005 11:02:03 GMT -5
We've spoken before re: Savings Clubs, and because this field of scam continues to evolve in an attempt to stay one step ahead of the authorities, we've got a new version to report.
Based on a recent national consumer alert, the following exerpt is posted:
January 18, 2005
If you get a phone call from someone offering free movie passes and valuable money saving coupons in exchange for a nominal shipping and handling fee of only $3.95 - be careful.
New Mexico Attorney General Patricia Madrid said her office has heard from consumers who have accepted the offer and been charged nearly $300 and received nothing in return.
"At least three New Mexicans have had their checking accounts debited $119.90 by the company in addition to the $3.95 shipping and handling charge, in spite of the fact that they did not even accept the telemarketer's offer," Madrid said.
"The only offer that New Mexicans seem to be receiving from these telemarketers is the opportunity to lose money.
I urge self-defense against these offers.
First, remember that you should not provide personal information, such as bank account numbers, over the phone unless you place the call.
Providing personal information to anyone who calls you can lead to problems, particularly identity theft," Madrid said.
It is believed that the company is doing business under several different names,
including Premier Benefits, Premier Movie Pass, Call One, Call One Communications, and Buyers Union.
The companies make telephone solicitations to consumers, offering not only free movie tickets, but also gift cards, gas coupons, grocery coupons, calling cards for unlimited long distance calls, promotional products, or limited-time memberships to clubs the company claims will offer substantial savings to the consumer.
During the solicitation call, the company offers "free" incentives or membership in the savings clubs for a one-time advance fee of $3.95 "to cover shipping and handling" and tells the consumer they will be receiving a packet of information.
The caller then asks the consumer for bank account information, claiming the only way the consumers can pay this shipping fee for the free gift is through direct debit from a bank account.
Once consumers agree to receive the packet, they are told that they have a short trial period, usually seven days, to cancel before the full "membership fee" is incurred.
Monthly membership fees have been reported as high as $150.
Often, consumers don't receive the packet within the trial period and claim the only way the company will allow them to cancel their membership is through a phone call, which can be a difficult task because of inaccurate or disconnected phone numbers or calls that go unanswered.
Madrid said, "If you have been called and offered this or another similar offer, I urge you to immediately call your bank or financial institution and tell them not to honor any transaction from the company.
In addition, you should check your credit report for anything that might stand out as suspicious."
If consumers discover unauthorized charges to their bank accounts, they should contact their bank immediately.
If the money has not already been withdrawn from the account, ask the bank to "stop payment."
If the money has been withdrawn, ask the bank to credit the account because the debit was not authorized.
To get this credit, the account holder must submit a sworn statement to the bank that the charge was unauthorized.
This statement is called a Written Statement Under Penalty of Perjury, and is available from the bank.
Although technically this sworn statement must be submitted within 15 days of the unauthorized charge, most banks will accept the sworn statement within 60 days.
If the 60-day window has passed, the account holder may still demand a refund, since the merchant's bank has contractually agreed to reimburse the consumer's bank whenever the authorization for the debit was invalid.
If charges were made to a credit card, contact the credit card company and notify them of the unauthorized charge and ask for a disputed charges form.
Credit card companies are usually more lenient about disputed charges.
Consumers who are victimized and wish to file a complaint are strongly encouraged to contact the United States Postal Inspectors Mail Fraud division by calling 1-800-372-8347 and selecting option 3.
Also, consumers should contact the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261.
>end
* We've said it before, we're saying it again; NEVER GIVE Your Bank or Creditcard Info to Anyone over the phone. Period.
While not nearly as flimsy and dangerous as email...
Cellular phones and wireless home phones are NOT secure.
The professional thief can scan for and monitor the frequencies being used by your phones, and listen in.
Should you have a prior business relationship with the company making the call, and they don't already have your payment details on file, then the risk involved in passing bank details over the phone to them is minimal.
Only true professional thieves will invest the time and equiptment expense involved in scanning/monitoring tools...It's much easier to simply call you and Ask for your details.
Rule #1 in Pop's TRUST NOONE policy:
CONFIRMATION
Posing as a telemarketer with an unbelievable offer, and giving it all away for a tiny shipping fee, thieves can run up to an average 30% success rate...just asking people to hand over their credit card numbers.
Should the offer sound amazing, and temptation is tickling your wallet-reaching hand, ask for the company's name and central number as well as the caller's extension so you can call right back.
Let him know you really like the offer, but your hands are full just now and you need about 5 minutes to set down a few things you're juggling at the moment.
When you return the call, you will be greeted by either a receptionist, or a computer, either of which will identify the company by name...and if this doesn't happen, walk away.
No "free watch" or "new & improved gadget" is worth years of credit hell because you got sloppy with your numbers.
Remain vigilant, and if they won't play to your suspicions, then keep the plastic in your pocket.
Honest businesses across the country spend fortunes on branding, name recognition, and reputation preservation.
