SCAM NOTICE: Call from account services
I just got an automated phone call from “Heather” at “account services” calling about my credit card. The message never identified what credit card company it meant, nor who the cardholder was supposed to be. It just wanted me to press 1 to speak to a live operator so they could lower my interest rate.
I’m sure the point of this is to get you to give up your card number. I knew it was a scam because (in addition to the lack of identification) the phone number on Caller ID came up “unknown”, which is not true of any card company I deal with.
I’ve never before had a scam like this over the phone. It’s like phishing, except it’s phone rather than email. Please be very careful, especially during the big shopping season.
- Never, ever give your credit card number to someone who called you. Even if you believe it really is the fraud department from your credit card, for example, you should hang up and call the number on the back of your card (NOT the number the caller leaves), and from there be connected to the fraud department.
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Posted in Featured Articles, Scam Notices on November 24, 2007
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Just received our 5th call from Heather. I pressed “1″ and talked with Albert. He said their company name is Financial Services Incorporated. I asked for a website address. He had to check with his manager, and said he would provide a website when I “qualified” for an account. I told him I wanted the “Heather” calls to stop or I would be contacting an attorney. He said it would take a week to take me off the list. I left it with that, and will see if this worked.
I continue to get these calls usually once a month. When I speak with a live person and tell them to put me on the DO NOT CALL List, they hang up. I used to get a number on caller id and when I tried to call it back, it was a disconnected number each time. Now, it just comes up as Out of Area and no number is listed.
I got this call also. my caller ID read 062 218-9891 *69 said it could not be reached.
they told me their company name was account services lower interest rate. when I asked for their number she hung up on me. It was a girl this time. I get them a lot. I am trying to get more info on them each time. I will pass it to you since maybe you can get the cops in on it finally.
i get this call at least once a week from HEATHER with ACCOUNT SERVICES…ive pressed one, ive gotton people on the phone, ive told them im going to eat their brains, burn down their houses, once i pretended i was 13 and was really excited about a credit card (drove em crazy) ive told them please dont not call im on the do not call list and they just hang up…honestly, i dont know what it will take to shut these people down, i have personally contacted the FCC, called the local police and my phone company and they both told me the same thing, without a working number they cannot help and now when i star 69 them it is “private/non working number?” im really at my wits end…
ANGRY LADY TRY THIS NUMBER JUST GOT A CALL FROM ACCOUNT SERVICES ON MY PRIVATE LINE FROM GREG MILLER WITH ACCOUNT SERVICES TO LOWER INTEREST..GOT CALL BACK NUMBER TO HIM 1-800-847-2911.
I got this, too. Spoke with “Gerald Brown,” who said he was in Atlanta. I asked for a call-back number and he gave me 1-800-788-5047. That’s the number for Coca-Cola. Someone has a sense of humor, anyway.
I’ve been getting these calls for months now, too, each time I press for more and more info. The first few times, I simply asked to be placed on their DNC list (I’m already on the national DNC list since February 08). Since then I’ve talked with 4 or 5 different people, asking them to hvae the calls stopped. Last one prior to today I spoke with “Mark”, asked for a manager, none was available, asked for the company name, got “Account Services”, asked where they are located, got “Atlanta”, asked for a street address and phone number, and he hung up on me. Today, I spoke with Renee. Told her of all my past experiences, she promised not to hang up on me. I asked the same questions, got the same results, the managers were all busy on other calls. I suggested that I could wait, she said that she really had to move on to another call or she might lose her job. I said then please just give me the contact info (oh, she said they were in San Fran, not Atlanta). She said that she didn’t have any contact info. I again asked for a manager, they were still busy. I said that she simply must have some contact info, and then she said “Well, we do, but we usually don’t provide it until you are an actual client.” So I said “OK, then, let’s make me a client and then you can give me the info.” Of course, I was never going to give her correct info, and she knew that. She asked a few questions, how much CC debt do I have, what is the average interest rate, how many different cards. I made up answers. Then she balked and said that she wasn’t comfortable proceeding, but that she had promised to not hang up on me, and she was afraid she would lose her job, so she didn’t know what to do because she wasn’t authorized to provide the info I was asking for. I said that I understood, and that was ahy I really wanted to speak with a manager, to keep her out of trouble. I said that if I didn’t get the address and phone number, the next call I’d make after ending her call would be to the state Attorney General’s office. She started whispering then, saying that she has only worked there for a week and she really needed the job and didn’t want to get fired. I said fine, then I’ll have to call the authorities. And I did, called the FCC and FTC and filed complaints.
