Stop montly withdrawal from my bank acc
Complaint
Mohammed Saad
Country: United States
I have received a monthly charge on my Bank of America account for $40 dated Feb09. I did receive a phone call claimed to be from Bank of America some time ago to try a certain insurance for a trial period. to be followed by more details.Nothing was received until I got a charge of $40 off my acc. I wrote to B of A who did not seem to know who the "merchant" was. I want to CANCELL this montly charge effective immediatly and the $40 charged to my acc reversed.
Thanks
Mohammed
Thanks
Mohammed
Comments
In your dispute, state that the charge is unauthorized and fraudulent, and request that they reverse it.
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/350/RipOff0350810.htm
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/smart-step-insurance-c116931.html
https://complaintwire.org/Complaint.aspx/R-mKfej92gBLOQjKavSKZA
There have been a number of incidents over the years where banks have provided their customer information, including account billing information, to outside telemarketers to sell other products, and the telemarketers have run through fraudulent charges, falsely claiming consumers "authorized" them. Citi, Wells Fargo, BofA, and others have compromised their customers finances in this manner, aiding scammers in defrauding their own customers.
There are disturbing indications in the above reports that 1) BofA is in fact the source of Smart Step getting consumer billing information, and that 2) BofA is complicit in the fraud, covering for Smart Step and not handling fraud complaints in the manner they would for some unrelated merchant.
For a bank to provide customer information to any outside organization, allowing charges to be made with no customer provided account information is a recipe for fraud. Furthermore, the number of complaints of this against Smart Step/BofA, and the length of time this has been going on, indicates that BofA knows or should know that fraudulent activity is taking place, yet has failed to break off its marketing relationship with Smart Step, compromising its customer's account security and aiding in the commission of the frauds.
I advise you to file a complaint with your local DA for credit card fraud, as well as complaints with your state AG, and FTC. In addition, make sure your dispute to BofA is IN WRITING, with proof of their timely receipt, so you have on record their receipt of your complaint in less than 60 days of the date of the statement showing the fraudulent charges.
If they fail to reverse the fraudulent charges, file an OCC (Office of the Comptroller of the Currency) complaint against BofA. See www.occ.gov.
You should also find a different bank, as you may need to close all accounts with BofA to prevent future fraud.
Many reports of calls from these people, not even always answered, followed by fraudulent charges taken. Always associated with BofA, so it appears that BofA is providing them with customer information sufficient to both call and set up ACH charges.
Note that it does not matter whether you agreed to the charges, or even whether you received their call at all, charges can show up regardless, and "SmartStep" will claim you signed up. Nor does it matter whether they claimed you had to contact them after receiving their "information package". They are intentionally setting up monthly fraudulent charges, knowingly without customer authorization.
Note also the common pattern of BofA appearing to go through the motions of handling disputes against this company, but fraudulent charges continue to go through, even when the accounts are driven negative and overdraft fees start piling up.
These are not all consumers "forgetting to cancel" or "billing errors", but intentional criminal acts, and should be reported as such.
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-879-0179
"Mamabucks - 25 Oct 2007
These guys - whoever they are - have begun to access my checking account for $40.00 monthly. Have reported it as fraud, but BOA can't do anything about returning the $160.00 they've taken from us!
Caller ID: Unknown
Caller: SmartStep"
"Marcela - 7 Dec 2007
Never received a phone call from them but they withdrew 40 dollars from my account. Calling the number in hte evening, there was only an anwering message saying that they are Charter Marketing. The debit was listed as an ACH debit."
"CBlittlefoot - 8 Apr 2008
same as all the rest here all we know is we had to change accounts to stop them and call B of A. to report this fraud!
Caller ID: 1-866-879-0179
Caller: smartstep
Caller Type: Telemarketer"
"Rating: +2 ann o - 15 Jun 2008
I just got a call - my account was overdrafted 56 bucks because of a $40.00 transaction by this company - how do we stop these a**holes?
I never got a call - just an overdraft notice on the bill
The bank wont freeze my account until the weekday, so its all fun and games with the scam artists until then. What do i do?"
