Connecticut Better Business Bureau issues alert about mailings from “UBI Payment Services”

Jan. 11, 2010 - PRLog -- Connecticut Better Business Bureau is alerting consumers to a scam involving a promise of thousands of dollars in exchange for answering a simple math question and a signature.

A Newington man told BBB he knew it was a scam the moment he read the letter from UBI Payment Services’ “Accounting Department” in Singapore. The letter informed him that he was “guaranteed to receive $5000.00” if he signed the document, solved a primary school-level math puzzle and mailed the form to an address in Australia. Instead, he turned over the document and return-address envelope to Connecticut Better Business Bureau.

According to Reliability Reports on file at several Better Business Bureau offices, UBI Payment Services has an “F” rating because of concerns with the industry in which it operates, insufficient information about how long the business has been operating and lack of background information. UBI Payment Services is not a BBB Accredited Business.  In addition, the company reportedly does business under three dozen different names.

Connecticut Better Business Bureau President, Paulette Scarpetti, says this scam is sweeping the nation.

“This company first came to the attention of other Better Business Bureau offices in the fall of 2008.  Consumers across the country have received similar mailings, and now Connecticut consumers are being targeted.”

It appears the scammers are after the recipients’ signatures, which, combined with the correct name and address in the mailings, may be used for identity theft.

Consumers are strongly advised to proceed cautiously before responding to this type of mailing. UBI Payment Services does business under at least 35 different names. A complete list of those names is available in the Connecticut BBB News Center at .bbb.org.

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Founded in 1928, Connecticut BBB is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. For more advice on finding companies and businesses, start your search with trust at www.bbb.org.