Potential Phone Scam - Trying To Get Your Identity?

[sd123]

I just received a strange call from 866-656-8182 stating that I had won a $1000 shopping spree that would be delivered to my door via UPS in 7-10 days and that they just needed to verify my information. The gentleman also told me his first name and gave me his employee ID.

The person on the phone read me my address and then asked me if I had been involved in any bankruptcies or collections in the past 6 months. When I said no I hadn't, they then asked what bank I did my banking with which I unfortunately told them.

They then asked me to confirm the numbers at the bottom of my check to help confirm my identity for the shopping spree and proceeded to read bank routing numbers. When I refused to share that info, they proceeded to read more routing numbers and asked if any of those numbers matched. I again said no and started asking them questions.

They said the name of the company was RTS (Regional Travel Services) which I could not find on the internet and that their phone number was 1-800-625-9202. I asked if they had a website and they said it was under construction and would be up and running the next day but he couldn't give me the address. I also called the phone number when I got off the phone and it just rang and rang. I searched the internet for the name of their company and found no results either.

They said they have been in business for 10 years and were celebrating their 10 year anniversary by giving away $1000 shopping spree to 10 people in San Diego which I found completely unbelievable because I could hear a lot of noise in the background like they had a room of people making calls. As I continued to ask questions it became very apparent that something just wasn't right. He wanted the last 4 digits of of SSN and continued to read routing numbers. I finallly told him I was hanging up and wasn't interested.

I believe now that it was an attempt at identity theft because of the question regarding bankruptcy. They obviously want people that have decent credit. I don't know who to report this too and found this website and thought it would be good to get it out there in case it really is a scam and people should be cautioned.

[aaron]

These people are probably hitting a wide range of consumers with this scam - I suggest you make a police report (using the non-emergency numbers), providing the information they gave you. If you have additional information from caller ID, that could be useful to the authorities as well.

[sd123]

Thanks Aaron...good advice. I did try but the police said I couldn't file a report unless I had experienced identity theft..ie: until the crime is committed...nothing to report.

I did try to check the Better Business Bureau and couldn't seem to find a link there to report a potential scam.

Do you know of any website or authority to report a potential phone scam that could be investigated to shut these people off from calling if they are in fact doing it for fraud sake.

I'm just concerned because their rhetoric was pretty convincing at first. I think 4-5 yrs ago I could have gotten duped...thank goodness I've been educated (thru online credit checking and home loan app process...) enough to avoid such a scam. I'm very concerned that others could be hurt by this and I want to do my part to shut this down when I see it happen.

Thanks again - like the website...was very helpful and found info on other subjects that were very informative. I bookmarked this site!

[aaron]

Perhaps the consumer protection division of the State attorney general's office can assist.

[allie1986]

hey the same exact thing happened to me. gave me the same phone number and gave me an id number and told me to be sure to have it ready. i had a fradulent check go through my bank account today and i knew it was linked back to that phone call somehow. i am unsure of what to do, and how to go about getting ahold of someone who can help me... i live in the houston,tx area

[DjarumNTX]

The same people called me today but they said the business was RTS (Royal Travel Services) and their phone number came up as "Unknown" on my cell phone caller ID. But they did give me the same 800 number. I told them that I didn't have my account info here at work & they said they'd call back tomorrow morning for it.

Try the Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov) and The Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.com). Also, www.fraud.org has an online reporting form for reporting possible scams and the NFIC (National Fraud Information Center) has a toll-free fraud hotline (800) 876-7060 but it’s been busy every time I’ve tried calling it…

Also this consumer alert from the Attorney General of Texas web site (It's similar in that they wanted $3.95 and bank routing & account numbers - He actually wanted all my account numbers):

"Gas Coupons" an Excuse to Get Bank Account Numbers
Monday, June 21, 2004
Our office has recently heard that telemarketers are calling households in Texas offering $200 worth of gas coupons for $3.95. Reportedly, the caller is very slick and convincing, with smooth answers to every possible question. The key is, he wants the consumer's bank account number so he can receive payment directly from the account.

We cannot say it enough: consumers should NEVER give out their personal identifying information or financial information to anyone they do not know. Be suspicious of anyone who calls you and then asks for that kind of information. Don't be pressured. Don't be tempted by grand offers. And don't be fooled by a caller who has all the logical answers.

They called you. You didn't call them. You do not know who they are. Be safe: HANG UP!!!

[baker7828]

For more than a month I had been receiving calls from 866-656-8181 and 866-656-8182 for more than a month. They either would hang up on the person answering the phone or not leave a message on voice mail. I started calling the number back and would get a "customer care" message telling me to have my ID number ready and to call during 9-6 p.m. Mountain time. Does not matter what time you call them, you will never get an answer. It is without a doubt some sort of attempt to obtain information and/or confirm information. Call blocking is available from your phone service provider to stop the anoying calls. Caller ID is also very useful in deciding if you want to answer the call. The 866 is a dead giveaway that it is some kind of telemarketing scam.

[zuckafree]

I got the same call from RTS, only they said they were RCS, out of Salt Lake City, the woman's name was Sandra Mathews, she had a really heavy indian accent. She called me at 9:57 pm on Saturday night, and when i told her she was in violation of the law, she replied that her company had tried to reach me during normal business hours and failed, thats why she called so late. I filed a complaint with the FTC.

[marie3]

"regional travel services" called my roommate this afternoon and she gave them check routing numbers, etc. what happened after the fraudulent check? we're trying to figure out what we should do.

[arabinow]

i just wanted to say thank you to all those that posted here. i got the call today (10/26/05) and didn't give them any information, wanting to check them out first (too good to be true syndrome). when i asked if i could call them back he (craig) got all flustered, saying he couldn't give me a number or what not. anyway, thank you. now i know not to give them anything.