Friday, September 28, 2007

Sep 28: "Jen" with satellite TV scam

"Hi. This is Jen calling to set up delivery and installation of your new digital home satellite TV system. Because we're doing installations in your neighborhood right now, you can get free installation and a four room digital satellite TV system for free. This system also includes free DVR receivers. You know, like tivo? Which is awesome. To learn more, press one on your phone right now. This is by far the best deal, saving you on average over four hundred dollars per year compared to cable rates. Once again, to learn more and to be connected to one of our agents, press one on your phone right now."

I say this is a scam because the message doesn't identify who it's from. "Jen" may or may not be the speaker's real name, and it doesn't really identify her, not that her identity is relevant. What makes it a scam is the outfit doing the satellite TV installations and whatever other crap they are selling is not identified in the message.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Sep 26: Recording of "Are you a homeowner..." fraud

"Are you a homeowner. Age sixty-two or older. Would you like to never have a mortgage payment again and still keep your home? What if you could qualify with no credit or no income. If you have equity, may we see if you can qualify? Press one now for more information."

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Sep 25: Recording of travel fraud from "Jennifer" with "First Class Travel"

"Hi. This is Jennifer with First Class Travel. And congratulations. You have been selected to receive two, complimentary, round-trip airline tickets. To any major airport in the continental U.S. To claim your tickets, please press the number one key now. Again, press the number one key now. Or press three to be removed."

The voice sounded just like "Katie" from "the computer center". More fraud from the same source, it seems.

Sep 25: Recording of extended vehicle warranty fraud

"Please listen carefully. This is an important notice regarding your automobile. We recently mailed you a postcard to activate your extended warranty coverage. This courtesy call is your final notice that your vehicle will be removed from our system. This means the opportunity to activate your extended warranty at deeply discounted rates will be lost. To speak with an agent regarding your options before the deadline, please press one now. If you wish to permanently remove your vehicle from eligibility for future coverage, press three now."

I'm guessing this is more deceptive fraud from "Dealer Services". I don't think my vehicle is what's in their system. I think my phone number is just on their sucker list. If they are lying about this being the final notice and I happen to answer the phone, they'll ask me the make and model of my vehicle, and I'll tell them that the recording said that my vehicle is about to be removed from their system and ask them why they don't know the make and model if my vehicle is still in their system.

Friday, September 21, 2007

Sep 21: Recording of fraud from "Katie" from the "computer center"

"Hi. This is Katie from the computer center. Calling to let you know that you have been prequalified for a zero percent interest, no money down today, and no credit check name brand computer. You can even get a free LCD TV and printer with your order. Again, to get a brand name computer without any credit check, press one now. Again, press one now."

It sounds like the same voice as the one doing all the credit scam recordings. I guess they're moving on to new scams now.

It look like telemarketer scams are currently taking a turn. The number of mortgage and credit scams has been falling. The vehicle warranty scams are on the rise. The level of satellite TV and travel scams hasn't changed much. And there's still a low level of health care scams going on. I wonder if this "name brand computer" scam is blip or the first in a new trend of telemarketing scams.

Sep 21: Recording of anonymous woman saying goodbye

"Goodbye."

What the fuck is the point of this shit?

Sep 21: Recording of vehicle warranty fraud

"Hello, this is a courtesy care notice to inform you that the vehicle that you are driving will soon meet the deadline to extend the warranty coverage that protects you against costly repair bills. Our warranty specialists are standing by and will take just a few minutes to quote you coverage and give you the peace of mind that you deserve. Time is running out, so press one now to be transferred to the next warranty specialist. Remember to ask about our employee pricing discounts and interest-free financing. If you have already extended coverage since this notice, or would like to have your name removed from this offer, press nine now."

Note that there is nothing in this message identifying who is calling. That's why I think this is fraudulent.

The "warranty specialist" said that it was "Dealer Services" and the phone number is 800-607-xxxx and did not have any address, but that there were numerous sites around the country. She was very impatient, and was lying about the phone number. I called the 800 number and it was not "Dealer Services".

Friday, September 14, 2007

Sep 14: Recording of "Rachel" at "cardholder services" fraud

"Hello. This is Rachel at cardholder services? Calling in reference to your current credit card account? There are no problems currently with your account. It is urgent that you contact us concerning your eligibility for lowering your interest rate. To as little as six point nine percent. Your eligibility expires shortly, so please consider this your final notice. Please press the number one on your phone now to speak with a live operator and lower your interest rate. Or press the number three to discontinue further notices. Thank you. Have a great day."