Got a call from this today “do not be alarmed but this is your last chance to get a lower interest rate.” When I pressed one I asked what company they were and the guys told me that I “just need to calm the hell down” (I wasn’t angry yet). He hung up. Caller ID info: unknown. number (fake)=062=291-3536
Hey guys, i worked for one of these companies for about 3 hours before i realized it’s a scam. i’m sure you all would like a few of there addresses.
775 Warner lane orlando florida
3592 Aloma Avenue orlando florida suite 4
Unfortunatly i’m looking for work and i keep running into these damn people. I’ll try to post the name of them if i can remember. i know the one is dcps, all i can remember about the other is there called leverage connections or something like that. FROM WHAT I CAN TELL THEY ARE ALL BASED OUT OF ORLANDO FLORIDA
Bo…I googled the warner lane address and it’s the leverage connections one and they have an ad on craigslist with an email address to reply to the ad. Sent them a ‘very nice’ email letting them know I wasn’t happy with their calls. Not that it will do any good, but it made me feel better! Thanks for the info!
I received an automated call on my cell phone from “Account Services” saying it was the last chance to lower the interest rate on my credit card. I pressed “1″ to speak to a person and he said he worked for Visa and MasterCard. I wanted to know which account he was calling about but he just said he could lower the rate on all my cards. He asked me if I had balances or pay off each month. I told him I was on payment plans with some companies. Since he didn’t represent any particular credit card company, I told him I didn’t need to be talking with him because I think I would have been notified by any change by the individual credit card company. He thanked me and hung up.
The number on my caller ID had an extra digit. 50622725314. I tried looking up the first 10 numbers with Google, then the last 10 numbers but could find nothing.
Just got the “Account Services” call myself. I spoke with a lady who identified herself as Kristina. I knew it was a scam when she wouldn’t give me her last name. There are many ways to pinpoint phone scams. Good job on catching this one everybody!
I’ve been plagued by these calls for the past 2 years. I played along several times and found that they are really slick. First they tell you that, due to their number of customers and negotiating strength, they are able to get you lower interest rates. They ask what your total balances are, how many cards you have, what the highest interest rates are… And they listen with empathy to suck you in. Finally, they ask you for the toll-free number on the back of the card with the highest interest rate, they make sure they get it correct, and then ask you to turn the card over and read off the number. Whenever I ask for their address, website, name of the corporation, or the state that they are incorporated under, they either hang up or make some excuse. Usually, the caller id is restricted, but the last one on my caller id was 506-226-10034–one extra digit.
So, I just got another call. This time from 506-228-09894. Its time to spring into action! I found a website that has info on this scam, it’s http://heatherwithaccountservices.com/ if you want more info. But I also did some research online. I went to the Florida Corporations Division to find out who was behind American Debt Negotiators, Inc. and PHL International, Inc. This is all public record, so you can find it, too. So can the officials, but they can’t do much about it, so says my state Attorney General’s Office. So here’s the scoop:
I found out that there are two guys behind this scam and they have a slew of corporations, many of them defunct. I searched using the name “American Debt Negotiators” and found the name of the Registered Representative was a guy named RAN BARNEA, aca RAN DAVID BARNEA, aca DAVID R BARNEA. He is also listed as the president of a whole slew of other active corporations. The other guy is DANIEL T. POST. This stuff is all public record. Here is a list of the active Florida corporations and the corporate officers that I simply copied and pasted here.
