Recently, a man contacted consumers via telephone wanting to provide new social security and medical card numbers. Highlighted in the BBB Consumer Alerts, one consumer received a call from a man who told her every senior in the country is being issued a new medical card number. He had her name, address and telephone number, but needed her date of birth. In another case, someone claiming to be with Medicare called another consumer, and Medicare verified the call was not from its office.
“It can be very intimidating when you receive a phone call stating you must provide information in order to stay up-to-date with the government or other agencies,” says Beverly Baskin, president and CEO of the BBB of Eastern N.C. “It is important to remember never to give personal information over the telephone and check with the BBB to make sure these calls are legitimate.”
For more information on how to protect yourself from fraudulent callers, visit bbb.org.
About the BBB of Eastern North Carolina:
The Better Business Bureau of Eastern North Carolina is a 501 (c)(6) not-for-profit corporation serving 33 counties in Eastern North Carolina. The organization is funded primarily by membership dues from more than 3,200 local business and professional firms. The BBB promotes integrity, consumer confidence and business ethics through business self-regulation in the local marketplace. Services provided by the BBB include, reports on companies and charitable organizations, general monitoring of advertising in the marketplace, dispute resolution services, and consumer/business education programs. All services are provided at no cost to the public, with the occasional exception of mediation and arbitration. Visit bbb.org.
CONSUMER ALERTS FOR NOVEMBER 2007
In an effort to keep the media and public informed, the Better Business Bureau of Eastern North Carolina offers monthly BBB Consumer Alerts as potential story or interview ideas. Readers should take into consideration the importance of the practice in question and the total performance of a company. This list is current as of release date. Information regarding business or consumer topics reported here can be obtained through the BBB office by contacting info@raleigh.bbb.org.
North Carolina Labor Law Poster Service sends out mailings that offer a set of posters of North Carolina Labor Laws for posting in businesses. The sets cost $59.50. While labor law posters do have to be posted for access by all employees, they do not have to cost anything. Free posters may be obtained by contacting the North Carolina Department of Labor at 919-807-2796, 800-NCLABOR, or www.nclabor.com.
Mega Life and Health Insurance Company/HealthMarkets, Inc. and its affiliates are sending postcards to consumers. Over 180 complaints have been filed against this Texas company. Complaints concern selling practices, credit and billing disputes, refund practices and service issues. Complainants allege sales people misrepresented coverage, did not pay claims in a timely manner, did not stop debit of premiums after policies were canceled, and that refunds were not made in a timely manner. The company has an unsatisfactory rating.
Alliance Trust sent a letter to a consumer, informing her that she had won a $34,900 grant for home improvements. Enclosed was a check for $4,870.50. The consumer was instructed to deposit the check and send $2,690 to cover foreign access taxes. She was told that she would then receive the balance. Unfortunately, she did it. The check was counterfeit, and she is out the $2,690. Alliance Trust uses a PO Box in Chicago for forwarding of mail.
Fraudulent Calls Being Made Consumers have reported receiving a call from a man wanting to give them a new social security number. First, he claims, he needs the consumers’ banking account information. Not true! One consumer received a call from a man who told her every senior in the US is being issued a new medical card number. He had her name, address and telephone number, but needed her date of birth. Someone claiming to be with Medicare called another consumer. Medicare verified the call was not from their office. This is NOT how government agencies work. Never provide private information to an unknown/unverified caller. The Social Security Administration, Medicare and Medicaid all have the information they need and, if they don’t, they won’t call you on the telephone to get it!
Chain Letters are going around, again. Please remember that chain letters are illegal. Do not be bullied into believing that you will come to some harm if you don’t forward the letter. The best thing you can do if you receive one of these loathsome letters is to shred it. Here’s some food for thought: if Mr. X was the victim of very bad luck because he didn’t forward the same chain letter you received, how did his experience get included in the letter? Hmmmmm.
Sweepstakes Clearinghouse must have recently sent out a mass mailing. Consumers have stated that the mailing appears to be a notice that they have won a TV; however, the mailing actually states it is a “sales notification”
North American Prize Pool, Rule Financial & Trust, Union Financial Payment, Amvest Financial Group, Alma Investments, Greatbanc, Alpha Financial Services, International Award payment, A & J Industries, Gateway Financial Services, International Lottery Commission Board, Euromillones Loteria International, International Lotto Commission, Platinum Speculative Financial, and Atlantic Lottery are all lotteries. Each of them tell consumers that they have won big bucks, include a check for the first payment, and ask that a fee be wired somewhere- usually out of the country. The enclosed check turns out to be counterfeit, and consumers lose the money they wired.
