Our cable package is pretty expensive, so my partner and I had been considering switching. This morning he told me about a great deal that included three months free service, free dvr box, a free ipod nano, and free installation. I thought this sounded too good to be true, so I went about my morning routine in the garden.
He went ahead and signed up for the service:
They wanted our account information for automatic withdrawl, which he wouldn't provide. So they asked for a credit card number, "to charge a $1.00 fee"... Then they asked for his social security number. They set up an account and a date for installation.
Minutes later, his delayed intuition prompted him to call back (For the record, this report isn't intended to bash him, I've already torn him a new one for giving out his SSN to these scammers) and they had no record of any account nor any idea who he was.
He expressed his concern, and when he mentioned cancelling the credit card, the Rep said, "No no no. No need to do that..."
Then, he heard the Rep smother the receiver and whisper, ".. It's him..".
The Rep put this other person on the line who said, "We'll call you back with your account information in ten minutes" then hung up.
He immediately cancelled our credit card. I wish I'd asked his source for this service beforehand, because for anyone semi-computer literate, it's a total red flag. Trust your SPAM filter and review websites for signs of illegitamacy or blatant unprofessional details. Additionally, a P.O. Box is a very suspicious for any company address.
From my research, a LOT of people are scammed by these contractors. Is anyone taking action? Is there anything that can be done, aside from raising awareness, to shut them down?
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