"F**k Bank Of America and SmartStep - 3 Nov 2008
Well, last week I was approached by my mom; she was very sad and told me that her money was gone. In addition to that she now owed Bank of America due to overdraft fees. Turns out that these as*h*les called and told her that they were calling from BOA, then they enrolled her in this bullcrap ripoff Insurance called SmartStep. I called BOA and they dont want to do anything about it. I called SmartStep and they said that she made a contract with them... Fu**en [***], i hope that the money they are stealing from people ends up fu**ing their lives. I'm sorry people but im pissed off..
Caller ID: 1-866-879-0179
Caller: SmartStep"
"jc - 12 Dec 2007
Don't have a clue who Smart Step is, we screen our calls and never received a phone call from them when they automatically withdrew $20.00 from my BOA account! I look up the number A LOT of other people are having the same problem! I also called the number and there was a recording, there phone service is down due to weather the recording said they are sorry for the Inconvenience, in other words they are sorry for taking your identity and your money without your permission HA HA HA.. We blocked the BOA account number so no one else can take out.
Caller: Smart Step"
"jc - 12 Dec 2007
WATCH OUT FOR 866-237-8236 :INS PYMT This number showed up on my BOA statement The Insurance Service Center, ANOTHER fraudulent Insurance
Caller: Insurance Service Center"
"djsarah - 15 Dec 2007
these crooks called and asked if they could send a insurance package free of charge. I refused. Before I knew it they were taking 20.00 a month out of my checking account from BOA. How are they accessing my account? and it only seems like its from BOA. Someone is giving out personal information and both parties need to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
Caller ID: 866-879-0179
Caller: charter marketing services"
https://complaintwire.org/Complaint.aspx/xaulfx4wigCgnAjLEzckew
In addition to disputing fraudulent charges with BofA, also contact your state insurance commissioner. "Smart Step" may be violating state insurance regulations on top of stealing your money, or they might not even be licensed in your state.
For example, in many cases, it may be a violation of law for them to open a life insurance policy in your name without your authorization. (States don't want to create "opportunities" for your soon-to-be ex-wife and her boyfriend). Some reports indicated Smart Step sent paperwork requiring that it be signed and sent back, possibly to comply with such laws, yet starting charging their premiums even though the consumer did NOT send in the paperwork.
"BOA told me , on a phone, that they can only go back 60 days but nothing more.
They said Federal Regulation E is only good for the charges to debid card but not the checking account."
BofA's statement is false. Reg. E specifically covers disputing EFT transfers from checking accounts.
Reg E is here:
http://www.fdic.gov/regulations/laws/rules/6500-3100.html
Smart Step can still be sued farther back than 60 days, and it may be possible to drag in BofA since they provided the account information, and are probably aware at some level of the complaints against Smart Step.
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/418/RipOff0418083.htm
Additional name:
Chartered Marketing
14901 Bogle Drive, Suite 300
Chantilly, Virginia
703-488-6100
"Insurance Service Center"
"Smart Step Insurance"
"Intersections Insurance Services"
Also, telemarketers are reported to identify themselves as "with Bank of America", or even answer calls back as "Bank of America", blurring the distinction between their company and BofA.
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/fraudulent-business-practices-c109702.html
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/fraudulent-c107892.html
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/monthly-fee-deducted-from-bank-of-america-checking-account-c116931.html
Common factors:
Charges show up on BofA checking, credit card, or mortgage accounts, indicating that BofA is providing account information to this company.
Allegations that charges have shown up with NO contact from this company, indicating that the information BofA has provided is sufficient to set up automatic billing without any actual consumer approval, contact, or verification.
Allegations that company said they would send out an "information packet", that consumer could cancel policy within 30 days with no charge, but that no packet ever arrived, yet charges started. (This is a common tactic in "free trial" scams, reported in many scams investigated by FTC.)
Allegations that company claims that consumer has agreed to insurance when no such agreement was reached.
Repeated reports that BofA customer service people have claimed the fraudulent charges could not be disputed, including providing misinformation contrary to federal law and dispute regulations. Customers trust their bank, their bank has a fiduciary duty to them, yet the bank is working in their own interest against their customer.
