CONTACT

Katie Mitzner / Communications Director
Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado
Telephone: 719/636-5076 Ext. 118
Fax: 719/636-5078
Email: katiem@bbbsc.org

Scam Artists Prey on Consumers’ Biggest Fears

In this day and age consumers have to be careful at all times. The most recent scam to hit Southern Colorado shows how true this really is. Within the past week, consumers in Southern Colorado have been getting phone calls from companies with what seems to be a helpful offer. The company claims to want to help get the consumer off of mass call and mailing lists and even safeguard their financial information that is floating around in cyberspace. But it turns out the call is a scam in itself.

The company, which claims to be out of New York and Canada, goes by the name of American Consumer Benefits or United Consumer Benefits. In one scenario, the caller uses scare tactics telling the consumer that they are on lists for telemarketers, sweepstakes, magazine subscriptions and online banking and that they can help remove the consumer’s information from those lists. The caller then asks for the consumer to verify their banking account number and routing number in order to take the consumer’s name off the list. The caller says they will be sending something out in the mail which will also include information on reducing the costs of prescription drugs. A few days later an attempt is made to take over $300 out of the bank account.

In the second scenario, a female caller by the name of Ellen Johnson contacts a consumer warning them that their bank account information is floating around on the Internet. She reads off the consumer’s bank account information and asks that they verify the information. The consumer, thinking the caller is legitimate because they know their personal banking information, verifies the account number. The caller promises a packet will arrive in 4 to 6 weeks explaining how to get your bank account information out of cyberspace. A few days later the consumer notices that $398 has been withdrawn from their checking account.

Upon investigation, the Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado has found no information listed under the company names of American Consumer Benefits or United Consumer Benefits. The toll free numbers used by these companies are now disconnected. The money withdrawn from the consumer’s bank account was done so by phone from a bank in Sacramento, California. No signature from the customer was required for the withdrawal because the bank claimed to already have authorization from the customer. It appears that a similar scam has hit consumers living in the eastern Washington area as well.

TIPS:

• If a caller ever quotes your personal information, THIS IS A RED FLAG, end the conversation immediately. It is possible when you confirm your personal info and say “YES,” that the caller is recording your voice and getting the verification they need to take money out of your account.
• If you get a call such as this, contact your bank and secure your account.
• Never give personal information out over the phone.
• Avoid solicitations by signing up for the national Do Not Call Registry at www.donotcall.gov or call the FTC toll free 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you want listed in the database.
• If you question the validity of a company, contact the BBB of Southern Colorado for more information at (719) 636-1155 or 866-206-1800 or online at www.bbbsc.org.

To arrange an interview with a local consumer affected by this scam, contact Katie Mitzner with the BBB of Southern Colorado at 719-636-5076 x118 or 866-206-1094 x118.