For several days I kept getting calls (at least six) identified on my caller ID as CELEBRATION, but when I answered there was no one there. One time I called back, but the phone just rang and rang. Then, today, Oct 11, 2007,I decided to see what the deal was. A woman who identified herself as Julia Smith, employee 21064 of a company called Value Benefits of America. Strangely, with such an American name she clearly had an Asian-type accent that seemed like it was from India. She gave me the customer service call from this number for this company 866-916-8814 and a website www.freebeegas.com. I tried it later, and it was answered by a woman with an American accent who answered, "customer service Value Benefitis of America." I hung up and didn't ask her any questions. Earlier in the week I had responded to an email that seemed legitimate offering a $500 spending spree and a $125 gas card spendable at any retail store. I toyed around with it but bailed out of the website when they asked for my credit card. So I figured this was a follow up to that. Sure enough, Julia offered the same deal on the condition of paying $2.25 charged to a credit card within ten days of receiving my package. She said nothing else would be charged unless I chose to become a member for only $69.95 a month. She asked for my name, birth date, and address and the expiration date of of a VISA, MASTERCARD, or AMERICAN EXPRESS credit card, but not my card number. Eventually she connected me to a verifying supervisor, who identified himself as "Roy Phillips." He too had the same Asian or Indian accent. When I asked where he was calling from or if he was calling from India, he became defensive and challenging, asking me why I would make such an assumption. I told him I just wanted to make sure that this was all legitimate. He said he had an "Asian accent," was calling from DeMoine Iowa. At that point I got on the internet as he suggested to check out the website and noticed the company listed its headquarters in Largo, Florida. When I mentioned that the company was in Largo, Florida (not in Iowa), he couldn't understand the word Largo and I had to repeat it two or three times. At that point I became even more suspicious. However, I played along until he finally said he was recording information, including my credit card number. When he started the automated call requesting this information, if I didn't give it fast enough, he would interrupt me and come back on the line asking for the same information. I repeated my name and address but never gave him the credit card number. Then I hung up. He called back three more times. Twice I let it ring until it went to voice mail. The third time I had my son answer and tell him to put our number on their no-call list. He begged to talk to me but my son just hung up. If this is a legitimate company and offer, they have a real PR problem with "Roy Phillips" and his defensiveness and hostility and need to fire that guy. He was just TOO desperate to get my credit card information.
I got a call from this number today. The caller ID said Sloan, IA. He had an Indian accent and said I won a $125 gift card for free gas and a $500 shopping spree. He said the winner were only those that had a MasterCArd and Visa. He verified my address. He wanted to know what my credit card number was. I told him that I wasn't going to give it out. He couldn't believe that I was so skeptical. He gave me his website freebeegas.com so that I could see that it was legitimate. He kept pressuring me to give him my credit card number stating that it was the only way he could see me my gift card for free gas and shopping spree. When I kept being hesitant, he hung up. DO NOT GIVE OUT your credit card info.
Several Calls - Used last call return (*69) to retrieve the number (I do not have caller ID). Tried returning the call but got a "number called cannot be reached" message.
I did a reverse phone inquiry at Superpages, who described the origin of the call as being from Sloan, Iowa, service privided by Aventure (no "D") Communication Technology L.l.c**, but that's all that was offered (without a $14.95 charge).
I fielded a call yesterday by someone who tried to tell me that I won a free gas card. I instructed him to take my name off his list, and not to call me again and then I hung up.
Today I got yet another call from the number, and this time I Googled it, and ultimately got this site.
Whoever it is is persistent, and doesn't take "No" for an answer. Seperately, but suspiciously related, another call came from 712-429-0346.
got a call from 712.429.0350 today. Just like above they informed me that I won $100 gas card (which increased to 125 when the closer got on the line) as well as $500 shopping spree. All they wanted was for me to give them my credit card number for $2.95 shipping. I kept them on the line for quite a while just playing with them. they kept reading off their script, and I called them on that. They said "sir, there is no script..." then went right back into the scripted conversation points.
Both callers I spoke with had fairly thick Indian accents.
Finally they just gave up and ended the call after I refused to give them any card information. I also gave them the name of one of my pets and a bogus DOB.
They gave me a toll free number and a website: 866.916.8814, www.freebeegas.com