Like so many others my husband and I have, due to medical problems and 9-11 job cuts, have "not-so-good" credit. When you get a call for an UNSECURED MasterCard with 0% interest, you think, "wonderful."
When I asked the girl who called how long it would take for them to send the card, she said they worked with 10 different banks and we would have to fill out the vacation form first.
Then I realized this can't be real. I asked her for their web address, she said they didn't have one. I asked how I could find out if they were a legitimate company, she sounded as if she had heard this question before, as she turned the pages of her "script." When she said the police could track the call I started getting really suspicious.
I finally got an address (66 Northwestern Ave, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73116), phone number (866-890-2766) and operator id (70430). I got the number 416-752-4581 from my caller ID. Then I searched for them on the web and wow - are they shysters. Thanks to this website I didn't give them any money or my bank information.
I called them back and got a customer service person who had to have operator 70430 call me back. When she called back I asked her if she had access to the internet, and if she did she should look up this company she was working for she might want to find a different job. I told her to put me on their do not call list. She kept asking what did you find out. I told her again to look her company up on the internet, repeated to put me on their do not call list and hung up. SHE CALLED ME BACK - what nerve.
I have put my number on the National Do Not Call List, but it hasn't been three months yet. I called the FTC and filed a complaint. Advantage Plus made two violations 1) telemarketers cannot call you after you tell them to put you on their do not call list (regardless of whether or not you are on the National Do No Call List) and 2) IT IS ILLEGAL TO ASK FOR ADVANCE FEES, the FTC calls it Advance Fee Loan Scams. I suggest anyone who has dealings with this company or any advance fee company visit www.ftc. Gov and call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261 and report Advantage Plus. The FTC operator was very pleasant. I also filed a complaint online with the Canadian Council of Better Business Bureaus, http://www.canadiancouncilbbb.ca since they were calling from a Canadian province. The FTC also has information on borderline scams from Canada and the Caribbean.
I know this is little consolation to those who have been scammed. I hope there is a special place in hell for the people who pray on those who already have financial problems or just anyone.
Lisa
Rosslyn, Virginia
U.S.A.
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