Hello.... This is the BBB posted 10/20/2009 2:16:42 PM | 2 kudos what's this?     report abuse tagged: business, scam

tentfire

GOOD AFTERNOON, THIS IS SALLY SUE WITH THE Better Business Bureau.....

I was outside working yesterday when my phone rang. By the time I could get my phone out they had left a message. The above is how the message began (name changed to protect the guilty). She made it sound urgent that I return her call and gave me her return number.... which was NOT the same number that showed up on my caller ID. I haven't returned her call yet, as I received the same call/different woman several months back............

Several months back I received this same call with the same wording (different woman) and the same urgency to return the call. It scared me because I thought a customer had called in a complaint and I could not for the life of me figure out why, as that had never happened. She sounded pretty stern. She, too, gave a different number than the one on the caller ID to make my return call to. The number wasn't even close to the same. Still, I wanted to make sure I didn't have an unhappy customer so I called her right back........
When I called her back she proceeded to praise me for having been in business for so long without any complaints against me. She said that I had earned some kind of status with them and her energetic, upbeat line of BS went on with strong emphasis on how great me and my business were. After awhile she finally told me about this little BBB logo that I could have put on my website (we have all seen them on many sites so I knew what she was talking about). No money was mentioned yet, just that I had "earned" it. Although I was somewhat excited (and relieved that it wasn't a complaint,) I also remained skeptical as I listened to her scenario. After she confirmed that I would like to have this little logo on my website, she then says, "Now I just need your credit card information to complete this." I exclaimed, "Credit card info! There is a fee for this?! You said I earned it. How much is it?!" She states a price that I can't exactly remember but if memory serves me at all, it was a 3-digit figure. She goes on to firmly state that this was a "one time" offer and I would not get another chance. She kept telling me what an "honor" it was to be given this offer. I told her that I wasn't giving her ANY personal/credit card info. She continued on with her push, with a now angry tone to her voice, including how good it would be for my business, how it would increase it and increase my sales. I told her I would have to think about it. She said that I had a week to decide, to call her back with my info, and then the offer would be void. YEA, RIGHT, LIKE I AM GOING TO DO THAT, FAT CHANCE! I have been on the BBB site often, looking up things and checking out other online businesses before I purchase from them. I remembered seeing on there that this "little logo" was something you could go on there and apply for at ANY time.
The gears started turning and I started doing sone checking. First, I looked up the number on my caller ID. It, indeed, WAS the local BBB, that is where the call had originally come from. Then I tried to check out her return number..... I couldn't find it anywhere in the searches, other than it was listed as a cell phone number. I tried to contact the BBB via their website and the phone number that came up on my Caller ID. I could never reach a person and my messages regarding the conversation were never returned. Now, I do not know for sure if this particular conversation was a scam BUT I do know that the BBB IS NOT going to ask you for your Personal Info when they constantly tell you NOT to give it out. Personally I am certain this was a scam. This type of scenario is somewhat of a new scam (in my understanding). Here is how it works:

Call Center jobs are reasonably easy to get, especially the easier ones. And in larger businesses there are a lot of people working all in the same room, each at their tiny little cubicle (scammers work in this way, also). Scammers get their "foot in the door" at these Call Centers..... call you from the legitimate phone number.... then give you his/her (their group's) cell number to return your call to. They act like they are with that business, but really aren't, they are acting on their own, SCAMMING YOU! All of your personal info then goes to the SCAM GROUP and NOT the actual business you thought you were talking to. BEWARE!!!!

The Holidays are upon us..... the economy is HORRIBLE ....... and the scammers are out and in force more than ever..... NOT just the Nigerians, but our own citizens as well. Sad, but True .
So please, please, PLEASE be careful and NEVER, NEVER, NEVER give out your personal info, no matter how legitimate you think it might be, unless YOU have placed a call directly to a company for YOUR business sake. Even then, you still have to be careful.

Thank you for reading my blog.

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