I am a business owner and a director of sales in my company. I consider my self an educated, experienced reasonable person, especially when it comes to a phone soliciting frauds. These, crooks, though, work at the highest level of their fraudulent professionalism implementing some great cold-calling and sales techniques. I cannot believe I fell for this. Here is the story.
Advantage America Benefits contacted me over the phone and told me that I was selected among other 10 lucky individuals in California for government reimbursement for $12,000.00 that I will never-ever have to give backblah-blah-blah. I was ready to hang-up on them. But, they told me that The Government wants to return the tax money to the people and that they can not give it to everybody, therefore there only 10 people selected in California to be the lucky ones.
It all sounded as if I just won the lottery, especially when they confirmed that they are a government organization. I got very suspicious, though, when they asked for a personal account number and my address to confirm that you have a valid account number where the 12,000.00 will be transferred in 5-7 business days. I gave them my banking account number, address and phone number, to transfer money to my account as they claimed.
After that I started writing down the info that I was giving them and was ready to hang-up if they asked for social security number or any other info. But those guys are smart, so they did not. Then they put me through a confirmation recording session when they recorded my answers typical YES or NO on the automated system questionnaire, I also stated my banking account number and all the rest of the info.
There was a question about some medical benefits for free that can be cancelled within 2 monthor there will be a $299.95 charge... I though I will cancel it next day and decided to play along to get to the point. Next thing that happened they charged my banking account for $49.95 for shipping grocery coupons and then for $299.95 for medical benefits that I don't need in about a week after the phone conversation happened, never mind the promised two months for cancellation.
I filed a fraud report with my bank and they are investigating now. I tried calling the number they gave me but the line keeps on slipping to dial tone - nobody their! Try dialing 866-503-7345! I when to whois.com and tried to track the owner of the website. It happened to be Mr. Donald Nyveen located at British Colonial, 1 Bay Street, suite 303 in BAHAMAS! For a moment I felt so dumb that I almost decided not to tell anyone about the stupid mistake I made. I guess that's what they hope for and that's how they make their money. Crooks!
Vadim
Richmond, California
U.S.A.
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