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Report: #326101

Complaint Review: Blue Whale Publications - Fort Lauderdale Florida

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  • Reported By: Beach Park Illinois
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  • Blue Whale Publications 6440 Nw 5th Way Fort Lauderdale, Florida U.S.A.

Blue Whale Publications how they fooled me into this scam and laughed at the end of it all Fort Lauderdale Florida

*Consumer Comment: More Information

*Consumer Suggestion: customer service will not work

*Consumer Suggestion: Jose call the customer # tomorrow

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I got a call today from an out of area phone number and because some of my bosses work in other area codes, I answered it.

A young man named "Dwayne" said that because I had a Mastercard debit card, I was named a premium customer because I used it so much and have been awarded a 1000 dollar online shopping spree.

I was taken back a bit for a moment but thought, "Hey he knew right off the bat that I had a mastercard debit card AND my phone number that I had previously changed, then he must be legit".

He started to congratulate me on my win and said that I would be recieving something in the mail in 3 -5 business days with a password to a website that would allow me to begin my shopping spree.

He said as a bonus, I could pick from a list of magazines to recieve for a price of 3 dollars a week. I thought to myself that I could do that, considering that I do have subscriptions to various magazines.

He told me that before they could process anything, the publishing company needed my credit card number to verify that I would be able to pay for the magazines. I told him I was not comfortable giving my information over the phone.

This smooth talking snake had the perfect answer and told me that I was protected by mastercard and if anything appeared wrong or suspicious on my card, that I could notify mastercard and they would take care of it for me. He also told be a bunch of crap about that I was guaranteed against fraud.

Because he had my full name, my full adress and NEW number, I believed he really did work for a legit company so like a fool, I gave him my CC number. What struck me as odd is that he asked for the security code on the back. I have done online shopping before and the security code is the WHOLE SECURITY feature on the card. With that, any one can use it.

I, again was a fool, and gave it to him. He then told me I was going to talk to his supervisor "John" and to put in a good word for him because it was his first week. It sounded like he just handed to phone over to him because within one second "John" was on the phone.

He congratulated me on my win and told me what wonderful things I could do with the prize money. He assured me that everything was taken down and that I would recieve a letter in the mail. He gave a confirmation code for my order and told me to do one more thing for him. He said "Can you have a good day?". I said yes and wished him the same and while I was going to hang up but heard laughing at the end. I wasn't to comfortable with that.

I right away hopped online and typed in the company name and all these things came up for SCAMS!!!

I got a call not 10 minutes after and another young man said that he was just confirming the information. The area code was totally different from the previous number so I right away made up my mind that I had been scammed. I had told this young man that I didn't want the offer anymore because I was confused on what happened and he, with a rude and sarcastic tone, said that it couldn't be cancelled. I told him that it was a mistake and he wanted me to tell him why it was. I said that I thought that I was scammed and he replied with a "Well then why did you give us your credit card number?". I said that i was going to cancel my card and not pay. He told me it was too late but I said that I was going to make sure that it didn't go throught. He then, with a VERY VERY rude tone, told me that there was no reason for us to be on the phone anymore and hung up.

I called my bank and said my card had been lost and that I had been notified that a 49.00 dollar transaction was made and that it was a mistake.

They said that it was cancelled and my card was no longer active. I asked what would happen with the money that was taken, and they said that the card company and bank would make sure i got it back.

I was never told once that I was being recorded for quality reasons or anything like that. If they do have me recorded, it's to my knowledge that they must inform you of it.

I never said yes, I agree or promised anything. All I did was answer they're questions.

I have never been scammed before in my life, and for these people to call me with all my information and fool me with it, its very scary.

HOW DID THEY OBTAIN THIS INFORMATION? And why are they still allowed to run this kind of "business"?

I am just waiting now for a response from my bank but will not open the letter Blue Whale sends me, if they even send anything. I will return to sender because as far as I'm concerned, I don't owe anything that I haven't used.

If anything knows of anything I can do legally, please help me.

Jose
Beach Park, Illinois
U.S.A.

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 04/14/2008 09:44 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/blue-whale-publications/fort-lauderdale-florida-33309/blue-whale-publications-how-they-fooled-me-into-this-scam-and-laughed-at-the-end-of-it-all-326101. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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#3 Consumer Comment

More Information

AUTHOR: Ronnie C - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Got the same thing, did not buy the mag. the guy got upset, and hung up on me. There is another phone number (954) 229-3113. If you can try to rember what the salemans name is.

