Overseas Telemarketers Using Fake Credit Card Offers to Steal Money and ID

19 Mar 2008

Raleigh, NC -- The Attorney General's office warns that scammers are using robo calls that promise better rates on credit cards to try to steal identity and run up charges in victims' names.

The Consumer Protection Division has gotten hundreds of reports from North Carolina consumers about prerecorded telemarketing calls from outfits with generic sounding names like "account services," "customer accounts" or "card services."

The telemarketers have no intention of giving consumers better interest rates on their cards and instead use the information to commit identity theft and run up unwanted charges.

The Attorney General's office is investigating the scam which appears to originate overseas, probably using voice-over internet technology. The scammers have used several different "spoofed" caller ID numbers that don't belong to a particular telephone account. Telemarketers who answer those numbers have been trained to not give out information that would help investigators track down their operation.

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Rating: +2

Jo Ann - 19 Mar 2008

I just printed a list of the last 30 phone calls received on our landline, and 14 of the 30 calls we have received are from these same telemarketers/scammers! This is outrageous! Something needs to be done to stop this abuse!

Rating: 0

jim - 21 Mar 2008

877 776 9632
SCAM called kelley
DON NOT RESPOND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
they claim they can considate debt!!!!!!!!!!!LOOK OUT
then they ask for PERSONAL info
dont fall for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rating: 0

deadwait - 18 Jun 2008

We've learned to hang up. The frequency of the calls (not just by these buggers) has honed our listening skills to the point where we hang up by the second syllable uttered. It's not as gratifying as throttling the telemarketer at the other end of the line.

We've also noticed that the calls happen between 5:45 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Pacific Time. All of our friends and family know not to call around that time because we won't answer it.

Rating: +2

Mark Lewis - 20 Mar 2008

It's not just North Carolina. I just received such a call in Oregon. It's at least the second in a week. The caller ID was 305-654-1842 (Laurence Sandri) which, if you google it, seems to come up as the calling phone for a number of other problematic calls like this. On the first call I chose the "press 2 to remove yourself from our call list" option, but they don't even pay attention to their own do not call list! This most recent call I pressed 1 to talk to a representative, who would not give out any information about the company that he worked for, what his name was, etc. After a little fruitless questioning on my part, the call was cut off.

Rating: +3

Zach - 24 Mar 2008

03-24-08 Just received another identical pitch from 305-654-1842 as you did, despite being on the "No Call List" and having previously pressed "2" as directed indicating to remove me from their caller's list.

I wish our congress was as persistent in making the USA #1 in the world again as these people are in looking for the unfortunate to fleece.

Rating: 0

Mike - 9 Jun 2008

Here is a special thread for 305-654-1842:

http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-305-654-1842

Rating: -1

BEA 23 MAY 2008 - 23 May 2008

IRECEIVED SUCH A CALL IN MONTRAL .A REPRESENTATIVE CALLED WILLIAM WILSON. HE SAID HE IS FROM MCS.I ASKED HIM TO GIVE ME HIS PHONE NUMBER SO THAT I CALL HIM BACK.IT'S 18887866201.HE WANTED TO KNOW SOME BANKING INFORMATION

Rating: 0

George - 5 Jul 2008

Hi, i just got few minutes ago a call, with a display of 1 000 000 0000. I wass curious about a lower rate and i answered. The men present him self as Jasson Charles, from NCS or MCS, give him no info, but ask him a phone number, where to rich. I got the same number 1 888 786-6201, ext.247. I live my self in Montreal (Canada) area, as well.

Rating: +1

PO'D - 21 Mar 2008

We've received at least half a dozen of such calls in the past few months, & WE'RE IN NEW MEXICO!! (YES, NM IS IN THE U.S.) We're wondering if there's really anything that can be done besides informing people to NEVER EVER give out ANY personal information if THEY called YOU. If YOU call THEM, & you're sure you called a legitimate business (bank, credit card company,etc.)it's probably OK. If they don't have ALL the info they SHOULD know about me I DON"T TELL THEM ANYTHING BESIDES "I'M REPORTING YOU TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOT!" AND "TAKE A HIKE!

