Unauthorized withdrawal from checking
Complaint
Dorothy Payne
Country: United States
I had 449.00 withdrawn electronically from my checking account from this comapny aaaaai had never heard of or knew about. This caused about 5 checks to bounce. I reported this to the police and the BBB. T company that withdrew the funds is CybrCollect. I called them and got passed around from person to person. After the 4th phone number I was given to call, I spoke with someone that said'if you are not happy with the product, we will refund your money' in 21days. I never ordered anything nor did I receive anything in the mail
Comments
https://complaintwire.org/Complaint.aspx/CH-6SVffnwD_JAjMqiGfQQ
https://complaintwire.org/Complaint.aspx/IkTAOiunqgD6NAjMSyKuCA
https://complaintwire.org/Complaint.aspx/AK1EDtDcfwCL6gjKScTWrw
There has been a steady stream of complaints of fraudulent telemarketing or fraudulent checking account charges against this name, supposedly for some "medical discount" card or program. Complaints go back around 6 months or more against this name, with similar complaints against several other names that may be part of the same scam going back for several years.
Complaints include fraudulent charges with no authorization, fraudulent telemarketing including calls claiming to be with "Medicare" supposedly to "verify your checking account number", as well as indications of several other scams tied to the same phone numbers.
The supposed mailing address is reported to be a mail drop/mail forwarder located in Champlain NY, near the Canadian border, commonly reported in connection with seveal similar scams run cross-border by fraudulent telemarketers based in the Montreal area.
Some reports indicate charges were preceded by deceptive calls used to con consumers into disclosing their checking account number. Some calls claimed to be with "Medicare", while others claimed they needed account information to pay some "government grant" or some sweepstakes prize. Still others were telemarketing calls pretending to be associated with one of several well known pharmacy chains, or to be selling some "discount card" supposedly honored by those chains.
Quite a few complaints indicate funds were removed from checking accounts through ACH EFT or phone checks without any prior contact,which may indicate access to consumer checking account information, perhaps illegally purchased.
Disputes of fraudulent charges have been met by claims the charges were authorized, claims they have a recording of the authorization, claims the charges are for "renewal" of some "health discount plan" supposedly signed up for a year ago, claims they will have to investigate the charge but it will take weeks, and similar excuses.
All of the above are common tactics with fraudulent telemarketing operations.
At one point there appeared to be some website under that name under construction, totally missing in any information that might allow tracing a physical address or phone number. More recently there was a website possibly associated with this same scam by common phone number that appeared to have been set up in support of several common cross border scams, with lots of logos of well known retail companies, apparently to create the appearance of legitimacy.
"I had 449.00 withdrawn electronically from my checking account "
They are getting greedy. They used to take only $299, then $399.
" I reported this to the police and the BBB"
Good. Get a copy of the police report to use with your bank should you need to.
"company that withdrew the funds is CybrCollect"
Probably some payment processor willing to ignore fraud disputes. The pattern with this scam all along has been that they have had access to the EFT system, and were using it to take money with no actual authorization. (A couple recent complaints include reports of cashing "phone checks" at two widely separated banks, one in New Brunswick, and another in Kentuck, if I remember right.)
"I called them and got passed around from person to person. "
That is the sort of payment processor who takes a scammer as a client. Each layer stalls, delays, and lies, and wears down some percentage of the scam victims.
"After the 4th phone number I was given to call, I spoke with someone that said'if you are not happy with the product, we will refund your money' in 21days."
Still pretending there was actualy a "product", and that "you bought it". As you know you never bought anything. As for the "21 days", they could reverse your charge today, or at least in a week like any legitimate company. What they are doing is stringing you along until the 60 day FRB REg. E dispute window passes, after which your bank will have a harder time reversing fraudulent charges, or may ignore your complaint totally.
This is NOT a "refund to a customer". You did not buy a "product". They took your money without any authorization, like they have taken money from many others, and if you do not dispute it as fraud, they will end up keeping it.
Immediately contact your bank to file a fraud dispute, and close your checking account due to fraud to prevent additional fraudulent charges. Follow up with a WRITTEN DISPUTE or FRAUD AFFIDAVIT sent to your bank's dispute address from your statement, and make sure your bank receives it within the 60 day FRB Reg. E dispute window measured from the statement date of the statement showing the disputed charges.
Phone now to dispute and block the account timely. Follow up in writing, mailed certified, and follow up with a fraud affidavit, then send a copy of your police report when you get a copy.