Sep 14: Vehicle warranty scam

There was some recording. I pressed one. The person said the name of the organization was "Dealer Services". Sounds dodgy. She said the address is

"Dealer Services"
1001 West Cypress Road
Ft Lauderdale, Florida

She would not give me a phone number.

The recording said something about having sent a postcard before and something about having to act quickly before something expires. This extended warranty bullshit is sounding more and more like a scam.

Sep 14: Recording of "this is a courtesy care notice" fraud

"Hello, this is a courtesy care notice to inform you that the vehicle that you are driving will soon meet the deadline to extend the warranty coverage that protects you against costly repair bills. Our warranty specialists are standing by and will take just a few minutes to quote you coverage and give you the peace of mind you deserve. Time is running out, but press one now to be transferred to the next warranty specialist. Remember to ask about our employee pricing discounts and interest-free financing. If you have already extended coverage since this notice, or would like to have your name removed from this offer, press nine now."

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Sep 12: Recording of "claim your vacation" fraud

"...department. We are trying to reach you. The entry form that you or one of your family members filled out has been chosen. You have won. Congratulations. Press one to claim your vacation now. You will be spending six days on a beautiful beach in Cancun, and it's all inclusive. So press one now, and enjoy white sand and blue ocean of Cancun."

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Sep 11: Recording of fraud from "your financial department"

"Hello. This is a courtesy call from your financial department. After reviewing your recent payment history, we do have a lender that can approve you for the one percent interest rate on the thirty year loan. Please press one now to speak with your financial department. Or press three now to be removed."

This is almost identical to the call yesterday. What the fuck are they doing?

Monday, September 10, 2007

Sep 10: Recording of fraud from "your financial department"

"Hi. This is a courtesy call from your financial department. And after reviewing your recent payment history, we do have a lender that can approve you for the one percent interest rate on the thirty year loan. Please press one now to speak with your financial department. Or press three now to be removed."

Saturday, September 08, 2007

Sep 8: Fraud from "Michelle" with "cardholder services"

"Hello. This is Michelle with cardholder services. Calling in reference to your current credit card account. As a preferred customer, you are now eligible for interest rates as low as six point nine percent on all of your credit card accounts. It is urgent that you contact us today, since your eligibility expires shortly. Please consider this your final notice. Please press nine on your phone now to speak to a live operator and lower your interest rate. Or press eight to discontinue further notices."

Thursday, September 06, 2007

Sep 6: Recording of "this is a courtesy care notice" fraud

"Hello, this is a courtesy care notice to inform you that the vehicle that you are driving will soon meet the deadline to extend the warranty coverage that protects you against costly repair bills. Our warranty specialists are standing by and will take just a few minutes to quote you coverage and give you the peace of mind you deserve. Time is running out, but press one now to be transferred to the next warranty specialist. Remember to ask about our employee pricing discounts and interest-free financing. If you have already extended coverage since this notice, or would like to have your name removed from this offer, press nine now."

Sep 5: Recording of satellite TV scam by "Rachel"

"Hi. My name is Rachel, and I'm calling today to tell you that your area has been selected to receive free satellite equipment and free installation. Press one right now to see how we can reduce your current TV bill by thirty percent. Press one also if you would like to get more information regarding our free digital recording system that we are giving away to new customers."

Sep 5: Recording of "Are you a homeowner..." fraud

"Are you a homeowner. Age sixty-two or older. Would you like to never have a mortgage payment again and still keep your home? What if you could qualify with no credit or no income. If you have equity, may we see if you can qualify? Press one now for more information."

Sep 5: Recording of fraud from "Jonathan" with "consumer services"

"Hello this is Jonathan with consumer services calling in reference to your current credit card account. There's no problem with your account at this time. But it is urgent that you contact us concerning your eligibility for lowering your interest rate. Your eligibility expires shortly, so please consider this your final notice. Please press one now to speak to one of our representatives. Or press two to be removed. Thank you."

Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Mortgage scams

A lot fewer mortgage scams are calling. I guess it's because all the lenders have been screwed by their subprime mortgages. But I still get a few calls. I guess they're trying to squeeze out the last few suckers. All while those that have previously been suckered face foreclosures.

Sep 4: Recording of fraud from "Heather" at "account services"

"Hello. This is Heather at account services. And we're calling in reference to your current credit card account. There's no problems currently with your account. It is urgent however that you contact us concerning your eligibility for lowering your interest rate. To as little as six point nine percent. Your eligibility expires shortly. So please consider this your final notice. Please press one now on your phone to speak with a live operator and lower your interest rate. Or press two to discontinue further notices. Thank you and have a great day."