Allegations that on disputing, company claimed they "had a recording" of the authorization, so they weren't going to return any money. In one case, when that claim was challenged, they admitted they had no recording. In another, they claimed the consumer's "son had authorized it", more likely just a common telemarketing fraud tactic to confuse the consumer's attempt to dispute the fraudulent charge, falsely blaming a relative. They claimed they would "investigate", but this will likely only run out the 60 day Reg. E dispute window.
Overall tactics parallel common tactics in other telemarketing scams where the scammers already have account information, and are only calling to attempt to solicit some pretense of an agreement. These tactics, common with "membership club" and "free trial" scams, often rely on claims of "recorded authorizations", or "an information packet was sent" but never arrives in time to cancel, if it arrives at all, to divert the consumer from what is simply a blatant fraudulent charge by blaiming the consumer himself.
Company has all the factors normally associated with the expectation of deceptive tactics:
1) Opportunity and means. They already have full account information, so there is nothing to stop them from billing. They need nothing further from the victim, hence charges can appear without even any contact. Fraudulent charges can be intermixed with "legitimate" authorizations, obscuring the level of fraud.
2) Motive. The money. Telemarketer focus is solely on short-term payoff, probably with rewards in commissions or bonuses. (For example, this was a factor in the case of AOL CSRs evading customer cancellations.) Furthermore, company has motive to not prevent fraud, both to maintain their revenue stream, and since admitting fraud is occurring will likely destroy their lucrative "partnership" with BofA. Hence, even if a telemarketer committed fraud, their dispute handlers cover.
3) Familiarity with deception. Tactics match with those known to be used by other telemarketers caught in fraud. (See various FTC press releases.)
4) History of use of deception in the past. Reports of disputed charges with bogus claims of authorization go back over a year.
5) Anonymity or confused identity. Distance and confusion over identity often play a role in telemarketing fraud. Telemarketers generally call across state lines, and it is seldom clear where they are even calling from, or what agency has jurisdiction. Many consumer complaints are that they have no idea who is putting these charges on their account, or what to do to get it to stop. Company encourages this by hiding behind the name of "Bank of America". Bank of America encourages it by pretending this is some "arms-length" transaction the consumer initiated and has agreed to, when BofA actually provided the account information that allowed the fraud to occur.
This may be another Wachovia-style fraud, where the bank's officers responsible were blinded to on-going customer fraud due to lucrative fees helping "meet their numbers".
http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2008/ ... ud_allegations/
"Wachovia knew of fraud allegations
Bank levied large fees against scam artists
By Charles Duhigg
New York Times News Service / February 6, 2008
Last spring, Wachovia bank was accused in a lawsuit of allowing fraudulent telemarketers to use the bank's accounts to steal millions of dollars from unsuspecting victims. When asked about the suit, bank executives said they had been unaware of the thefts.
more stories like thisBut newly released documents from that lawsuit show that Wachovia had long known about allegations of fraud and that the bank, in fact, solicited business from companies it knew had been accused of telemarketing crimes.
Internal Wachovia e-mail, for example, shows that high-ranking employees at the nation's fourth-largest bank frequently warned colleagues about telemarketing frauds routed through its accounts.
Documents also show that Wachovia was alerted by other banks and federal agencies about ongoing deceptions, but that it continued to provide banking services to multiple companies that helped steal as much as $400 million from unsuspecting victims.
"YIKES!!!!" wrote one Wachovia executive in 2005, warning colleagues that an account used by telemarketers had drawn 4,500 complaints in just two months.
However, Wachovia continued processing fraudulent transactions for that account and others, partly because the bank charged fraud artists a large fee every time a victim spotted a bogus transaction and demanded their money back. One company alone paid Wachovia about $1.5 million over 11 months, according to investigators.
"We are making a ton of money from them," wrote Linda Pera, a Wachovia executive, in 2005 about a company that was later accused by federal prosecutors of helping steal up to $142 million.
..."
http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/1442243/
"Wachovia agrees to $125 million settlement in fraud case
Fri. April 25, 2008; Posted: 07:33 PM
Apr 25, 2008 (McClatchy Newspapers - McClatchy-Tribune News Service via COMTEX) -- WB | news | PowerRating | PR Charts -- Wachovia Corp. will pay up to $125 million to customers harmed by the bank's relationship with some telemarketers and payment processors, according to a settlement announced Friday.
