631-243-0202

Best Friends was just made aware of this post and of the possible compromise to our secure credit card data. We did not receive a notice directly from Bill of the potential problem and since we have not heard other complaints of potential unauthorized charges, we were not aware that there may be a problem. Now that we are aware, we will be researching our credit card systems for breaches. We do use a secured server but sadly hackers are rampant in this day and age, although we do not have confirmation that this charge was the result of information received from our site.

Best Friends does not do tele-fundraising for our donations work. If you have any concerns about someone representing themselves as a part of Best Friends or any other concerning misuse of your credit card or contact infomration, please contact donations@bestfriends.org or 435-644-2001 Ext 4801.

I want to thank the person who forwarded this information to Best Friends.

Aileen Walden

MORE UPDATED INFORMATION:  I just saw that I received another charge of $24.95 posted on my American Express card after being issued credits from Kipling's on some previous charges.  So, in addition to filing a complaint with the New York Better Business Bureau a few weeks ago, I just called American Express and had them reissue a new card.  I still recommend that everyone file a complaint with the New York BBB.  The more complaints, the better it is for everyone to stop receiving these fraudent charges and prevent Kipling's from taking advantage of new victims as well.

Steve Baron called, very persistant that payment had to be made now and by credit card or could not publish my information. Not very professional, would not cooperate and send fax to confirm information, said would send confirmation by fax after payment was received.

I also started having $24.95 monthly charges on my Amex last June.  I don't recall even receiving a phone call.  I was foolish and didn't notice the charges until October when I disputed them with Amex.  I called the company which doesn't routinely answer the phone, and finally got a "computer person"  who said there was a file conversion problem from on old database.  The charges were reversed, then reinstated this January with more ongoing charges.  I disputed again with Amex and Kiplings.  Kiplings agreed to reverse two monthly charges, but contend that the others are legitimate.  Kiplings has no records.  After reading the message that connected the beginning of deductions to Best Friends Animal Society, I checked my Amex Statement.  I made a purchase from the Best Friends Store the day before the charges began.   This appears to be quite a scheme.

Lucky you all, they are trying to hit me for 999 and then so nicely reduced it to 599 when i complained. i never gave them any money or a cc number, so hope not to see a charge

Kiplings who who is a scam. They promise there is a deadline to be published and the book doesnt come out for a year. They charge fees on peoples accounts. They won't return calls for refunds. This company should be shut down asap. They don't even send you what you initially ordered but they charge your credit card immediatly.

Contact the BBB on them!!!!!!!

I just got scammed by these phonies as well.  I did agree to have my info placed in their directory and (I'm embarrassed to admit) was charged $424 for a book by them.  However, I still haven't received the book and was charged an extra $400 which they promised they would return and have not yet done so.  They did send me receipts for what I did agree to over the phone, but now what I've read in this site has me scared.  I only want my original $400 back and I don't care if I get the blasted book or not.  Given what I read here I should cancel my credit card and warn them about the $400.

I too am being scammed bt Kiplings. American Express of all companies says there is nothing they can do about the past chargees. Iam still being billed onthly, two payments of $24.95. This is definitely a scam and a very time consuming mess.You have their toll free #?

I was charged $1500 on my AMEX without my authorization by these scammers- they had my credit card number from a previous bogus call some time earlier. We need to contact the FBI and Better Business Bureau!!!!

PS they use multiple phone numbers to call and scam you.

A couple of years ago, I got a call from Kiplings and the caller stated that someone recommended me for their Kipling's Who's Who publication. They required info such as education and work experience for their evaluation in determining if I was worthy for inclusion in their 2008-2009 publication. They concluded I was and then stated their bound book would cost me about $1000-I declined that opportunity. Then they offered a softbound version for less-again I said no. Then an offer was made for a plaque or certificate (one I could display on my library wall)at a cost of about $125, I accepted this offer. They immediately charged my credit card but no plaque or certificate was forthcoming. I contacted them numerous times (by phone and e-mail) and got no satisfaction and even warned them that I would contact the Better Business Bureau(BBB) which I did. I gave the BBB all of the facts in the matter and they in tern pursued this with Kipling's. I stated to the BBB that in my opinion, this was a scam. I told the BBB that If Kipling's didn't have a plaque or cert. I would settle for a copy of the page in Kipling's publication that contained the information I furnished (which I had also told Kipling's earlier). The BBB got results as Kipling's eventually sent me a third rate certificate that I had to doctor up to make it worth hanging.
I never did find out whether or not my info was included in their publication.
I would suggest that others having this problem should contact the credit card company, the BBB and even the state attorney general's office. We need to run these unscrupulous companies out of business.

I have been charged for the past 10 months on my AMX. I call and they dispute and reverse and attempted to mark my file as DO NOT ACCEPT CHARGES but they continue to show up. The first few months it was one charge fo $24.95 and then it was TWO charges every month. Has anyone been able to successfully contact someone at Kipling's and correct this situation or must I cancel my credit card? HELP!!

