THE SCAM:

Through hours of tedious "detective" work, I've narrowed down just what these bullshit calls are all about and how this scam works. I just now found out a lot of vitals, so this is brand new information...I'm still digging into it, but this is what I have so far. I'll explain just "how" I got this info on the my story page, and give you more details of this scam as they come in.

There is a company called United Marketing Group that is heading up a scam intended to charge mass numbers of unsuspecting people's credit card, and get away with it. Here's what they are doing.

United Marketing Group somehow obtains your credit card information, including the last four numbers of your card (maybe all numbers for all I know), your name, your phone and your home address! They then will call you on your phone pretending to be your credit card company. They will ask for you by name, tell you that they are your credit card comany and then begin explaining to you that as a valued customer, they are awarding you with a $3,000 on-line shopping spree and gas cards, for free! During this time, they reference your credit card, giving you the last four numbers of your card (and they really are the correct numbers!) and verify your home address.

Then, they tell you they are going to record the conversation, and try to get you to agree to accept delivery of this "special award package" that they are sending you. They inform you that it will cost only one dollar to activate your prize. They have now recorded you saying "yes" to the charge.

Your credit card is then charged a dollar every month and soon the charge turns into an $11.99 charge.

The illegal part of the scam is that they falsely identify themselves as your credit card company, and mislead you by lying to you, just to make the charge. Other illegal activities include unsolicted and harrassing phone calls--many victims site these people shouting insults at them when they refuse to agree to their scam. This outfit calls your home or cell phone repeatedly--many victims report scores and scores of calls from the same people, day after day after day. Also, the number that appears on your caller ID from these s.o.b.s is either a fake number that sends you to a disconnected number, or they have a fake recording when you call back that sounds like you've reached an out of service number--either way, very unethical, and leaves the victim feeling helpless when trying to find any recourse.