Any company that won't even tell you it's name is not one that you can trust with your sensitive data.
Based on a recent national consumer alert, the following exerpt is posted:
January 18, 2005
If you get a phone call from someone offering free movie passes and valuable money saving coupons in exchange for a nominal shipping and handling fee of only $3.95 - be careful.
New Mexico Attorney General Patricia Madrid said her office has heard from consumers who have accepted the offer and been charged nearly $300 and received nothing in return.
"At least three New Mexicans have had their checking accounts debited $119.90 by the company in addition to the $3.95 shipping and handling charge, in spite of the fact that they did not even accept the telemarketer's offer," Madrid said.
"The only offer that New Mexicans seem to be receiving from these telemarketers is the opportunity to lose money.
I urge self-defense against these offers.
First, remember that you should not provide personal information, such as bank account numbers, over the phone unless you place the call.
Providing personal information to anyone who calls you can lead to problems, particularly identity theft," Madrid said.
It is believed that the company is doing business under several different names,
including Premier Benefits, Premier Movie Pass, Call One, Call One Communications, and Buyers Union.
The companies make telephone solicitations to consumers, offering not only free movie tickets, but also gift cards, gas coupons, grocery coupons, calling cards for unlimited long distance calls, promotional products, or limited-time memberships to clubs the company claims will offer substantial savings to the consumer.
During the solicitation call, the company offers "free" incentives or membership in the savings clubs for a one-time advance fee of $3.95 "to cover shipping and handling" and tells the consumer they will be receiving a packet of information.
The caller then asks the consumer for bank account information, claiming the only way the consumers can pay this shipping fee for the free gift is through direct debit from a bank account.
Once consumers agree to receive the packet, they are told that they have a short trial period, usually seven days, to cancel before the full "membership fee" is incurred.
Monthly membership fees have been reported as high as $150.
Often, consumers don't receive the packet within the trial period and claim the only way the company will allow them to cancel their membership is through a phone call, which can be a difficult task because of inaccurate or disconnected phone numbers or calls that go unanswered.
Madrid said, "If you have been called and offered this or another similar offer, I urge you to immediately call your bank or financial institution and tell them not to honor any transaction from the company.
In addition, you should check your credit report for anything that might stand out as suspicious."
If consumers discover unauthorized charges to their bank accounts, they should contact their bank immediately.
If the money has not already been withdrawn from the account, ask the bank to "stop payment."
If the money has been withdrawn, ask the bank to credit the account because the debit was not authorized.
To get this credit, the account holder must submit a sworn statement to the bank that the charge was unauthorized.
This statement is called a Written Statement Under Penalty of Perjury, and is available from the bank.
Although technically this sworn statement must be submitted within 15 days of the unauthorized charge, most banks will accept the sworn statement within 60 days.
If the 60-day window has passed, the account holder may still demand a refund, since the merchant's bank has contractually agreed to reimburse the consumer's bank whenever the authorization for the debit was invalid.
If charges were made to a credit card, contact the credit card company and notify them of the unauthorized charge and ask for a disputed charges form.
Credit card companies are usually more lenient about disputed charges.
Consumers who are victimized and wish to file a complaint are strongly encouraged to contact the United States Postal Inspectors Mail Fraud division by calling 1-800-372-8347 and selecting option 3.
Also, consumers should contact the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261.
>end
* We've said it before, we're saying it again; NEVER GIVE Your Bank or Creditcard Info to Anyone over the phone. Period.
While not nearly as flimsy and dangerous as email...
Cellular phones and wireless home phones are NOT secure.
The professional thief can scan for and monitor the frequencies being used by your phones, and listen in.
Should you have a prior business relationship with the company making the call, and they don't already have your payment details on file, then the risk involved in passing bank details over the phone to them is minimal.
Only true professional thieves will invest the time and equiptment expense involved in scanning/monitoring tools...It's much easier to simply call you and Ask for your details.
Rule #1 in Pop's TRUST NOONE policy:
CONFIRMATION
Posing as a telemarketer with an unbelievable offer, and giving it all away for a tiny shipping fee, thieves can run up to an average 30% success rate...just asking people to hand over their credit card numbers.
Should the offer sound amazing, and temptation is tickling your wallet-reaching hand, ask for the company's name and central number as well as the caller's extension so you can call right back.
Let him know you really like the offer, but your hands are full just now and you need about 5 minutes to set down a few things you're juggling at the moment.
When you return the call, you will be greeted by either a receptionist, or a computer, either of which will identify the company by name...and if this doesn't happen, walk away.
No "free watch" or "new & improved gadget" is worth years of credit hell because you got sloppy with your numbers.
Remain vigilant, and if they won't play to your suspicions, then keep the plastic in your pocket.
Honest businesses across the country spend fortunes on branding, name recognition, and reputation preservation.
Any company that won't even tell you it's name is not one that you can trust with your sensitive data.