Scam or business ploy ?

[uncle Alan]

Took a call from Boston Bank claiming to be part of Chase Visa . Guy wasn't caucasian,mumbled . Pushed operator & got a lady who asked me my Visa #. I refused but offered the last 4 digits & last 4 of my ss# . Nope, had to have it all. The waiting music was identical to Visas. Not having just fallen off the turnip truck, I told'em to take a hike.


Called Chase & reported the attempted cam. They denied knowing that bank,apologized for the intrusion & praised my alertness . Sure,sweetie !


Lady said they had a universal scam coverage that encompassed all credit cards plus both my bank accounts for only $7.99 per month. I'm very interested in it.

Do you think I've been conned ?


Happy Birthdat to Ken & Timscaw. !

Uncle Alan

 

[Triton]

Do I think you've been conned? Not yet, but you would have if you had given those yahoos your credit card number.

As for the "universal scam coverage" any decent credit card should have a very small personal liability (like say 25 bucks) if someone jacks your number and starts using it to buy gourmet coffee and sign up for dating sites.

The bank account thing is a bit more tricky, NEVER give anyone your bank account number.

 

[timcsaw]

Took a call from Boston Bank claiming to be part of Chase Visa . Guy wasn't caucasian,mumbled . Pushed operator & got a lady who asked me my Visa #. I refused but offered the last 4 digits & last 4 of my ss# . Nope, had to have it all. The waiting music was identical to Visas. Not having just fallen off the turnip truck, I told'em to take a hike.


Called Chase & reported the attempted cam. They denied knowing that bank,apologized for the intrusion & praised my alertness . Sure,sweetie !


Lady said they had a universal scam coverage that encompassed all credit cards plus both my bank accounts for only $7.99 per month. I'm very interested in it.

Do you think I've been conned ?


Happy Birthdat to Ken & Timscaw. !

Uncle Alan

Thanks for the well wishes Uncle Alan.

As to the credit card deal... The Mrs. and I noticed two odd charges on our recent credit card bill. Small ones... like $12 and $20 bucks. Thing was, neither of us charged them (one was at a casino, another in Oregon). Nothing we charged.

We called the card company to report the odd charges, and the girl offered us the same kind of "universal scam coverage" that you were offered. She said she was going to transfer us to their scam/security guru's and that those folks would talk to us about the scam coverage.

The scam guru, asked a few questions about the charges, we convinced him they were not our charges, and he arranged to immediately close the card so it couldn't be used any more. He then told us to cut up our cards and we did. We expect new cards in the mail shortly.

The scam guru never offered us the scam protection. If he had, I would have refused. They took care of my security issue for *free so why would I pay $7.99 a month for something it seemed to me that they do for free.

Of course, if the charges had been for hundreds, or thousands of dollars, MY security issue might not have been as easily resolved. Perhaps THAT is the sort of situation where their "protection" would be valuable... I don't know.

Perhaps someone else who DOES have the scam protection has had an experience and found it valuable.

If so, I'd be interested to hear their story.

 

[MORIMOTOM]

i dont think its a scam, but like any insurance, it feels that way until we need it.


when renting cars i was told by a friend who worked for the company never to buy the insurance they offered. well, he worked there, so i figured he knew what he was talking about.

after about perhaps 10 rentals, i was driving on the freeway and had a blowout. it was the sidewall, so i argued the tire was defective, but really it was impossible to tell what had caused it. ended up costing me $125.00.

now i always get the insurance. one of these days im going to crash a car in to a wall and turn it in.

 

[Triton]

i dont think its a scam, but like any insurance, it feels that way until we need it.


when renting cars i was told by a friend who worked for the company never to buy the insurance they offered. well, he worked there, so i figured he knew what he was talking about.

after about perhaps 10 rentals, i was driving on the freeway and had a blowout. it was the sidewall, so i argued the tire was defective, but really it was impossible to tell what had caused it. ended up costing me $125.00.

now i always get the insurance. one of these days im going to crash a car in to a wall and turn it in.

The credit card that you used to rent the car typically will have insurance that covers that sort of thing as would your regular car insurance policy typically. If you were on business travel your company also probably has insurance. I can't speak to your particular case but that's probably why your friend gave you the advice that he did.

 

[MORIMOTOM]

my deductable exceeds the cost of the tire, and i didnt think of using the credit card ins.

although it is an atm visa, not really a credit card.

 

[Triton]

my deductable exceeds the cost of the tire, and i didnt think of using the credit card ins.

although it is an atm visa, not really a credit card.

Yeah, like I said in your particular case you might have been better off had you purchased the insurance but for the most part your buddy gave you sound advice.

 

[MORIMOTOM]

Yeah, like I said in your particular case you might have been better off had you purchased the insurance but for the most part your buddy gave you sound advice.

under most circumstances, im sure you're correct. :thumbup:

but after my experience, i just find it easier to buy the ins and not have to deal with the hassle of filing a claim elsewhere.

an extra $20 added to the total cost of the rental isn't going to kill me.