The settlement ends an 18-month federal investigation of the Charlotte bank, which was accused of turning a blind eye when third-party telemarketers used the bank's accounts to steal from customers.
When a shareholder mentioned the accusations Tuesday at Wachovia's annual meeting in uptown Charlotte, chief executive Ken Thompson called it "the worst experience in my 32 years here."
Here's what happened, according to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the bank's regulator:
Third-party telemarketers obtained bank account information from thousands of consumers, many of them elderly, by pitching products like grant-writing kits and medical discount plans. The telemarketers then used that information to write checks to themselves, purportedly from the consumers they had called. These checks did not require a signature from the accountholder; instead, the signature block included text such as "authorized by your depositor, no signature required."
From 2003 to 2006, the telemarketers deposited these checks into Wachovia accounts, causing funds to be withdrawn from the accounts of the victims, who were customers at various banks.
A large percentage of these checks _ in some cases, more than half _ were returned to Wachovia by individuals or their banks, who said they had never authorized the checks or received the products sold by the telemarketers.
The OCC says that Wachovia was aware of these high return rates, but "failed to take quick action to terminate these account relationships or otherwise correct the problem."
..."
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/421/RipOff0421894.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/418/RipOff0418083.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/412/RipOff0412597.htm
10 complaints in last 6 months of 2008:
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/402/RipOff0402814.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/402/RipOff0402370.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/399/RipOff0399398.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/378/RipOff0378817.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/376/RipOff0376840.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/369/RipOff0369399.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/361/RipOff0361861.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/361/RipOff0361125.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/354/RipOff0354457.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/350/RipOff0350810.htm
2 complaints in 2 months of 2007:
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/268/RipOff0268706.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/259/RipOff0259829.htm
"billing errors, unauthorized charges, or questionable collection practices",
"Unauthorized bank debits",
"Unauthorized credit card charges",
"Failure to honor refund, exchange or credit policies",
"Refund or Exchange Complaint",
"Claims of alleged sales presentations made in person or by telephone that contain misrepresentations of the product or service, high pressure sales practices, failure to disclose key conditions of the offer, and verbal representations not consistent with written contractual terms or agreements".
The above categories of complaints are consistent with the many consumer forum complaints that they are misrepresenting what they claim to be selling, making unauthorized charges, and refusing to refund them when disputed.
http://chicago.bbb.org/WWWRoot/Report.aspx?site=46&bbb=0654&firm=31000449
"...
BBB processed a total of 66 complaints about this company in the last 36 months, our standard reporting period. Of the total of 66 complaints closed in 36 months, 37 were closed in the last year.
These complaints concerned :
2 regarding Issue Not Defined
4 regarding Advertising Issues BBB Definition:
Advertising Issues - Claims alleging print or electronic media advertised claims or practices misrepresent the service or product offer.
4 - None of the Above - Advertising Complaint Issue
28 regarding Billing or Collection Issues BBB Definition:
Billing or Collection Issues - Claim alleging billing errors, unauthorized charges, or questionable collection practices.
1 - Failure to correct billing errors
1 - Improper collection practices
9 - None of the Above - Credit, Billing or Collection Complaint Issue
13 - Unauthorized bank debits
4 - Unauthorized credit card charges
3 regarding Contract Issues BBB Definition:
Contract Issues - Claim of alleged failure to honor contract or agreement, work performed without authorization, or invalid contract.
2 - Invalid or false contract
1 - None of the Above - Contract Complaint Issue
1 regarding Customer Service Issues BBB Definition:
Service Issues - Claims of alleged delay in completing service, failure to provide promised service, inferior quality of provided service, or damaged merchandise as a result of delivery service.
BBB Definition:
Customer Service Issues - Claims alleging unsatisfactory customer service, including personnel's failure to provide assistance in a timely manner, failure to address or respond to customer dissatisfaction, unavailability for customer support, and/or inappropriate behavior or attitude exhibited by company staff.
1 - Inappropriate behavior by customer service personnel
1 regarding Delivery Issues BBB Definition:
Delivery Issues - Claims alleging delayed delivery of ordered merchandise.
