Private name and Number revealed his male Pakistani voice as "Ben Johnson" phoning on behalf of Visa through EDR Systems. Now my credit is terrible now, I made 3 payments in the last 8 months to bring it up to date, but it's been past max and behind on payments for months at a time. As of 2 weeks ago I finally got my account under the max mark to start building any credit again. He said he's noticed I've been on time with all my payments in the last year or 2 and because of that he's been authorized to lower my payment to 6.9% (he didn't state my current interest) He did know my full name when he phoned me, which my number is listed as my first initial to help screen telemarketers. He asked if I'd be interested in lower payments and said I should get my Visa card, and referring to the back there is my number with a 3 digit code at the end, and I'll need to verify that, and my mailing address. I asked if I could phone him back that I was pretty busy at the moment, if I could just get his number. He said no problem, when would be a good time for him to phone back, I said NO, I WANT YOUR NUMBER! Which he gave, and I was at my computer so I was tracing it as he gave it to me, which some EDR affiliation came up. He said it wouldn't take long if I could just verify the card number. I then let him have it, I got very angry and told him my credit couldn't be any worse aside from bankruptcy, and I am in bad credit 10 times more then good credit, and Visa has made thousands off me, and would be stupid for them to offer me lower interest. There's no point in giving him my card because it's pretty much maxed anyway, and if he's a fraud, he won't get any money off of it. He escalated his voice right away, and insisted he was not a fraud and wasn't a telemarketer and he was trying to help. I said no matter how legit he may be I will never give my personal info to a private name and number, and hung up on him.
My elderly parents just got scammed by these SOBs. My Mom got a similar call last week to what Christina describes offering them 6% interest "until they die." When my Mom described getting a call from "VISA", and said she gave them her: VISA #, birthday, address, etc: in short PLENTY enough info for them to pull off an identify theft, I freaked, and got on the phone with VISA.
Turns out their VISA had been charged $640 USD (>$700 CAD) the same day for what VISA says will likely be a bundle of forms that they could get for free themselves. It has yet to arrive. My Mom was completely taken by these SOBs until I pointed out to her that the bank would NEVER ask HER for her info - they'd HAVE it. Once we got on the phone with VISA and confirmed it, she was pretty pissed.
The VISA charge came through as being from a US-based company called 401K Review Agency - like my CANADIAN parents have any use for 401K help??
Other phone numbers linked to these SOBs: my Mom was given 1-888-707-7117 as a contact number (as well as the 514-907-7475 that brought me to this site.) VISA says the reference phone number on the company posting the VISA charge (the "401k Review Agency") is 1-888-818-8228.
Turns out it's a common "scam" that rides the edges of legality. Turns out that they did confirm with my Mom that they'd be charging her $600+, and VISA says from dealing with them frequently in the past, that they will have recorded her consenting to this, although my Mom had no idea what she was getting into. They called her, then called at least 2 more times. with her talking to a total of 3 different people that gave her legitimate sounding phone numbers and titles ("Manager", etc.) and ID #s.
The good news: VISA know of these SOBs, and is backing my parents. I'll start the fight with "401K Review Agency" tomorrow when their offices open. If they refuse to reverse the charges, VISA says they WILL, but also says that from past experience with them, they are usually willing to reverse the charges because if VISA reverses them too many times, it also pulls their VISA vendor status, meaning they have to go through a whole circus: changing company names & numbers & re-applying to become VISA vendors again, etc. According to VISA they normally prefer to back down and save themselves that hassle - so they can continue to scam vulnerable people more easily.
Well, this actually ended quite smoothly. I called the 401k Review Agency number (1-888-818-8228), calmly explained that my mother was mislead and wished to reverse the charge. The girl on the line asked her name, found the charge and reversed it on the spot. No trying to talk me our of it or trying to lean on "but we have her recorded agreeing to the purchase" or even requiring to talk to her personally to reverse it (although I offered upfront to conference her into the call) - none of that. Went about as smoothly as could be. She said we should see the reversal on the VISA bill within 72 hours. Unless they fail to actually put the reversal through (we'll watch the transactions, but I believe they have/will), I can say this had a pretty reasonable ending.
I got the call from EDR Programs this morning. My credit card is over limit and I haven't been making all of my payments on time so VISA has jacked my rate up to 19% (like that makes things easier to pay). So I was pretty excited about this call. Then I started thinking - what's in it for them? I am actually making payments so my account isn't in default - why would Visa want another company to reduce this when their own policy was to raise my rate? Then my gut started to tingle and I found this site. I asked about the charge - it was going to be $699. Not that it would have gone through. He also said that I would be eligible for a rate "as low as 7.9 for life". I verbally declined any authorization for any transaction in the event that the conversation was being recorded (which I don't know it if was or not). I didn't give them any more information than the pizza joint would get except for including my birthday. I called Visa and cancelled my card. Probably should have done that $20000 ago anyway. lol