I hope everyone knows to keep a very close watch on your bank accounts; and if you have elderly relatives make sure someone is watching for them.I want to know if anyone knows who to call or contact about these kinds of scams. I don't think this is something the BBB would handle. It sounds like bank fraud, but I'm not sure.
There must be some way to stop this kind of thing from happening - and I don't mean just changing her account number - I mean these people need to be caught and prosecuted.
Most seniors are on limited incomes and it makes me sick that there are people who are taking advantage of them like this!
So, OT..... what have you got?
Here's my experiences with these scammers:
About once a year, some company will try to use an ACH to get money from Moma's account. Once it was a company who was trying to get the annual payment for her NACO maintenance dues; she had actually given them her account #, but we stopped that one anyway.
We have told her to NEVER give her bank account number to anyone - but at age 80 & suffering aphasia from a stroke 5 years ago, she can be convinced by slick crooks to give it up & of course when I ask she always says no she hasn't given her number to anyone. It could be possible that only one got the number & they use it with various things.
Fortunately, our local bank is small (6 branches - all in this county) and they have her account set on an alert & call me whenever this happens & we can always tell them that no we have not authorized an ACH and to deny paying it.
A couple of months ago they called; they had a phone number & even the bank routing number that was to receive the payment. I called that bank, but the account was set up in come kind of receiving account so I didn't get far.
The call yesterday - $289.97 - was to go to a company named FirstAlertBenefits. 888-363-8701.
After calling the number several times & leaving my name & number to be called back, I used a site that can tell you who owns a toll free number that shows up as "unknown" on caller ID. http://800notes.com/Area-Code.aspx/1-888/2
I found some very interesting comments from lots of people who have been scammed by this company.
Then I found their web site.
http://firstalertbenefits.com/index.html
Apparently they offer some kind of medical benefits - $289.97 a year.
The same phone number is listed as a contact. There is an email address that I haven't tried yet.
When I clicked to "enroll" (just to see what I'd get), I got a "untrusted connection" message so jumped right out of there.
Today I called the number again at 10:32 and was still listening to music at 11:32 (yesterday I was given a chance to leave a message; today I was not). I got disconnected when I had to put it on hold to go out in the shop - just my luck someone probably answered during that time and hung up.
Long story I know. I'm disgusted & mad enough to spend a lot of time & energy trying to fight these kinds of crooks.
Handcrafted by RollDdice
Email this topic to a friend
Printer-friendly version of this topic
Bookmark this topic (Registered users only)