1 - Delivery of unordered services
11 regarding Refund or Exchange Issues BBB Definition:
Refund or Exchange Issues - Claim of alleged failure to honor company policy or verbal commitment to provide refunds, exchanges, or credit for products or services.
2 - Failure to honor refund, exchange or credit policies
9 - None of the Above - Refund or Exchange Complaint Issue
16 regarding Sales Practice Issues BBB Definition:
Sales Practice Issues - Claims of alleged sales presentations made in person or by telephone that contain misrepresentations of the product or service, high pressure sales practices, failure to disclose key conditions of the offer, and verbal representations not consistent with written contractual terms or agreements.
..."
Smart Step is ramping up its activities, including those that result in allegations of unauthorized charges.
This rule was instituted to prevent just this sort of fraud, since ACH security protections were set up on the assumption that ACH electronic payments were routine payments made to companies the payor already did business with.
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news03/efg.html
"Feds Sue Electronic Payment Processor
Group Allegedly Worked With Fraudulent Telemarketers
July 9, 2003
The Federal Trade Commission has sued Electronic Financial Group, Inc., accusing it of providing assistance to fraudulent telemarketers seeking to drain funds from consumers? checking accounts.
...
In addition, the complaint alleges that in providing ACH payment processing services to merchants engaged in outbound telemarketing, the defendants engaged in an unfair practice by systematically breaching a contractual provision with its bank that required EFG to adhere to the National Automated Clearing House Association Operating Rules (NACHA Rules) governing the ACH Network.
The NACHA Rules include a rule specifically prohibiting the processing of ACH transactions on behalf of merchants engaged in outbound telemarketing to consumers with whom such merchants have no existing relationship.
..."
Smart Step may be avoiding this prohibition by instead routing their charges directly through Bank of America, as would be necessary, for example, to put such charges onto a mortgage bill.
Band of America is then failing to require adequate verification of authorization on transactions they know are being submitted by an outbound telemarketer. If these were ACH transactions submitted to BofA, they would be in violation of the ACH agreement terms.
https://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/8668790179
Report that Smart Step withdrew via ACH, with contact not originating from the consumer, and no outgoing call either.
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-879-0179
"Marcela - 7 Dec 2007
Never received a phone call from them but they withdrew 40 dollars from my account. Calling the number in hte evening, there was only an anwering message saying that they are Charter Marketing. The debit was listed as an ACH debit."
Report that they called claiming to be doing a "survey", probably to evade the Do Not Call laws, but proceeded with a sales pitch. Unauthorized charges then started.
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-879-0179/3
"pissed off - 2 Jun 2008
We don't remember talking to these people at all!Next thing I know is going online to check out progress in our bank account.I look and see that an account to smart has been set up.If I did talk to them witch I may have,I know Damn well that I said no to them.We're S.S.I. for god sake!A Telephone Surveyor ask all kind of questions,I say "no don't want any,buy".Next thing we know we're getting socked 40 bucks that we cant afford.An as for B of A where going to stop going there.
Caller ID: 1-866-879-0179
Caller: smartstep
Caller Type: Telephone Surveyor"
It looks like not only do they already have BofA customer account numbers, usable for ACH transfers, but they are calling to fish for any pretense of authorization. Various reports of deception: claiming to be "calling from BofA", doing a survey, claims that they were only going to send an information packet to look over.
Even though they may have been given customer information by BofA, and may be claiming they are "calling from BofA", they are NOT BofA, BofA customers do NOT have an existing relationship with THEM, BofA employees do NOT act as their customer service people, and when BofA takes the position that they will only reverse 60 days of payments, they are treating Smart Step as an independent separate entity.
They are perpetrating the very kinds of ACH fraud that ACH regulations were intended to prevent.
"About Us
Since 1981 Intersections Insurance Services Inc., located in Arlington Heights, IL, has provided end-to-end marketing solutions across multiple channels for a majority of the country's largest financial institutions and premier insurance companies.
Formerly Chartered Marketing Services, Inc., the company was acquired in June 2006 by Intersections Inc., a leading provider of branded and fully-customized identity management solutions. In April 2007, Chartered Marketing Services officially became Intersections Insurances Services Inc.
Intersections Insurance Services Inc.
