Union Workers Credit Services scam Ripoff Dallas, Texas

Yesterday, I received an approval letter for $10,000 Platinum Card Membership.

After reading many of the rebuttals on your site, I must agree with many of the findings reporting this as an obvious scam. It is well masked and somewhat cleaver if you don't take the time to study the letter.

The envelope is first. It display all the necessary bullets to attract your attention. Being curious, and after you open the envelope, the first thing you see is the 'Credit Limit' in bold print for the 10k followed by your name, next is the low APR rate that is also an immediate eye catcher. Several other things stand out to arouse your curiosity and make you feel and think this is a major credit card. It is definitely an attention getter. But, if you read it carefully, other indications bring out the truth and the deception that awaits.

Again, the envelope. How do they know if I am or am not a member of a union? Next, a 10k Pre-approved credit limit, based on what, and with such an low APR without credit check is un-heard of. Also, did anyone note the fully refundable statement about half way down the letter? It's not refundable, they will take off your first purchase. Also, they would like for you to send the $37 in either check or money order, red flag! Furthermore, where is all the legal jargon that is required to be included by law that spells out all the legalities, fees and other rules. The letter says it will be included later.

Exactly, what does it mean by the guarantee is "valid exclusively towards all credit purchases from credit providers"? Isn't Wal Mart, Sears, Target and the many other such retailers and services providers, credit providers? Working hard here to make you feel that this is a credit card in my opinion.

I seriously recommend the reading in it's entirety, of the small print disclaimer just above the dotted line. There you will see how they have backed away and removed themselves from all the major credit card companies that are legitimate.

Good luck if you have fallen pray to this scam!

Let me illustrate how this scam is currently working since I just got my first letter. This is how they find victims that are receptive for credit offers:

Post a job like this to craigslist (this is the one I replied to myself, not sure how long the link will be active as you can always find it through google cache search)

http://worcester.craigslist.org/mar/2290624251.html

You then receive a notice that the employer forwarded your application to a service that verifies and processes your information. The service looks real and has you fill out dynamic forms, most importantly your address. Then they will tell you that you need to do a credit report as the job has financial sensitivities.

IMPORTANT: They will not ask for your credit report, they only ask for the score you get back as that will complete the application.

They benefit in two ways. First, they receive an affiliate fee for the referral in having you fill out the "free credit score" membership application. Secondly, they now have an idea how you will respond to the "Union Workers Credit" letter by sending within 2 days of your application.

I only figured out the scam AFTER I gave my address but BEFORE I did the credit app realizing there was no possible need for this employer. The best defense is to report this to any agency, state or federal and ISP provider that allows the site to exist. The FTC, State Attorney General and Consumer Protection groups love to sink their teeth into these issues. Here is where the site is actually originating from:

IP address - 65.174.179.211
?????????, ??????????, ?????? ? ?????????? ??? ???**

Here is all of their info:
http://whois.domaintools.com/65.174.179.211

Here you can see there are several businesses under the same IP and Sprint cannot do anything unless a court order is involved.
Please call/email the BBB and your state AG as that is the only way to get action. It is great to have 2 years worth of people sharing their experience here but it is much better to have 50 people call and email these agencies and disrupt the fraud...

Okay, it's getting an F with the BBB.  So yes I would say it's a scam.  I'm so sorry that you were exposed to that.  Hope everything worked out okay.  I got one in the mail today and became suspicious.  I'm so glad that I was able to find out that it truely is a scam.  Thank you for sharing your experience.

Sorry bout that.  I too was trying to make sure it was not a rip off and when I searched, all kinds of reports came up saying the exact same thing you said.  I just couldn't believe ALL the reports.  I rebutted them all and ran across your after about the 20th time.  Again, sorry, by the time I got to yours I was just frustrated.  I was looking to find something about fraud or actually being ripped off so that I wouldn't make the same mistake.  But all I found was unfounded accusations.  My bad. :)

You have the letter that was sent out four years ago?  Pay attention to the date of the post before you get so up in arms.

It NEVER said it was offering you a major credit card.  It plainly states that the line of credit is to be used for merchandised in their (Union Workers Credit Services) catalogue on the letter its self.  It says in no uncertain terms that it is NOT affiliated with any major credit card companies or banks.  I am looking at the letter right now.  Did you seriously think a credit card company was offering you a line of credit of $10,000.00? You should make it a rule of thumb to read anything asking you to send them money for anything.   And filing comsumer reports of ripoffs when none have occured make sites like these unnecessary.  Please be more careful in the future.

I tried to upload the scanned copy of the letter in case you have thrown yours away but for some reason I was unable to on this site.

The letter states that you will be given a line of credit to purchase items in their catalogue.  It states that the credit "card" is not to be used anywhere else.  So what is the complaint? Is it that you got a paper card instead of a plastic card?  Is the line of credit extended or not? I just don't get it. Did you think you were getting a Visa or something? Because it plainly states that it is not.  The line of credit it to be used only for their catalogue items.