I spoke with three "representatives" from Star Communications today (11/21/05) and spent close to an hour explaining to them why I would not give out my bank account information to them.
The scam they propagate is to ask for $4.95 from your bank account to "verify you" in their system. They promise a $500.00 shopping spree voucher good at any department store location.
According to the research I've done, the end result is that the consumer does not receive the "shopping spree" but one or more transactions from Star Communications "affiliates" results in money being withdrawn from the consumer's bank account in various amounts, but typically in the $100.00 - $250.00 range.
The BBB rates this company "F" on their rating scale, that being the worst rating a company can get.
An Attorney General for North Dakota issued a cease and desist order against Consumer Rewards Network (Star Communications), and prohibited them from soliciting in that state.
The North Carolina Attorney Generals office has issued an injunction against Star Communications also to prevent them from solicitation in that state.
Here is part of a quote from the BBB:
"We believe this company's advertising is deceptive and misleading."
In short, this company will persistently try to obtain your bank account information. Even when I told them I was looking at dozens of fraud cases with their name on them, they presisted in asking for my bank account #.
As a final ploy, one of the representatives offered to give me his bank account number in which he claimed he has "millions of dollars".
His angle was to prove how harmless it would be for him to have my account number. Well, here is the number he gave me, I have no idea if it is any good, but apparently it is harmless... 48010006359 Wells Fargo bank. The name he used was "William Bentley", but he spoke with a heavy Indian accent.
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