315 West University Drive
Arlington Heights, IL 60004
Tel: 847.797.8500
Fax: 847.797.9999
E-mail: info.insuranceservices@intersections.com
...
Company Quick Look
Year founded: 1981
Primary Business: Insurance
..."
They claim to provide "identity theft, privacy, and consumer solutions ", yet have consumer complaints of fraudulent charges? Is this a joke?
http://www.intersections.com/
"...
Corporate profile
Intersections Inc. (NASDAQ: INTX) is a leading global provider of consumer and corporate identity risk management services. Our premier identity theft, privacy, and consumer solutions are designed to provide high-value, revenue-generating opportunities to our marketing partners, including leading financial institutions, Fortune 100 corporations, and other businesses. Intersections also markets full identity theft protection solutions under our brand, IDENTITY GUARD®. Intersections' consumer identity theft protection services actively safeguard more than 8 million consumers against identity theft.
To address the growing threat of corporate fraud, we provide cutting-edge identity risk management solutions, including:
Pre-employment background screening, provided domestically through American Background Information Services Inc. and internationally through Control Risks Screening Limited (London, United Kingdom) and Control Risks Screening PE (Singapore). More »
Corporate brand protection, provided by Net Enforcers Inc. More »
Security breach remediation, provided by Intersections to enable companies to respond to security incidents and mitigate potential damage to their employees, customers, and corporate brands. More »
Software and data management, provided by Captira Analytical LLC to assist the bail bond industry in managing workflow and data requirements. More »
..."
Corporate values statement:
http://www.intersections.com/Values.html
"...
For Intersections, values matter
Our values are represented in every aspect of our company—our products, our employees, in the way we do business.
For us, values are tangible, lived out by doing the right thing every day for our customers, our partners, and our employees. It’s that simple, and we keep it that way by committing ourselves to four core values:
Ethical Professionalism
Absolute Security
Enthusiastic Innovation
Unwavering Commitment
..."
They urge consumers to be vigilant. Isn't that nice of them.
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=1 ... 4957&highlight=
"News
Intersections Reacts to Findings of 2009 Identity Fraud Survey Report Released by Javelin Strategy & Research
Urges Consumers to Be Vigilant and to Take More Comprehensive Approach to Preventing Fraud and Protecting Their Identities
CHANTILLY, Va., Feb. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Intersections Inc. (Nasdaq: INTX), a leading global provider of consumer and corporate identity risk management services, and a sponsor of the 2009 Identity Fraud Survey Report released yesterday by Javelin Strategy and Research (www.javelinstrategy.com), urges consumers to take greater action to protect their identities from fraud. For the first time since the Javelin report's debut in 2004, the number of identity fraud victims has increased 22 percent to 9.9 million adults.
Now in its fifth consecutive year, the Javelin Strategy & Research study is the nation's longest-running study of identity fraud, with 24,000 U.S. respondents over the past five years.
"As this latest Javelin report demonstrates, ID theft is back on the rise," says Intersections Chairman and CEO, Michael Stanfield. "We typically see upswings in identity theft linked to downturns in the economy. Today's difficult economic climate is likely contributing to this spike in identity theft. Now more than ever, consumers must be vigilant, and take a more holistic approach to protecting their identities from being compromised by fraudsters. Also, new markets bring ineffective charlatans into the market. Consumers need to deal with strong, experienced and reputable companies that provide value."
Most identity threat offerings on the market today focus on detection, or what steps to take once a person's identity has already been compromised. As more sophisticated methods emerge from both hackers and organized crime syndicates, consumers need to better protect themselves earlier in the process by focusing on prevention.
"There is a shift underway from detection to prevention," adds Stanfield. "There is a misperception in the market that fraud alerts and free credit reports are enough to keep consumers safe, and they're not. Consumers must go beyond fraud alerts and credit reports and take a more holistic approach."
..."
Note the quote: "A good name, like good will, is got by many actions and lost by one" - Lord Jeffery
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=175233&p=irol-govBoard
Despite denials by Citi's fraud department, there are so many consistent reports of Intersections calling CitiMortgage customers that it is unlikely they got their information any other way than by buying it from Citi.
In these calls, it appears Intersections/Chartered Marketing attempts to confirm authorization by asking for date of birth.