If you could please keep us updated because this has happened to me as well.  My credit card was charged $24.95 and of course the phone number listed will lead you into a mail box which is not accepting messages.

I did business with Kiplings.  When I terminated my account they billed my credit cards thousands of dollars.

To all those who have been defrauded, I suggest taking action:

Email alumni, non-profits, corporations, and professional organizations and tell them to alert their members about this scam.

I was scammed in to puchasing a directory (about $450) and providing a bio for myself and my firm back in 2007.  To this date, I have still never received a directory.  They tried to start billing me for $24 or so back in early 2009 without contacting me and I got a contact at my bank on a conference call with them and they promptly refunded it and stopped charging.  They still call to sell me stuff, and when I tell the rep I still have not received my directory they tell me they will check into it and get back to me.  Then they hang up, and a few months go by before they try to call and sell me stuff again.  They are a joke.  If you are able to bring a class action or something, I'm all for it.

I was suspicious when i received their offer via fax that's why i decided to google it and found all your comments. Thank you so much for the heads up - i will not get my office into such a mess. Good luck to all of you!

I received a call at my office yesterday May 14, 2010 from a woman.  She went into the pitch very fast and strong, "You've been selected for the Who's who, let me just ask you a few questions"
1. What is your email?
2. What is your title?
3. How long have you been in the position?
4. What made you choose your job?
5. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
6. Where did you go to school?
At which point, I stopped her and asked "can we do this another time" because really I just was not interested.  She said no, that we needed to complete this now and she would send me a proof to edit by email.  I simply said, "I'm not interested," she tried to continue and I hung up.

3 minutes later, the number shows up on my caller ID again, and I have my office mate answer.  This time it's the CEO, he needs to speak with me immediately.  She said I was in a meeting.  He got very aggressive with her and she hung up on him.  

I'll be interested to see if any charges show up as some of you said you never gave any CC information and were similarly contacted at work.

I recieved a call from whoever name Tawana at my WORK  are you kidding me.  I used my visa debit at family dollar and big lots.  Last year I used a difference card there and they called me about a trip I won to give them my account number I told them to f*** off and nothing until now.

I  live in the Dallas area and was a victim of this scam- they have charged over $2000 on my account since December of 2009.  I was given the same number and spoke with a woman named Megan Dunn, Ext 108.  I can't get in touch with them despite calling this number, the one on their website, or the number listed for them on my bank account.

Kipling's Who's Who billed my Discover Credit card for $399 in June 2010 for services never ordered nor received be me.  Apparently, they charged my credit card from the card number they had on file from a 2006 purchase I had made.  I tried to contact their “866” phone number from the credit card statement over 15 times over several weeks, each time receiving a busy signal.  We finally called the “Executive Office” at 631-243-0202 and they asked how we got the number.  I had it from a 2008 Discover Card statement when they billed me $24.94 without my authorization, which they eventually reversed.  Kipling’s “Vice President” took my information and said they would get back with me.  They never did.  I called Discover Card and disputed the charge.  Discover credited my account and then reversed the charge when Kipling provided them a copy of my biographical information sheet from 2006 as proof of the 2010 charge.  There was also a fraudulent invoice attached to a letter signed by Valentina della Scra, Billing Coordinator.  Discover reversed the charges to my account without any proof from Kipling that I actually authorized the $399 charge in June 2010 or prior to giving me the opportunity to reply.  I canceled my Discover Credit card since Kipling will bill me whenever they want by using my card number from 2006.  I now have a complaint into the BBB website, which was referred to the BBB of Metropolitan New York (New York, NY), 30 East 33rd Street 12th Floor, New York, NY 10016.

I had a similar experience to Dr. Richard and Jersey above.  To make a long story short, I was called at the office and eventually was talked into purchasing a plaque from Kipling's Who's Who by Dawnmarie Castellano which didn't show up until I had called multiple times to request the reissuing of the plaque which supposedly got lost in the mail.  I thought that that was the end of the incident.  I had successfully opted out of the monthly fee that was slated to automatically start for the website access when I was contacted after the first phone purchase and thought I had dodged a bullet there.  Then, in April, 2010, out of the blue, I got a charge on my Discover Card for $599.99 for a membership fee to Kipling's Who's Who which I did not authorize.  The phone number on the charge was 866-472-4549 and no one answered that number.  After Googling Kipling's Who's Who, I came across this site which helped me try to get this charge removed.  The dispute investigation arm of Discover would not reverse the charges since the company was contacted and provided a false invoice and had some info on me.  I had to close my account with Discover and report the incident to them as fraudulent activity.  This was done very well by Discover in August, 2010 and the charges were immediately removed.  I haven't received any other charges from this scam since.  Thanks for the info.  It made a difference for my outcome.