Compiled by Zan Deery, Communications/Investigations
8/24/09
zan@spokane.bbb.org
800-356-1007 or 509-455-4200
www.bbb.org
Readers of these tips should take into consideration the importance of the practice in question and the total performance of a company.
For complete information and BBB reports, please visit
www.bbb.org
TIP NUMBER ONE
“THEY JUST WON’T QUIT!” CREDIT CARD ROBO-CALL OFFERS TO LOWER INTEREST RATE AN ANNOYANCE FOR MANY
CSTR SOLUTIONS, INC. aka APR GROUP SERVICES of Orlando, FL
http://www.orlando.bbb.org/newsearch2.asp?ComID=073300193345787
GENESIS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT of Orlando, FL
http://www.orlando.bbb.org/newsearch2.asp?ComID=073300202723071
MUTUAL CONSOLIDATED SAVINGS of Tacoma, WA
http://www.bbb.org/western-washington/business-reviews/credit-and-debt-counseling/mutual-consolidated-savings-in-tacoma-wa-27028696
BBB has the above three companies on its radar when it comes to annoying credit card reduction pitches made by phone promising to save you anywhere from $2,000 to $25,000 by negotiating lower interest rates with credit card companies on your behalf. Fees can range from $700-$1,000.
The industry is called credit/debt consolidation services. Be wary of any company using robo-call tactics or cold calling you offering their services wanting you to sign up NOW.
BBB ADVICE
*Never give personal information, including Social Security, bank or credit card numbers, over the phone to an unknown telemarketer. Do not verify or confirm personal info if they relay it to you, either. Always research a company FIRST before agreeing to anything over the phone by reviewing BBB Reports at www.bbb.org.
*If you are looking for or are desperate for financial assistance, DO YOUR RESEARCH and don’t just take an offer from an unknown source that calls you out of the blue. Get the agreement or terms and conditions in writing or a contract, read it first, and understand the commitment before signing up or providing credit card or other payment information.
*Get on the Federal Do Not Call list by visiting www.donotcall.gov If you are already on this list but continue to receive these calls - or are receiving robo-calls on your cell phone – report the incident/abuse to the FTC at the same web site.
TIP NUMBER TWO
STERLING SAVINGS BANK NAME BEING MISUSED IN PHONE SCAM
CALLER ID Reveals “NetScope” 949-450-1122
An interesting thread regarding the name “NetScope” linked to a phishing scam is being utilized in yet another phone scam misusing the good name of Sterling Savings Bank. Here is that thread:
http://74.125.155.132/search?q=cache:3JfND12awRAJ:its.ucsc.edu/security_awareness/scam.php+NetScope,+scam%3F&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
BBB received a call from a woman this morning reporting a scam call she received about her “Sterling Savings Bank” account. The person wanted her social security number. She didn’t have an account with Sterling so knew it was a scam, however, she contacted her local branch office, and they told her that others were reporting this activity as well.
BBB ADVICE
Sterling Savings Bank has an excellent SECURITY page on its web site explaining how these scams work: http://www.sterlingsavingsbank.com/landing_pages/Phishing/index.html
TIP NUMBER THREE
“We Need to Get You Your Tax Return. It’s a federal grant.”
NOT! Deceptive Calls Coming from 202-470-2607
BBB received a call from a Yakima customer reporting that he received a call from someone with a “thick accent” stating that they were trying to get him his tax return. They took his name and birth date and said they would send him a packet. Once he received his packet he should send them $495 so they can send him $4,000 as a refund for taxes he is owed.
When BBB looked up this number online, it gave further info about these calls coming from this number. Some callers are getting a group called the US Federal Grant Services Department, stating they are from Washington DC . The scam caller gave a fake name, employee number, and file number along with a made up number to call back. Some consumers are getting calls stating their deceased relative overpaid taxes to be refunded. The address being given is: 200 Independent Lane, HHH Building, WA DC 20201.
TIP NUMBER FOUR
BACK TO SCHOOL: STUDENTS BEWARE OF FINANCIAL SCAMS
Thanks to www.Scambusters.org for this Great Piece!
ALWAYS CHECK OUT COMPANY REPORTS WITH BBB PRIOR TO AGREEING TO ANY SERVICE YOU SEE MENTIONED IN RELATION TO SCAMS LISTED BELOW.
For instance, if you are looking for a student loan, don’t just go with a cold caller. Looking for a grant? Go to a reliable resource for it, check them out first, make sure they are legitimate BEFORE signing or agreeing to anything. Same goes for credit card offers, “free” laptop, cell phone incentives, etc.
1. Student identity theft.
2. Scholarship scams.
3. Loans and other financial student scams.
4. Student accommodation scams.
5. Phony student employment.
SCAMBUSTERS.ORG FULL STORY: http://www.scambusters.org/collegescam.html
ADDITIONAL BBB BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS:
http://spokane.bbb.org/article/bbb-warns-college-bound-students-and-parents-to-beware-of-financial-aid-schemes-745
TIP NUMBER FIVE
LATEST ONLINE AUTO SALES SCAM
Fake Web Site: www.barrera-autosales.com aka www.barreraautosales.com Steals Web Site of Legitimate BBB Accredited Business in Deming, NM, Falsely Displays BBB Logo
BBB REPORT:
http://www.bbbsw.org/Business-Report/Barrera-AutoSalescom-99129223
The BBB of the SW warns consumers that a bogus company using a website of Barrera-AutoSales.com has stolen the identity of the BBB Accredited Business, Barrera Auto Sales located in Deming, New Mexico.
This bogus company is not located at the Columbus Rd address in Deming as published on their web site. Essentially, Barrera-AutoSales.com used a web registration company in Australia to register their website again in the United States. The BBB does not know the actual location of the company; however, they are now using a new website of www.barreraautosales.com, which the Denver BBB has determined is out of Malaysia.
This company allegedly offers used vehicles for sale online via their website, www.barrera-autosales.com The actual Barrera Auto Sales does not even have a web site.
Barrera-AutoSales.com offered a consumer a Mazda for $8,000, which is worth $19,000, to be shipped to her free of charge. Another consumer said that he came across Barrera-AutoSales.com through Stars Auto Sales on the Internet. He put in a request for a Mazda Protégé offered for $3198. He received an e-mail that they wanted him to wire transfer the money.
This fraudulent website also displays the BBB logo, which then links to a fraudulent BBB report. Barrera-AutoSales.com is NOT a BBB Accredited Business and the unauthorized use of the BBB logo and the distribution of the fraudulent BBB report, constitute trademark infringement upon the BBB’s federally registered trademark rights.
Consumers need to be wary of wiring money to businesses particularly any that are web-based. BBB urges consumers to:
• Only do business with companies that provide a sure method of contact that has been double-checked. Consumers need the correct contact information should something go wrong. Bad phone numbers, bounced e-mails and bogus or no address listed are all red flags.
• Verify any organization credentials with the organization directly, (BBB, AutoTrader, Consumer Reports logos, etc.)
• Check the company’s BBB report at www.bbb.org to make sure that the BBB information coincides with the web site’s information.
If you have become a victim of fraud, contact your BBB and the Internet Crime Complaint Center, (www.ic3.gov) to file a complaint.