BETUOCH MANAGEMENT VENTURE CORPORATION
Corporate Officers:
BARNEA, RAN
23123 STATE RD 7 #215
BOCA RATON FL 33428 BR
POST, DANIEL T
23123 STATE RD 7 #215
BOCA RATON FL 33428 BR
BMV DEBT MANAGEMENT CORP
Corporate Officers:
BARNEA, RAN
23123 STATE RD 7
BOCA RATON FL 33428
POST, DANIEL
23123 STATE RD 7
BOCA RATON FL 33428
METUKON CORP
Corporate Officers:
BARNEA, RAN
11555 HERON BAY BLVD # 200
CORAL SPRINGS FL 33076 US
POST, DANIEL
11555 HERON BAY BLVD # 200
CORAL SPRINGS FL 33076 US
PHL INTERNATIONAL, INC
Corporate Officers:
BURTON, MARK
836 SOUTH MILITARY TRAIL
DEERFIELD FL 33442 PB
POST, SHARI
836 SOUTH MILITARY TRAIL
DEERFIELD FL 33442 PB
BARNEA, RAN
836 SOUTH MILITARY TRAIL
DEERFIELD FL 33442 PB
BMV DEBT MANAGEMENT CORP
Corporate Officers:
BARNEA, RAN
23123 STATE RD 7
BOCA RATON FL 33428
POST, DANIEL
23123 STATE RD 7
BOCA RATON FL 33428
AMERICAN CONSUMER ADVOCATES LAW GROUP, LLC
Corporate Officers:
BARNEA, RAN D
23123 US 441 SUITE 225
BOCA RATON FL 33428
AMERICAN DEBT NEGOTIATORS, INC
Corporate Officers:
BARNEA, RAN D
23123 STATE RD 7 #250
BOCA RATON FL 33428 US
POST, DANIEL T
23123 STATE RD 7 #250
BOCA RATON FL 33428 US
POST, RICHARD
23123 STATE RD 7 #250
BOCA RATON FL 33428 US
Then I found a website for American Debt Negotiators with contact information that has the same address as METUKON CORP. listed above. So, I decided I should copy and paste the information. Here it is:
American Debt Negotiators
11555 Heron Bay Blvd. Suite 200
Coral Springs, FL 33076
Phone:(866) WOW-4 ADN
or 866-969-4236
Fax: 561-483-2733
support@adnnow.com
Then, I thought I’d look these guys up on MSN’s White Pages to get other addresses. You can do it, too. Here’s the other addresses I found for RAN BARNEA. Only one had his phone number.
22561 Vistawood Way, Apt 19E
Boca Raton, FL 33428-5564
21955 Cypress Dr. Apt 48F
Boca Raton, FL 33433-3280
11555 Heron Bay Blvd, Suite 200
Coral Springs, FL 33076-3362
954-603-0430
23123 State Rd. 7, Suite 225
Boca Raton, FL 33428
Getting a real kick out of public records searches. I also went to the Broward County, Florida website and found a Release of Mortgage filed by Bank of America/BA Morgage, LLC for RAN BARNEA, recorded 02/10/2003, on the property at 21955 Cypress Dr., Apt 48F, Boca Raton, FL 33433. I bet it’s his condo.
has anyone received a call from someone saying they were Experian from a number :
506-220-45458?
if you check the orlando craigslist > customer service jobs you will find posts for these jobs:
http://orlando.craigslist.org/csr/949678889.html
We need energetic young professionals to work in our inbound call room. No selling, just qualifying customers for lower interest rates on their existing credit cards. Make $75-$100 per deal. Our new reps are making at least $700 and up weekly. If you got the right stuff, call Kanita for phone interview, (407)860-4287.
the key search words are “inbound call” “qualifying” “lower interest rates” “credit cards” you will find a few different companies making these calls from the Orlando Florida area.
check other craigslist cities for jobs with those same search words and nothing shows up like it does in Florida.
