I got an email. The business opportunity seemed legitimate. That is, until I paid the $197 fee. The "receipt" emailed to me indicated that the transaction would show either "PROREBATE 800-381-7820" or "800 381-7820 REBATE AT HOME".
Instead, my bank statement showed the transaction as "VISA Chabert SA P MU 827018369696." I immediately telephoned Customer Service to inquire. I got a telerep whose second (or third) language was English. After 45 minutes of runaround, I was told to call back in 24 to 48 hours because of a "technical problem in the system."
Still under the impression that this was a legitimate opportunity, I went to the website www.processathome.com and discovered that Angel Stevens had morphed from a single mother with 2 kids, and 2 jobs (in the "hook" email) in desparate financial straits, into an ebooks-creator and retired medical doctor now living in New York City.
More than a little put off by this latest deception, I scrolled the website nonetheless. Following instructions, I attempted to download the how-to manual, "How to Make A Fortune Processing Rebates Online" and view the "how-to" videos only to discover that nothing on the website worked properly. Nothing would download; and clicking on any link, a second window would open, there would be an icon saying that the material was loading — then NOTHING.
I quickly sent emails to angel. [email protected] and [email protected] detailing, not only the suspicious activity regarding the VISA transaction, but problems with the website and downloads, as well.
I got several more "form" emails from Angel Stevens, including a fluff piece on procrastination; a "gift" in the form of rehashed information from a non-profit organization; an email purporting to be Step 2 on my way to financial freedom; and a follow-up from someone named Sophie, who supposedly worked in Angel's office (not far from her desk).
This fraudulent transaction showed a couple of days later as "VISA REBATEPAY 8003817821 PORT LOUIS MU" (still not described as the RECEIPT said it would be). And, in addition to the $197, my card was also charged a $5.91 in the form of a "Foreign Transaction Fee MU". To say I was livid was an understatement.
Mysteriously, the barrage (over two dozen in a 6-day period) of emails from Angel Stevens with purported pointers, and tips, and information, and encouragement, blah, blah, blah STOPPED.
Although the emails give the impression that the company is located in California, MU is the country code for Mauritius, an island approximately 1200 miles south of the eastern coast of Africa! The population consists of Hindus, Creole, Chinese, Muslims and Europeans — not retired M.D.'s living in NYC.
Don't be fooled - the entity that claims to be Angel Stevens is a fraud. While the business opportunity may very well be legitimate, it is not Angel's to sell. She simply cloaked her program around paydot.com and Paypal.com and gives you a lot of fluffology which she offers as "information vital to your success as an Affiliate Marketer."
I plan to get my money back.
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