charges for services i did not agree too when i called the local cable provider
Complaint
RAD
Country: United States
I had Charter Internet service and was having alot of issues so when i needed a ticket number for a svc call i called the number for internet troubleshooting and was given to a foreign call center. Now mind you I do not care where the call center is located because i happen to be a supervisor of a virtual call center. I never in a million years expect when your down and out to be sent to a call center and told that your a valued customer and for only 8.90 we are going to send you a credit gift card for gas and for an aditional 3.00 another product gift card. Are companies these days so hard up that when i looked at my bank statement i see a fee of 19.95 and 8.90 and 3.00 and 13.35 for magazines i never ordered. All of you who say we are stupid well let me tell you what is stupid. trying to cancel a service you do not need or want but are forced into taking supposedly for free and when you call to cancel you can hear sounds of a call center and someone either eating or doing dishes but never says hello or answers the phone for this stupid person to cancel. It is a rip off and they should be in fact will be investigated by the federal government for bad practices.
Comments
There is an Indian based call center (in Mumbai) with a trail of fraudulent telemarketing complaints suggesting they are obtaining 800 numbers 1 digit different from actual U.S. company customer service number, and intercepting wrong numbers so they can deceive consumers into thinking they are getting some "free offer" supposedly connected to the company. Alternatively, they may be an outsourced call center scamming customers of their clients.
The scam typically involves offer of "gas vouchers", "gift cards", or "magazine subscriptions", consistent with what you are reporting.
Search on "central rewards" for reports of this scam.
Are you sure this was actually the call center for Charter Internet, running a backroom fraudulent telemarketing scam against Charter customers?
Did you have to disclose your bank account or card information, which Charter would have already had?
Did the charges show up listed as being made by Charter, or did they show some other name?
Any phone numbers, either that you called, or on your statement connected to the fraudulent charges?
Dispute all fraudulent charges through your bank. Your bank can reverse charges if you dispute within 60 days of the statement date of the statement showing the disputed charges, underr FRB Reg. E or FCBA.
To stop future fraudulent charges, you will generally have to block your card number or close your checking account, since scam companies that make them will otherwise just wait a few months and try again.
In addition, file fraud complaints with FTC and your state Attorney General.
https://complaintwire.org/complaint/2aABAAAAA ... central-rewards
Several examples of their M.O., impersonating U.S. banks, utilities, or insurance companies to deceive and defraud consumers. You can find many similar complaints. The focus of their "sales" is on deception and fraud.
https://complaintwire.org/complaint/0q0BAAAAAAA/central-rewards
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Mary
10 Oct 2011
While waiting by phone for a customer service rep from GE Capital, a "David Harris" from "Central Rewards" come on the line offering a $200 gasoline voucher for $2.95.
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https://complaintwire.org/complaint/p6gBAAAAAAA/central-rewards
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Marti Detweiler
25 Jun 2011
My husband called the number on the back of our card to redeem our reward points with our credit card company.
When he told the person who answered why he was calling, the man
said that he first wanted to offer him a $200 voucher for gasoline and it
would only cost $2.99. At first my husband agreed and then started
becoming suspicious. My husband said he just wanted to redeem his points and the scammer said of course, we can do that after we get your voucher. Remember he called the credit card company and so assumed everything was legitimate. All along this scammer implied that he was connected to Chase Bank Card Services. Apparently this phone call was hijacked. After my husband hung up, they kept calling back. I finally was told the company's name was Central Rewards.
..."
"...
W
15 Jul 2011Don't fall for it!!! Central Rewards is a scam!!
I just got a new Discover card in the mail and called the activation number and was somehow rerouted to "Central Rewards." The two people I spoke with had Indian accents. The first guy told me I was one of the first 25 callers and was eligible for a $200 gas voucher that I can use within the next year and a $25 restaurant voucher. They asked for my credit card information, and under the impression that this place was part of Discover, I gave it to them to charge a "$2.99" fee. I was then transferred to the manager who asked me to verify my credit card info again, at which point I was getting very suspicious and asked what company this was, which I quickly looked up online and found this page. I refused to give my credit card information (which she wanted me to speak into an automated line that she was connecting me to. can you be more fishy?). I hung up and she called me back within 2 seconds and their number in caller ID was 000-000-0000
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https://complaintwire.org/complaint/66oBAAAAAAA/central-rewards
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Rose Finley
12 Aug 2011
the company came on the phone as I was trying to contact the cell phone company. the phone co. came on, but when I was being transfered some how this indian man came on and had a great deal for me. Just 2.95.
I gave him my credit card and had to go through many different people to give the information all over again. One time I hung up and they called me back.
In the end they hung up and I called the phone co to inquire if thei wa s [part of their co. They said no way.
I called my credit card co and had my card canceled.
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https://complaintwire.org/complaint/GqwBAAAAAAA/central-rewards
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Pam Martin
2 Sep 2011
I was calling the 800 number on the back on my visa credit card (Chase Freedom) when an automated voice told me the number had been changed and it redirected my call to a foreign speeking person telling me I was the 1st 100 callers to receive a $200. gas gift card to any station. I reluctantly listened, repeated and questioned this give-a-way while my husband looked up the company. The person on the phone informed me that Chase Freedom credit card was merging with Central Rewards and they just wanted me to fill out a survey that they would mail to me. In the mean while he conviced me to give my card number to bill $2.95 for the gas gift card. After my husband read all of the complaints on the internet, I immediately told the guy on the phone to not charge my card and take any charges off that he had made to my card. I then called my credit card back, the same number I called eariler, and I was connected to my credit card company this time. She said, there is no other number and they do not have a "gas card promotion" she checked for charges and there were none.
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An Indian ex-employee has been posting information on complaint threads regarding this telemarketer for several years. For example:
https://complaintwire.org/complaint/2aABAAAAA ... tral-rewards/21
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WILSON WHITE
31 Jan 2012
SHARE THIS WITH EVERY AMERICANS.
http://www.silgate.cc/contact.htm
Silgate Solutions Ltd.
24/7, Baba House, Near Cine Magic, M V Road, Andheri (West), Mumbai - 400093
(91) 022 2684 8400 / (91)022 40098400
..."
https://complaintwire.org/complaint/ZqwBAAAAAAA/central-rewards
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Karl Matthews
8 Sep 2011
I dialed a number for the Reach Program (electrical assistance. The number (800-933-9627)was given to me by a PG&E customer service rep. After dialing the number, my call was re-routed to a company called Central Rewards.The person ID' his self as Mark Brown (although he had a strong Indian accent). He told me I was selected to receive a voucher for $200.00. He then asked for my personal information, including my credit card info. He said I would be charged a one time fee of $2.95. I told him to hold for a sec and I Googled his company. I immediately pulled up the scam info posted by others and hung up the phone.
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"...
PG&E Reach Program shows this number: 800-933-9677
http://www.pge.com/reach/
Note that this is 1 digit different than your number: 800-933-9627
Also note that a 7 and a 2 can look similar when handwritten.
This is consistent with other reports of "Central Rewards" getting calls intended for others, since common 1 digit errors can be exploited to capture suckers who make dialing errors.
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