If your bank gives you any problems, insists that you contact the "merchant" first (you have, and see what good it did?), or tries to "mediate" this fraud as if it is some "merchant dispute", contact the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency at www.occ.gov to file a complaint against your bank for violating the FRB Reg. E dispute regulations.
Ask your bank to waive the NSF fees, since they were a result of a fraudulent charge. If they won't do that, it is time to find a better bank. You don't need a bank that profits as criminals defraud you any more than you need one that hands them your money.
"...
DMS (Discount Medical Services)
Business Address: 1187 A Main Street
Champlain, NY 12919
...
Phone Number: (866) 442-3943
BBB Accreditation: This business is not a BBB Accredited Business
Type of Business: TELEMARKETING SERVICES
..."
Note that they received 5 complaints, but failed to respond to all 5.
The complaint categories were regarding "billing or collection issues", "customer service issues", or {"refund or exchange issues", all consistent with fraudulent charges as the real issue.
Other reports of fraudulent charges. Note report of stonewalling the customer calling trying to get information on the charge, much like you ran into.
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-442-3943
Reported to be cross-border Canadian scam, consistent with mail drop address in other report.
Note reported deceptive phone tactics used to con people into disclosing identity information.
http://www.bbb.org/centralohio/business-revie ... bus-oh-70061713
"...
Name: Discount Medical Services
Phone: (866) 493-6921
Address: Unknown
Columbus, OH 43215
Principal: Mr. Chad Davisson, Agent
Customer Contact: Mr. Chad Davisson, Agent
File Open Date: February 2010
Type of Business: Advance Fee Brokers, Medical - Dental Discount Plans
BBB Accreditation: Discount Medical Services is not a BBB Accredited business.
Products and Services of Discount Medical Services
This company appears to be a cross-border (Canadian-based) telemarketing scam.
Customer Complaint History for Discount Medical Services
The information we've received from consumers indicates they received a telephone call from someone claiming to need their social security number to verify their participation in Medicare.
One consumer said the caller claimed to be from security telling her not to hang up or she wouldn't have health insurance anymore
..."
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-493-6921
"Caller said he was from a District Office of Medicare and wanted to verify my checking account number"
This reply was posted:
"Can you please call me about this incident.. I am a Medicare Fraud Investigator,,, 904-687-5658.. thank you"
Bill Candeletti, retired police officer, connected to above number in reply. http://www.prisonerbench.com/AboutBillCandeletti.aspx
He also developed a snow removal machine known as DuraSweeper.
http://www.xtremesweep.com/
Post appears legitimate.
"My mother in law was called from this number, and they retrieved her checking account number from her, telling her that they needed to verify it for their records.
This is a scam number and now we have to cancel her checking account"
"This is my mother and she received a call supposedly from Medicare regarding a Medicare discount card. The woman was very insistent and sounded very well informed-per my mom. She gave these people what they wanted to know and then was put through to a "Scott Harris", etc. Now they have all of her banking info. These people are SCAM ARTIST!!! PLEASE INFORM YOUR ELDERLY FAMILY MEMBERS!!!"
They prefer to prey on old people.
"These people called my Mother between 12:00 & 1:00 P.M. on the 4/7/10. They said something about needing more insurance. She told them she did't need any more coverage. They called her a liar and got her upset and she give them her banking information. Mother is 85 years old, and has limited income."
Your membership fee entitles you to unlimited services throughout the year with no maximums on services. You may receive services as often as needed and still get the same pre-negotiated discounted rates. In comparison, traditional insurance requires costly deductibles, imposes limits on the number of times you can receive services and establishes annual maximums on services.
Simply enroll online anytime, and you are immediately accepted regardless of your age or pre-existing conditions. Your membership card will arrive by mail in 7-10 business days. Once you have located a provider in your area, using the provider services directory, simply make an appointment and show your membership card when you arrive for your appointment. Then you just pay the pre-negotiated discounted rate at your time of service. You'll love how you save money using these plans. Don't get caught paying full price for your health care!
For more details: http://BestDiscountBenefits.com
Why would you post a pitch for a discount health card on a thread dealing with fraudulent charges by a phony discount health card?
Your BBB report:
http://www.bbb.org/san-diego/business-reviews ... de-ca-27002426/
Their BBB reports:
http://www.bbb.org/centralohio/business-revie ... bus-oh-70061713
http://www.bbb.org/upstate-new-york/business- ... n-ny-165454830/
No insurance product is any better than the company behind it. Do not assume that because they make attractive promises, you will get what you think you are paying for. For example, note the recent rampant fraud in the "auto warranty" scam "industry".
Before considering ANY insurance product, consumers should verify that the purveyor is properly licensed in their state (contact your state insurance commissioner), has few complaints, and that the product is actually suitable for the intended purposes.
For example, determine what medical providers are actually under contract (major pharmacies, doctors, etc.), and separately verify that agreement and the discount terms with those you intend to use, not just taking the word of the seller.
In addition, verify that you are actually dealing with the company they claim to be, since from time to time real or phony insurance agents have sold phony policies, and just pocketed the proceeds. This can go on for some time, as a form of Ponzi scheme, until sufficient complaints of non-payment for claims arise to attract attention.
Be aware that "discount health cards" have been an active area of consumer fraud for a number of years, all the way from fraudulent telemarketing selling non-existent or worthless "cards" to out and out cramming of fraudulent charges without any authorization at all, disguised as "medical"or "pharmacy" charges on credit or checking accounts.
Some are set up to appear to deliberately side-step state regulation of insurance products, which also means there may be no agency ensuring they are financially sound enough that your purchase will actually have any value when you need it.
Discount card companies may or may not be able to negotiate a sufficiently better deal with providers to justify their purchase cost. In effect, compared to real insurance which can offer a guarantee of payment on pre-negotiated terms, all they have to trade on their end of the negotiation is the advertising value to providers of possibly directing their members to particular providers.
They are a Canadian cross-border fraudulent telemarketing scam. They aren't going to give the money back because you ask for it.
File a fraud dispute with her bank. They lied about being with Medicare to trick her into reveiling her account number, therefore the chargesa are fraudulent. Dispute it IMMEDIATELY through her bank, under FRB Reg. E, and close that account since they may still have her account number and there is NOTHING to stop them from taking additional money, under this or another name.
Back up your dispute complaint by filing a fraud and theft complaint with your local police or DA, (including elder fraud), and get a copy of the police report. In addition, have her sign and have notarized a fraud affidavit. Your bank should be able to use those sworn complaints to refute any attempt they may make to block your dispute and reversal of the charges.
Your bank should be able to reverse frauduelnt charges submitted within 60 days of the statement date of the statement showing the disputed charges. That will reverse the charge back to the scammers, or leave their own bank stuck with the loss. If your bank does not assist you, contact your state Attorney General for assistance in reminding them of their obligations, or contact www.occ.gov, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2010/08/hustle.shtm
FTC recently settled with a payment processor, Landmark Clearing, caught aiding and abetting these schemes.
https://complaintwire.org/Complaint.aspx/PLhoHHSPzQCJOgjN4GUuQQ
Immediately dispute fraudulent charges directly with your bank, and close the account to block additional fraud. Follow up with a fraud affidavit.
File fraud complaints with FTC and OCC (Office of the Comptroller of the Currency).
"For Release: 05/21/2013
FTC Seeks Public Comment on Proposal to Ban Payment Methods Favored in Fraudulent Telemarketing Transactions
In an ongoing effort to protect consumers from deceptive telemarketing, the Federal Trade Commission seeks public comment on proposed amendments to strengthen the Telemarketing Sales Rule’s protections against bogus charges and services.
The Commission’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking announced today would curtail the use of four payment methods favored by con artists and scammers. The proposed changes would:
Stop telemarketers from dipping directly into consumer bank accounts by using unsigned checks and “payment orders” that have been “remotely created.” These instruments can make it easy for unscrupulous telemarketers to debit bank accounts without permission, according to the FTC.
Bar telemarketers from getting paid with traditional “cash-to-cash” money transfers, as well as “cash reload” mechanisms, that scammers rely on to get money quickly and anonymously from consumer victims.
The FTC has found that unscrupulous telemarketers rely on these payment methods because they are largely unmonitored and provide consumers with fewer protections against fraud. The FTC’s proposed changes to the TSR would make it a violation for telemarketers and sellers to accept any of these payment methods in any telemarketing transaction.
The proposed changes also would expand the TSR’s ban on telemarketing “recovery services” in exchange for an advance fee. In the Commission’s experience, telemarketers who call consumers offering to help recover losses they suffered through an earlier fraud are often engaged in deceptive practices. Currently limited to offers to recoup losses suffered in a prior telemarketing transaction, the existing ban would be expanded to include offers to recoup losses suffered in any prior transaction.Reply !