I get these calls too. Usually 2 or 3 times a month. Normally the number calling in is 062-237-6688. Same deal…computer message saying “this is the last chance to lower your credit interest…” (etc.) and to “press 1 to speak with a representative” (etc.). Usually it’s a different person each time. One time I asked who it was and got a vague answer. Then I said I have several credit cards and asked which one was the caller referring to. The guy calling reiterated that he was with Financial Services and I had to interject my question again at which point he just hung up on me. Why don’t these fools at least cross your name off their list when they realise you’re onto their game? Because they hope someone ELSE in the household will fall for it. I’m trying to devise a way to play along and string them into giving up some kind of information. Or perhaps saying some really rude and nasty things to sour the milk for them. Maybe a LOUD blast from a canned air horn oughta shake up a caller. These scam artists need to be executed.
I just got the same damned call only now they are insinuating that this is all part of an economic stimulus program that is connected to the bank bailouts. It’s interesting how you can be eligible for something and amazingly they don’t have your name. They are obviously using auto-dialers and not phone lists.
Thanx for all the investigations. I have recieved several calls fom these jerks. I have requested the last name of the indidvidual and just got “Attitude” and hung up on. These guys (and Gals) are really Brazen and Stink’n RUDE!!Other times I have played along and got close to getting ” signed up” but when they asked for my SS# I hung up. The worst part is I have had my land line disconnected so now I have to pay for these stinking calls on my cell phone!!!!
If any of you have some good ideas to catch these Scam Artists please E-mail me or post ideas on this site and I will invest as much time as I can to be of assistance.
i just tried calling that 866 number listed under Jim’s entry for American Debt Negotiators. i totally played stupid and acted like i was looking for someone to talk to about lowering my interest rates, that i had been disconnected previously. the guy who picked up my call at the ADN 866 number said he was in the “consumer law group” — how hilarious is that — and that he’d get someone to call me back.
you’re all right, though. this guy was nice but the initial person i talked to was unbelievably rude, yelling and crazed when all i asked was “i’m sorry. i’m confused how you got my info but you say you’re not from my credit card issuer.”
oh, and my initial call came in from 212 — NYC.
I have come to a significant conclusion about the rash of spoofed, almost untraceable calls that are being received by the thousands. If you run a google search , using one of the numbers, you will get hundreds of entries about the calls. Nearly everyone suspects that the spoofed call is for getting your personal data so it can be used for fraud, but that might not be the real reason behind the calls since such fraud would be a very serious crime that might cost them more than they could gain if caught. Here is my conclusion for a more likely purpose for the spoofed calls . How many times have you done a reverse phone search and told that the callers detailed info is available for a fee ranging from a few cents up to a fee of nearly $40.00? I highly suspect that the calls might be made by the reverse search companies just to trigger you to pay their fees for the caller information. It is feasible that they could get thousands and thousands of dollars this way and would likely not be subject to prosecution as likely as if they were using your data for fraud. If caught giving out false info about a caller, then they could just say it was a simple mistake. Is it not also possible that the reverse phone lookup company could also get info about you that they can recite to fool you about their call. Could not a reverase phone lookup company know numbers that are not working numbers that they can use for spoofing the caller ID of these calls. What do you think of this?
Jan, several people have reported experiencing credit card fraud after giving information to these goons. I think it’s just a credit card scam, like it sounds like, and they’re just confident they won’t get caught because the authorities lack the technology to hunt them down. So far, they’re right.
I get the same calls. I also get another similar call about vehicle warranty. I think they are the same scam. I tried to trick them into giving me more information (I don’t have caller ID). All I got is that “they” are located in Atlanta, GA, but when I asked for a little more info, they hung up immediately. I want to report them to http://www.donotcall.gov, but didn’t get the info I needed.
