Capital First
Telemarketing Scam Exposed Thanks to complaint

Anonymous 22481
08-12-2002
7

I was one of the lucky ones who got away. Capital First telemarketer Shaun Archer ID #78945603 (who had an obvious Indian accent, so I don't even believe this was his real name) tried to reach me several times. When he spoke to my Dad, he asked who he was and told him that I was approved for the card I applied for. I was suspicious of this, since legitimate companies would not divulge such information about your account to someone else.

When he finally got me on the phone after several days, I told him I did not apply for any credit cards. He said that they were so backlogged from the response to their special offer, that they were just getting around to people who applied maybe 6 to 12 months ago (this comment is designed to make you think that maybe you did apply, but forgot). I let him continue, and he stated that I would get a MasterCard with a $2500 limit which I could use anywhere, at 0% interest for the rest of my life.

The only fee was a one-time $29.95 fee. I asked him what other fees were involved. He said the membership fee of $99 would be deducted from my credit limit, not charged to me. He said that I would have 7 days after receiving the card to look it over, and they would give me a call to confirm that I was keeping the card after 7 days. I asked him if this was a regular MasterCard that was good anywhere, not just in some catalog from his company. He said yes.

I then asked him whether there were any application fees or any other charges associated with the card. He said, no. I asked him how I would be paying the $99 fee. He again reiterated that it would just lower my credit limit. I asked him, if, according to his theory, that were so, then in 25 years I would have no credit limit. He then said that, after 3 months of use, my credit limit would increase to $5000, and after 6 months of use, it would be $7500.

I was still skeptical, and asked him to hold on while I logged onto the internet and keyworded "Capital First." There is a legitimate Capital First Corporation which deals with farm loans, so I did not find your site immediately.in the meantime, "Shaun" asked me some "verification" questions: Are you over 18? Do you have a household income over $800 per month? And "Do you have a bank account?" This last one made me more suspicious.

"Shaun" then said that I would be receiving a special package, worth over $4000, in travel coupons and discounts. I asked him if I had to join a club or was being given a "trial" membership in some club with my card. He said no.

He then said that, in order to receive this special package, I would have to give him my check information for my $29.95 check as a verification for the postman. He asked me for the check number. I gave him a number, stalling him as I continued to search for information online.

I told him I have a PO Box and he said it was being sent registered mail and that I would have to provide this information to verify who I was, because the package was for me and only me. I told him I had never heard of the post office requiring your bank account information to give your a registered mail package.

By this time, I had found your site! I told "Shaun" I would give him no more information, as I had determined that his request was illegal. I asked him about the $59.95 charge for the travel package, and he tried to avoid it, saying that I first had to approve the transaction with his "legal" department. I told "Shaun" that I did not want anything to do with his scam and hung up.

As I stated at the beginning of this report, I was one of the lucky ones who got away, and it was all with thanks to consumer complaints! I plan to send my information to the FTC, to help stop others from being victimized!

Denise
Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania