Free listing scam
Complaint
Russell Gorman DDS
Country: United States
Operators for this scam have Middle Eastern or Indian accents. They use Anglo names and say they are "updating the business listing information for the next twelve months." During the first contact, I was asked for my full name, and my title, and to verify if our mailing address was correct. The solicitor read off a garbled attempt at the address and I said it was not correct. Then they say they are transferring the call to a listing supervisor for approval. That's when I hung up. They have contacted our business a dozen times over the past 2 weeks. The caller ID comes up "out of area" but our phone system recorded their number as 546-286-6611. Attempts to call back that number failed. I found out this is a scam and they are posting third party charges of $39.95 or more per month to business phone bills. If you say the word "yes" it can be used in a doctored recording to appear as though you agreed to pay for a listing and to be billed for that listing.
Comments
https://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/5462866611
"Lucie - 28 Aug 2009
They say they are from National Yellow Pages and online directory which lists you for free.
Caller ID: out of area
Caller: National Yellow Pages"
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-546-286-6611
"Deb - 29 Oct 2009
They are the US Yellow Pages Online. website is www.theusyellowpages.com
The phone number listed to obtain their service is (514)397-9512, which is located in Quebec. If you read thru some of their legal jargon, the office is located in Huntington Beach, CA. I have filed compliants with my local phone company AT&T, the FCC, and the FTC. I am still getting the same calls numberous times a day. Everytime I see this number on caller id my blood presure goes up. If you try to call the number back, it is not a working number.
Caller ID: 546-286-6611
Caller: The US Yellow Pages Online
Caller Type: Telemarketer
..."
National Yellow Pages has been sued by FTC.
http://www.ftc.gov/os/caselist/0823262/index.shtm
http://www.anywho.com/area_codes
546 is not a valid U.S. or Canadian area code, so caller id is probably spoofed. That will keep those pesky suckers from trying to cancel.
If they have access to billing aggregators to post charges on phone bills, they can do so without even calling you. Watch your phone statements for unknown charges, that may appear under innocuous names. Also be aware that "directory" scammers often fabricate recordings to claim you or someone at your company authorized their charges.
Memorialize the incident (summarize it in writing), sign and date, for your records, then file a complaint with FTC. They may already be going after this company, and any transfer of assets or call lists to a new operation might be a violation of an injunction.
Each time they call I tell them we are a HOME, not a business and I am reporting them to the FCC for violating the Do Not Call list. Today I actually did it, even though they are foreign and it will do no good.
In contrast, legitimate businesses generally use the same tradename, because they have repeat customers and a reputation, so they benefit for being known by that name.
Use of multiple names is one indication of a scam engaged in illegal and fraudulent activity.
They say "Oh, but it's free"
I say "If someone comes in my office and hits me on the head with a hammer - it's free, but that doesn't mean i WANT IT!"
frustrating - don't know what to do to stop the calls!
I have asked them to remove me from their list and the answer I get "when you completely answer all our questions then we will stop calling."
The other trick to this scam is your job title they ask if your are the Owner or Assistant to the Owner any other job title will not work.
A couple times I have hung up on them only to have them call back and say "sir it seems we were disconnected now where were we?" At which point I hang up again.
Very aggressive but not sure how to make it stop.
Once I offered all the info they wanted if they would cut me in for 30% of the take. They said that would complicate the procedure. Then I went to the credit card script. They hung up.
mail Us: w.bj52@yahoo.com.cn
E-mail Us: w.bj53@yahoo.com.cn
Office Line: +229-99427947
Office Fax: +229-99788303
Director: Mr Johnson Kuta
ATTENTION: DEAR CUSTOMER, MAUREEN
You are advised to go through this email carefully and make sure you understand and be ready to comply with the contents before replying to it. We have received your full contact information and have verified that you are the owner of the fund valued at the amount of $4.8 million United State Dollars deposited in this office by Rev Pastor John Green.
We are instructed by Federal Government of Benin to transfer your fund to you via our service (Western Union Money Transfer) so you will be receiving $3,500.00 USD daily two times per day, until it complete the total amount ($4,800,000.00).
Meanwhile; we are going to remit/activate an MTCN in your name (two time per day) and you are required to send us the transfer charge of $107 USD for us to transfer your fund till it is fully transferred without any additional fee.
NOTE: The reason why we need you to send us the $107 USD is that we tried to deduct the transferring fee out from your fund but the (Minister Administrator Trust Fund of Benin Republic) told us that no one has access over your fund as it have been signed and stamped that no money should be deducted until it gets to you to avoid any misunderstanding because if any one has access to that it will involve you losing your fund.
Finally update us with the $107 USD to enable us proceed on your payment immediately, and we will forward your first payment details to pick up your fund from the nearest Western Union in your country, below is the information you will use to remit the $107 USD via Western Union Money Transfer been our transferring charge and activation of your MTCN for your $3,500.00 USD.
1.RECEIVER NAME:. .ANTHONY EKWEALOR.
2.COUNTRY:...........BENIN REPUBLIC.
3.CITY:..................... COTONOU.
4.TEST QUESTION:...............