I received a phone call on 11/19/04 from Centurion Financial Benefits. A man (I don't remember his name) stated that I was pre-approved for a MasterCard with a credit limit of 2000 dollars. With a ton of benefits, no interest for 2 years, no monthly fee, no annual and I could up my credit limit to $5000 after 6 months. All I had to do to get this was pay a one time fee of $249.
I told him my whole story about me being a single mom of two and that my only source of income was child support and a disability check that came in on the 3rd Wednesday of every month and I only receive $750.00. They said that they could take a post dated check over the phone for $249 that would taken out of my account on 11/25 (thanksgiving).
This man told me there would be a third party verifier and the conversation would be recorded for my protection. So thinking that with a well known name like MasterCard I felt secure in my decision. I even told them about how I was trying find the funding to put my oldest son though college and how great this credit card would be to help us with expense that were not covered by the students loans! I told him how this was the break we were praying for!
And even thanked him! And asked if I could give him a friends number so maybe she could get a credit card too. I told him she was a single mom too and need some help making ends meet form time to time. He said he would love to help her out to, and took her phone number saying he would call her the next day so I would have time to tell her I gave her number to him. Then he told me that I would be transferred to Jeff Beauman the 3rd party verifier for the company.
I told him everything I told the other guy, about me being a single mom and how I felt that this must be the blessing we were praying for. I did say that this did sound TO GOOD TO BE TRUE and if this was a scam I hope he would at the very least loose some sleep because he knew he was ripping me and my family off! He reassured me that is was on the up and up!
SO I gave him all of my important information, my full name, my full address, my social security number, my drivers license number, my banks name and address and my routing number. I then made sure that the call was taped to insure my protection. Jeff Beauman kept reassuring me that this was not a scam and that I will be pleased with my new credit card.
He also told me that one other benefit I was to receive was 2 weeks free long distance from PRO TEL phone service. I told him I did not want the phone deal. He told me that all I had to do was not use it and it would not active it but to make sure I should call this number 1 (800) 634-2979 to make sure they do not charge me. He gave the number to active it was 1 (800) 796-2499. He gave me his name and ext. 9010 and the customer service number 1 (866) 784-0260 and my confirmation number. He told me that I could cancel and get a refund after I get my package and my card but it had to be within 10-14 days.
The one thing about this whole thing that did seemed a little off was the fact that I could not get a hold of customer service, which I tried on my cell phone while I was on the phone with him. I called the number and it said Thank for call customer service we are closed and please call back Mon. - Fri. 9:30and till 5:00pm central standard time. He reassured me that they were in New York and it was almost 8:00 pm. And his phone room was opened later then customer service.
So I asked for their website he said that I was not able to get the websites URL because I was not a member until I have paid for my credit card and all that info would be in my packet which I would receive in about three week after the money was transferred from my bank account.
After hanging up I went on the internet to check and see how great this credit card was going to be. I typed in Centurion Financial Benefits into the google search engine and I was directed to usacomplaints. Coms.com. I read some of the reports and realized that they had the same story and I had been scammed. I was horrified! I was in tears at this time and called my local police department and they told me that they could not do anything to help and that I should call my bank ASAP.
I tried to call the number on my caller ID but it was a fax sound. The number was 1 (403) 279-3008 Calgary AB. I thought it was Alabama but it is not. It is Alberta Canada! It was a Friday night and I freaked out thinking they could clear my account before my bank even opened. So I grabbed my ATM card and went and pulled all my money out.
The next morning I went to my bank and they helped me by putting a stop payment on both Centurion Financial benefits and Pro tel. I can not close my account until my checks clear and my disability check clears but I will be closing my account ASAP! I have filled a police report and I have spoke with the three main news stations so that I can help stop these horrible people from ripping good people off and plan on reporting then to all the necessary agencies to stop this company!!!
Thank GOD that I found this website!!! Before They got to my checking account!!!
I will be filling report with the FCC and the FBI but they do more reports to act on this! I Spoke with our state FBI agent and he told me to fill a report at a certarin website but they need more then 50 reports to go after this company. Please call your state FBI agency and find out how you can file a report.
Please do your part to help us all to stop these horrible people and the company they work for!
Thank you to all that work at usacomplaints.com!
Dawn
Mnt. Grove, Missouri
U.S.A.
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