Text message promising a $200 gas voucher
Complaint
Sarah
Country: United States
Today I received a text msg asking me if I would like a $200 Gas Voucher. It provided a toll free number to call for details: 877-764-7978. I have received 6 different text messages this year, with similar promises. I called the number, the person on the other end with a foreign accent, claimed to work for "Central Rewards" and proceeds to tell me for a one-time fee of $2.95 I would get a $200 gas voucher, good anywhere. Sarcastically, I said that it sounds too good to be true! I asked him how I pay the $2.95 fee to get my voucher... Of course, he was willing to accept any major credit card. Unfortunately, when I reply STOP to opt out of these things, it does no good. Each time, the text msg with an amazing offer comes from a different number. All of them lead back to "Central Rewards"
BEWARE BEWARE BEWARE
BEWARE BEWARE BEWARE
Comments
Of course I filed with the State of Georgia where I live and also with the State of Florida where they are located.
They had the audacity to tell me they will come after me for the remaining 500 and some odd dollars for the subscriptions to the magazines.
I attempted to contact them during the 30 day trial period but there customer service people were impossible to reach and communicate with.
Any way, I didn't even think about the FTC but filing with them would probably be a good idea.
These scammers need to be shut down!
To make a very long story short, after this unscrupulous clearing house signed me up with two companies, both of whom charged me $4.95, they played back a fabricated recording of my phone conversation/agreement, during which none of what I stated regarding the above refusal to punch in the confirmation code, etc. or the guy's assurance it wasn't a sales call, was recorded. Instead, the recording went on and on about how much I was going to be charged initially, and that I was signing up for a magazine subscription, which I could cancel within a certain period. If I did not, I would automatically be charged with monthly fees, etc. etc. NOT ONE WORD OF THAT WAS SAID IN THIS PHONE CONVERSATION IN WHICH I AGREED TO HAVE THE GIFT CARDS SENT!!!
IF YOU EVER GET A CALL FROM "CENTRAL REWARDS," DO YOURSELF A BIG FAVOR AND, BEFORE HANGING UP, TELL THEM NEVER TO CALL YOU AGAIN!
Hello everyone my name is Jacob and I am a victim of a scam. The company that scammed is Central Rewards. I am a college freshman with no job or source of income. I received a called from an Indian on January 15. He told me that I won a $200 dollar gas and $50 gift voucher. I was very happy and excited. I was told that all I would have to pay is a $2.95 for shipping and handling of the reward package. They asked for my credit card number and I gave them some random pre-paid netspend card I had purchased from a speedway a few weeks before. The card only had about $3 on it. After they got my CC # they made me talk to an automated voice and I was asked a serious of questions. The automated voice was talking very fast and it was difficult to understand. I said no to the offers the first round and the Indian man came on the line and said "you have to say yes in order to receive the gas voucher and you can cancel anytime". He replayed the automated voice and I reluctantly said yes the second time. When I received the supposed voucher it was just a piece of paper that required me to do so much and I would only be receiving $25 per month. Immediately I just disregarded the whole thing as a stupid attempt at scamming. That was about January 20 something. Than in early April I received a magazine from out of no where with only my address on it. I was like what the hell is this. I placed the magazine in the drawer. Following week I receive another magazine I was wow where is this coming from? Third week I receive another magazine, this time with a letter from Central Rewards. The letter said I owed them $79.90. I was SHOCKED. I was like what the [***] is this. So I immediately call the company. They told yes I agreed to subscribe to their magazine company and that I needed to pay my dues before the end of the month. I told them wanted to cancel my forced subscription and they told me that I would have to pay my due of $79.90 and a $240 cancelation fee. I was stricken with fear and dismay. I have no way of paying that money off and I could not recall ever subscribing to their service. I requested that they play me the recording of the tape. I started to do research and came across this forum. I should have done research back in January when they first called. Any ways……I canceled the card I gave to them, I filed a complaint with the BBB, FTC, the prepaid card I used and my state attorney General. I scheduled an appointment with my schools legal services department on Monday. So we’ll see how things go…….I will come back to this forum and let you know how everything goes when it’s all done.
They prey on the market a $200 gas card who wouldnt want a free gas card but its all a SCAM.....