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-847-368-7297
CitiMortgage
GMAC Mortgage
"ConcernedPerson - 6 May 2008
This is the second such call, the first time I informed the caller to NEVER call me again (2 months ago?). But these folks (whom I believe to be criminals) naturally broke the law and tried again.
My wife received the same bogus call an hour ago from this number. A man with a heavy Indian accent claimed:
-- That we were valued customers of Citi Mortgage, we were signed up for a promotional insurance program.
-- That we had two months to opt out, and that he was transferring my wife to an insurance agent for "more information" (no doubt to steal information).
-- The phone number he gave for us to call to "cancel" the already applied insurance plan was: 1-800-251-2617. Google reveals this to be a number associated with scams: http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/259/RipOff0259829.htm
-- He claimed his name was Irwin BueNaoBra (his spelling of last name
-- He claimed his employee # was 6348014
I called citi mortgage and they claim NO affiliation with these people, and that they would NEVER solicit for this type of information. I am on the national do not call list, as well as on Citi's do not call list (confirmed with their agent).
I advise other to call police and report this illegal solicitation and attempt at fraud. We have already filed a report with the police, who recommend we put [another] credit watches, and warn that there is probably not much they can do.
Also, please check with your mortgage company's fraud department, and watch all your financial accounts. For conveneince: citi's fraud department number is: 1-800-568-8207."
"Cindy - 9 May 2008
This people continue to call AM and PM. Sometimes twice a day. When I tell them we are on the 'do not call' they claim they are exempt because they got our name from CITI Bank. We are not a CITI bank customer but our house mortgage was sold to them. The caller ID shows Intersection, INC. and if you call back the msg. will say "number has been disconnected". Caller has accent and continues to try to carry on a conversation and sell you something inspite of the threat to report to Do not Call. Obviously, the do not call registry needs to clamp down on these people.
Caller ID: Intersection, Inc"
"DH - 3 Sep 2008
Same thing as everyone here--Citimortgage bought our mortgage & now we're getting these calls. It seems to me that one of two things has happened. Either Citimortgage has had a serious breach in security and our personal information is out there, or Citimortgage is selling our names and contact information. If the latter is the case, Citimortgage WOULD say they are not affiliated. They aren't affiliated; they only sold a contact/mailing list to these people. You must tell Citimortgage IN WRITING not to share your information for it to be effective. I plan to send a certified letter to them for that purpose. May or may not help in this case, but worth a shot.
Caller Type: Telemarketer"
"Rating: 0 Jim - 19 Nov 2008
The guy called and said he was with GMAC, with whom I have a 2nd Mortgage. He said that he was going to send mail about life Insurance. He knew my address and then asked for my birthdate, that's when I told him to bugger-off. I wonder if GMAC lost data. I will report him to them.
Caller ID: 847.368.7295
Caller: Intersection Insurance
Caller Type: Telemarketer"
ACH charge with no call.
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-879-0179
"none - 13 Feb 2009
This seems to be a major insurance fraud. They just hit my Bank Of America Account for $40. The phone number that the bank gave me is 866-879-0179 and they do answer the phone Bank Of America. I called the State of Florida Insurance Commissioner's office. This company is not licensed to do business in the State of Florida."
"Marcela - 7 Dec 2007
Never received a phone call from them but they withdrew 40 dollars from my account. Calling the number in hte evening, there was only an anwering message saying that they are Charter Marketing. The debit was listed as an ACH debit.