I have been getting the sames calls, usually we aren’t home or just pick up the phone. My number is blocked and on the do not call list. The number being called is my “land line” and I use it mostly for Faxing as I am in the Real Estate Business and we use our cell phones most of the time. I got a call on March 15, 2009 and just got one today. I stayed on the line and pressed :”1″ as directed and got a very rude gentleman(shouldn’t call him that) who refused to give me any information other than “account services” when he answered. He would tell me nothing about who he worked for and hung up shortly after I asked him. I have also gotten the “warrenty” callstoo. Sounds like it is same thing.
You should register your phone number(s) with http://www.donotcall.gov. Once you’re registered, you can file an online complain every time they call. (They call me several times a day about credit interest or auto insurance.)
When the government gets lots of reports about them (company name: “Account Services”), they will investigate. You do not have to have their phone number to file a report online.
Getting repeated phone calls from “Account Services” at (386)677-3110 in Florida. When I call back that number from the caller ID, it is a non-working number. I have filed a report with the FCC. I am going to pursue this to the very end.
A great way to hassle telemarketing companies is to find a fax number,
example: american debt negotiators 1 561 483 2733
and fax them a statement of your opinion of scam telemarketers.
Use a long piece of paper so that you can tape the beginning of your fax sheet to the end of your fax sheet making a continuous loop.
The fax message should now repeat over and over again!
Try using black paper and white letters.
Ha ha ha, enjoy!
I am on the Do Not Call list and I have already filed several complaints with the Feds and in both instances they eventually responded in writing that there is nothing they can do because of yada, yada, yada……..
These slimeball scamsters are slick, real slick. Here’s hoping they piss off some wacko who reads this site and puts to use all of the gathered info on their whereabouts and drops by and……………….
If You Don’t Hang Up They Can’t Disconnect You it Drives Them Nuts. They will try everything to make you hang up.
Good for Hours of Fun. Turn the Tables on them. Press 1 Or 6 WhatEver and Don’T Hang Up Just Listen and Laugh While they try to make you hang Up. And Best of All it Keeps Calling Them Back.
THIS IS GREAT!!!
I just received a phone call from “Account Services” to lower my credit card interest rate. This is a scam!
These idiots called twice yesterday. I reported the call to the Do Not Call registry. Today, I got two more calls form “unknown caller.” I’ll bet my last buck it’s the same group calling with a PC and not a phone (Unknown caller, no number).
Question: if the “powers that be” can read our e-mail, why can’t they catch creeps like this?
They called me yesterday and when I pressed them to identify their company they hung up on me. I called the number back on the caller ID and it was a disconnected phone number in Mississippi. Hackers should really target these scammers and bury them…. Wish there was more I could do….
Automated message about lowering credit card debts. Called my cell phone. Option 9 to speak to a representative, but no opt-out. Pushed 9 and tried to tell rep about me being on Do-not-call-registry, rep hung up before I could even finish my sentence. Calling the number back got me the message: “The number you have dialed has not been recognized”.
We received numerous calls from other 954 numbers, “last chance to lower your credit card interest rate”, etc. – all the same scam.
Sorry, I forgot: the call today came from 954-000-3816
I just got a call from “Account Services” and reported them to the Attorney General in my home state of Pennsylvania. Even if you’re on a “Do Not Call” list, these scam artists will still call you.
Their real phone number is: 954-426-2642, which is registered to PHL International at 836 S Military Trail, Deerfield Beach FL – head honcho is Mark Burton. Their parent company is American Debt Negotiators, owned by Ran David Barnea, supposed home address is 21955 Cypress Dr, Apt 48f. They also use the spoof name “Cardholder Services.” I’ve received scam calls about car warranties too. Don’t rely on the caller id because they use fake numbers. Use the above information to report them to http://www.donotcall.gov/ – “file a complaint.” You could also crank call them if it makes you feel better.