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#2 Consumer Suggestion

customer service will not work

AUTHOR: Oakland - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Wednesday, July 16, 2008

I am sorry you and everyone else had to be victimized by this company. Sadly, speaking to customer service is a wasted effort. When you try to cancel, they will say you cannot. In Illinois, a contract has to be in writing. It is not to say a verbal agreement cannot be enforced, but it most cases it is not. Not knowing the laws in Florida where this company has its location,they also have a customer service office in Peoria, Illinois. Conveniently they are not listed under #411. Their mail is sent out as Customer Care, and it also is not listed. This may be because on some of their invoices it will display "Peoria Heights or East Peoria," Your best solution, in most cases you may be out the money, however, you need to go to the Florida Better Business Bureau (BBB). Simply type in the search engine Florida Better Business Bureau. Select the South East Office and then select "file complaint," You should have their address and phone number to provide. Fill out your complaint. Explain what you want as a solution. You also need to do the same for Illinois, and also call the Illinois State Attorney Generals Office for a complaint to be mailed to you. I suggest in this complaint you print off othe complaints from a web search of "Blue Whale Publications Magazine Scams. " Print off some of the complaints and send it with your complaint. The Attorney Generals Office will file legal action as "People of the State of Illinois" if there is any actions by this company which violate the consumer laws/ I would also suggets you file one with the Florida Attorney Generals Office. There are laws in which I have been told that regulate recordings. There are certain statements a company has to say including asking your permission. They may have a recording, but if it wasn't done in accordance with the law, it violates the eavesdropping statute in Illinois, but there may be another law that is applicable because the initial contact may have originated in Florida. This may the FTC's (Federal Trade Commision) jurisdiction, but I could be wrong. I had consulted an attorney about the alleged recorded verbal contract. He advised me that it was most likely unenforceable, due to a legal aspect known "unconscionable or unconscionability." The company did not allow customers to ask questions during the time the "Closer" or incorrectly known as a manager comes on the line to close the deal. I looked up case law on previous trials in which this was a normal part of another magazine scam's protocol. Blue Whale also said you may have signed a contract, but they may have never sent one. What I would like too see people do is tell them that they will not pay and call their bluff, and tell them you know about their scam and you are taking that you "filed" a complaint with the Attorney Generals Office. I believe they are cowards. They look for people who will pay and when you tell them your not, it will be interesting what will happen if one does not and refuses to, along with not answering the phone or responding to invoices. Also check the invoice, it may have something to the effect that this is not a contract. Don't quote me, though. I have a hard time believing they will try to go through a collections agency for payment and then through court knowing their actions could be deemed illiegal through their own ignorant revelations. If any company calls on the phone you should never deal with them let alone speak with them. If a company has to use a phone to gain customers, then that in itself should raise a red flag. Why? Well, if you cannot gain customers in your own community, it obviously says alot about the company. In the meantime, file a report with those agencies, because the more compalints they receive, the more likely they will investigate it further. I also suggest you speak with an attorney who will provide you a relatively inexpensive consultation, in order to find out what your rights are and how to get this company to stop calling.billing and harrassing you. So, file with both Illinois and Florida BBB, and also file with the Attorney General Office in Florida and Illinois. I hope this will be of some help, because calling customer service will be a complate waste of time.

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#1 Consumer Suggestion

Jose call the customer # tomorrow

AUTHOR: Cat - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Monday, April 14, 2008

You have your card. Please call the customer nuimber on the back of it and double check it has been closed. Something does not smell right. Your card has been pirated no doubt and this was a set up I saw less than a month ago on a news tv show. I think you need to double check it has been closed. Also, with your card being stolen you are not reponsible for any charges, so do not let the bank try and tell you otherwise! Then....

Call ALL 3 credit reporting agencies and put a fraud report immediatly on your report. This will put them on high alert that it was stolen and possibly used. Check out the following info. I hope it helps. Cat

Equifax
P.O. Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30374
(800)-685-1111
Web site: www.equifax.com

Experian
PO Box 2002
Allen, TX 75013
(888) 397-3742
Web site: www.experian.com

TransUnion LLC
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19022
(800) 888-4213
Web site: www.transunion.com

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