My story is about how I was scammed by the internet sports company In Sports, specifically how they ripped me off for $1920. My story is almost exactly like every other experience shared on this website about In Sports.
Before I get into the story I should tell you that this all started about 3 months ago. I have since somewhat recovered my money, but until now I did not want to post anything, being worried that I may hurt my own case.
First: For anyone interested in my story or considering doing business with this company the following is my personal experience with this company.
This whole thing started as I was seeking a job on CareerBuilder. I was looking for a part-time job for some extra income. Im a huge sports fan so working for a company involved in sports made me very interested. The job description involved dispersing fliers at places like sporting events or a sports bar, both places I enjoy going to anyway. Everything about the company seemed very professional and legitimate. From the letter I was required to write stating why I would be a good fit with the company, to the 20 minute conversation I had with the vice-president of the company Nick, everything seemed normal.
For the fliers I was to hand out, I was told over and over that it would require a small deposit of about $20-25 a month with a full refund after 6 months. Near the end of the conversation Nick told me he needed to tape me going over the things we had just talked about, that it was just a formality, and that he needed me to say yes to his questions. With no reason to think this was a scam of any kind and a legitimate job offer I gave him my debit card number and said yes to his questions. He was very clever and worded things during this tape recorded conversation differently then anything we had talked about prior. I unfortunately did not pick up on these subtleties during the conversation and only heard them a few weeks later when he played the tape recorded conversation back to me in response to my confusion.
In this taped conversation he played back to me, he stated that I had the option of paying $20-25 a month (like we had talked about), but then he adds that this payment was a minimum monthly payment towards my credit card. Next he asks if I understand that he will charge my credit card nineteen-twenty, which I of course took as $19.20. Well he charged me $1920.00.
I was unaware of the situation until about two weeks after. When I contacted Nick thinking there had been some kind of mistake he told me there was no mistake and replayed the contract to me right away. I explained my situation to him about how I dont have a great deal of money and how the money he took was being saved for my wedding. I told him that there was a huge misunderstanding and that I needed the money back immediately. He refused, but told me he would talk to the owner of the company because this owner was a good guy and he might give me a break.
Since this conversation I discovered that Nick lied to me about the owner because in fact the company is registered in his name (which to make matters worse is a fake name).
Anyway Nick called me back about an hour or two later and told me the owner was willing to make a deal with me. Still not aware that this was a scam and thinking I was at fault I actually almost considered taking the option presented to me, which was to take half of my money back and allow them to keep the other half. After I got off the phone with Nick I started doing research and soon became aware that he had done this to several individuals over the past three years or so. For obvious reasons I refused to sign and fax this new contract back to him. He was then extremely persistent in having me sign this second contract. His unrelenting attempt to have me do this has led me to believe that the first contract is not valid and his scam is really based on the second one and making people think they have no option but to lose half their money.
Next: For anyone looking for advice in the recovery of their money.
Now, as far as getting my money back, I was very fortunate to have contacted the right people who were able to give me a great deal of help and advice. First off, I was in contact with the consumer scam investigator for a prominent newspaper in my area. This individual got me pointed in the right direction right from the beginning. They put me in contact with my states Attorney Generals office, specifically the Consumer Protection Department. Together with this investigator from the newspaper, an investigator from the Consumer Protection Department, and my own research, we discovered a great deal of information about this company and more importantly this individual Nick. Next, I filed complaints with my bank, the Better Business Bureau, the Federal Trade Commission, and my local police department.in addition I made CareerBuilder.com aware of the situation as well (unfortunately, as of today In Sports is still recruiting people on CareerBuilder).
My suggestion to anyone attempting to recover money from Nick (if you used a debit card) is to press your bank over and over again. Let them know about the agencies involved and about how hes done this to other people in the past. I went as far as to file a complaint with my states Department of Banking. Luckily for me, the reporter who was helping me also kept on the bank.in the end the bank came through for me.
I didnt get the money back how I wouldve hoped too, but I got it all the same. The bank talked to Nick and he offered half the money as he did to me, the bank then took a loss for the other half, giving me all of my money back. I am very grateful to the bank for doing this, but really wish Nick didnt get to keep half of the money. Another suggestion I would make is to stand firm with Nick. He will try to convince you that you are wrong. He went as far as to threaten me with slander and defamation law suits hoping I would go away. Unfortunately for him I knew this was a bluff and that he couldnt do that.
Lastly: There are many questions I would have for Nick about his practices and about his business in general that I would invite him to answer in a public forum such as this
Why would an ethical businessman, having many misunderstandings with the way nineteen-twenty is worded, continue to word it this way? Why not say nineteen hundred and twenty dollars or one thousand nine hundred and twenty dollars? Why continue to word it in a way that has confused a great deal of people out of a great deal of money?
What is the point of lying to individuals about an owner that does not exist? Why when I asked to speak to the owner was I told I couldnt? Why will you not give out your last name or the owners name to an individual like me, who was to become an employee for the company?
If there is nothing shady about the company, why is it registered in a false name Nick Jones?
Why, after having several complaints filed about your company when registered in Utah, would you move your business across state lines to California?
What Ive also discovered is that the companies Play to Win Sports and NAQ games along with In Sports are all located within a 5 mile radius of each other, in the Anaheim area of California, and they all involve similar scams and an individual named Nick. Coincidence?
After I file this report I am going to send the link to Nick in hopes that he responds to my accusations. If they are false in any way I would imagine he would need to answer some of the questions presented.
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