Rating: +1

Suzanne - 21 Mar 2008

Not sure if this is happening to me, but I've been getting tons and tons of hangup calls in CA, and I don't have caller ID. Last night I looked at my AT&T telephone bill and there were two 3rd party billing charges from a company called ILD Teleservices that originated with a company called US Credit Find. When I google that company, I get to this website and a reference to their phone number 1-888-579-4910 which is somehow linked to Allsec Technologies that has been calling people from 201-520-9295. I found one other person on the internet who is having the same scam run on him. I am starting to fear identity theft.

Rating: +1

Laura - 25 Mar 2008

I had one the other day from 877.606.3783 that I reported to the FTC. Unlike the other complaints I've sent to them, this one got a response saying that they'll file it in a database and if they see a significant trend they'll take action. We'll see what happens.

Rating: +1

lil miss sunshine - 25 Mar 2008

We just had a call today from 305-654-1842 on our cell phone in Missouri to lower our interest rate on our credit card. When I told the lady I can do that myself (and have gotten them to lower our rate and get it fixed instead of adjustable) she got very angry and said I could not and hung up on me! Move on...no suckers here!

Rating: +1

donotcall - 25 Mar 2008

I received a phone call from 954-370-6846 and I tried to call it back and it was disconnected. I come to find out this number was doing the same "we can lower your interest rate on your credit card if we can have your SS number" scam.
Very scary...

Rating: 0

Mike - 9 Jun 2008

More about this number:

http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-954-370-6846

Rating: +1

Can You Believe These People - 26 Mar 2008

I keep receiving calls from a +442084922780
This company insists that I have taken out a payday loan.
They are very rude, and always insist that I give them correct credit card or bank account information to clear up the debt.
The number that they call from always has a busy signal, and it comes up unknown. This is yet another oversees scam... BEWARE

Rating: 0

Mike - 9 Jun 2008

More details about 44-208-492-2780

http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/442084922780

Rating: +1

SOR - 26 Mar 2008

I keep getting text msg's from +923003075433 At first they said Hi, so I asked who is this? Big mistake. The text msgs have not stopped and worst of all they are from Pakistan. T-Mobiles solution? Change your number. That is rediculous. Please be ware and do not respond to unknown senders. I also read on the internet that some scammers are texting from premium numbers. I am only getting charged 15 cents per text (even with my text plan b/c these are international), but it is still frustrating when these are unsolicited txt msg.'s.

Rating: +2

Fed Up - 26 Mar 2008

I've received about a dozen calls and I live in Texas. There is a computer message saying "Press 1 to learn important info about your card" and then the person who answers immediately asks for your credit card number.

Apparently some people actually give this out, because if you ask "Where is your company located?" or some other probing question, the operator hangs up immediately. They have told me they are "Card Services" or the like.

I tried to report this to the Texas Attorney General, but the consumer advocate told me, "Oh, there is a Card Services company out there." Apparently they have no interest in pursuing a scam operator who refuses to give information and yet asks for a credit card number after a somewhat threating message appealing to vulnerable citizens.

If anyone is getting these in Texas, PLEASE call the Attorney General to complain. That's the only way we can get them to pay attention and stop these guys.

Rating: +1

gio - 26 Mar 2008

I recieved a call from a group calles MCS (mutual consumer Savings) they have been authorized by 61 banks and credit card companies to lower rates on cards and lines of credit. And for a one time fee they will do this for me. Very pushy changing me from one person to the next.
Look out for this call its happening a lot here in alberta

Rating: +2

Vidi - 27 Mar 2008

Another Albertan here.

When Scammers like this call, Get names, and companies if you can... And report all the info you can get to phonebusters.

They told me they were taking me off the list without me requesting it.. all I did was ask for the callers first and last name. his company, where they are located, and if how they get your number. The next time they call I think I will inform them that they will be charged for my time, and request their billing information. :)

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