Intersections/Chartered Marketting phone number / associated bank or mortgage lender
703-488-6100
http://www.lead411.com/Company_IntersectionsInc_Stanfield_22744.html
847-797-8500 /BofA
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/418/RipOff0418083.htm
847-368-7290 /Ocwen Financial
https://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/8473687290
http://whocalled.us/lookup/8473687290
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-847-368-7290
847-368-7291
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-847-368-7290
https://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/8473687290
http://whocalled.us/lookup/8473687295
847-368-7293
http://whocalled.us/lookup/8473687293
847-368-7295 /GMAC
http://whocalled.us/lookup/8473687295
https://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/8473687295
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-847-368-7295/3
847-368-7296
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-847-368-7296
847-368-7297 /CitiMortgage
https://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/8473687297
http://phoneowner.info/Number.aspx/8473687297
http://whocalled.us/lookup/8473687297
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-847-368-7297
847-463-5737 /CitiMortgage
https://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/8474635737
847-463-5738 /First Heritage
http://www.firstheritage.com/pdfs/05_0224_FHB ... tion%20Form.pdf
800-251-2617
866-879-0179 /BofA
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-879-0179
https://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/8668790179
https://complaintwire.org/Complaint.aspx/R-mKfej92gBLOQjKavSKZA
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/350/RipOff0350810.htm
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080909083938AA2TPcz
Complaints against Chartered affiliated with CitiMortgage include allegations that their telemarketers asked for birthdate. Most complaints related to CitiMortgage are due to the calls themselves, and there are no reports of Chartered claiming they had recordings of authorizations.
This implies:
1) Both Citi and BofA have sold customer information to Chartered/Intersections.
2) Citi and BofA are requiring different forms of authoriation of their "partner".
3) Citi's authorization by birthdate makes falsified authorizations unlikely. Consumers refuse to provide birthdate when they are not agreeing to an offer, recognizing it as identity information that could be used as confirmation.
4) BofA's authorization by alleged recording allows charges to be made based only on Chartered's claim that the authorization was made. No one is going to check any recording before allowing charges to occur, nor would anyone but the consumer be able to determine whether any recording is what it is claimed to be. This dependence on the consumer to catch the fraud allows it to proceed for months.
5) There are indications in some reports that some claims of recorded authorizations are not legitimate. One reported that he "sounded drunk". In other cases, no recording could be produced, which may either mean that it wasn't available for techical reasons (lost, destoyed, didn't record), but might also mean that they were caught with charging with no authorization, and a recording would have shown that. Other reports indicate telemarketers claimed consumers were only agreeing to receive an information packet, yet they were signed up.
6) There are indications that Chartered is claiming to have a recording as a tactic to deflect consumer disputes. One example is the reported allegation that they could not later produce the recording they claimed they had. A second example is the reported allegation that they claimed the account holder's son had authorized the charge to the consumer's account, made after the consumer claimed the charges were unauthorized.
7) There are allegations in some reports that no authorization could possibly have been made (due to consumer not being present at the alleged date and time, or having a policy of never answering unknown callers, and actually noting their repeated calls on caller id, but not answering), despite claims by Chartered that it was.
The above patterns reported for disputed BofA charges fit common patterns of telemarketing fraud where the telemarketers already have consumer account data, and/or are using deception to record a reply they could later claim is "authorization".
Attempts to solicit recordable statements through deception have been common with "business directory" scammers. Some such scammers have even been known to edit or fabricate falsified recordings that were used to extort payment, or were used as "proof" of the authorization to substantiate the charge to their payment processor.
Note that it is not necessary to fully convince the victim that such a recording was his authorization, nor is it necessary to ever provide a copy to the victim. Establishing doubt in the disputer's mind is sufficient. It is still an advantage to provide what is claimed to be an authorization to the payment processor (BofA in this case) as most consumers have no idea what to do when their own bank claims they were provided a recording of their authorization.
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2004/07/pinacle.shtm
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2006/05/datacom.shtm
Here is an investigator in the Contra Costa DA's office claiming he was told they always record.
California requires that both parties to phone recording agree. A number of other states have similar laws.
No consumer reports have been found where consumers indicated they were informed that they were being recorded, which would tip them that they were agreeing to an offer. Some of these alleged recordings may be in violation of state law in some states.
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/361/RipOff0361861.htm
"Inspector Ted Todd
Martinez, California
U.S.A.
Smart Step Insurance
I am a Consumer Fraud Investigator with the Contra Costa District Attorney's Office in Martinez California. I have contacted Smart Step Insurance on behalf of one of our citizens.
Smart Step uses telemarketers to sell accident insurance over the phone. They claim that all offers to accept insurance are RECORDED. They say they can provide proof of the recording to you within two weeks.
The Consumer Service number for the company is 1-866-879-0179. You can request cancellation of any policy at that number."
http://cbs5.com/crime/martinez.murder.trial.2.913549.html
http://www.nixonpeabody.com/publications_detail3.asp?ID=1432