I got a letter from "better homes and gardens" that said i was entered into some sweepstakes. so i called the # on there, and they said they were gonna send me 2 free diamond watches and a few magazines and if i didnt like them i could cancel my subscription and still keep the watches. they were gonna charge me $1. something/week. only the watches and an electronic organizer were free. they didnt ask for my credit card # but they did ask for the expiration date. thats when i decided to tell them id rather not subscribe to anything. but then he said they might send me the free stuff anyway, just for calling in. they had my name, address, and phone #. what do you think?
2006-10-23 17:26:30 · 16 answers · asked by ? 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
It's probably legit, but I still think you did the absolutely right thing.
Once these subscription guys get their hooks into you, it's really hard to get back out. My policy is that if I want a magazine, or a CD, or a DVD movie, I can go to the store, & get what I want, & come out ahead in the long run.
They undoubtedly got your name & address from your CC company minus the expiration date. I would contact the CC company, & tell them that you don't want them to distribute your personal information ever again, to anybody.
If their not the ones who gave out your personal info, then it's possible it got out via the internet. You may have filled out something on a webite somewhere. possibly making a purchase & the guys administrating the website sold your personal info.
Some programmes on your computer, such as Explorer 7 have an "Auto Fill" feature, that fills in all of your personal info on webites, & sometimes it's possible it can go out without your knowlege, or more info can go out than you intended.
You mighty want to turn off that feature if you have it.
2006-10-23 17:44:46 · answer #1 · answered by No More 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was either a scam and they got your CC card number somewhere and just needed the expirey, or it was jsut a rip-off in that $1 week is $52 a year for a magazine subscription that is currently offering three years for only $14. The watches are probably cheap promo crap, even if they have some token diamond flakes.
2006-10-23 17:34:28 · answer #2 · answered by 'Ric 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think there are a lot of possibilities. First of all, the stuff they are sending you for free is probably worth about what you're paying.
The phone solicitor may be on commission and sending you the free stuff looks like he closed a sale.
On the other hand, they may already have your credit card information from someplace and just needed you to tell them something like the expiration date to have the appearance of consent to charge the subscriptions.
Just monitor your statements extra carefully. You can challenge fraud and it won't cost you anything if you're prompt in reporting it.
2006-10-23 18:04:35 · answer #3 · answered by open4one 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not a scam, per say. Their goal is to sell you subscriptons to various mags and clubs at a high profit margin. The "free stuff" they offer is not really that great, nor is it really "free," as it will take months of trying to finally get those subscriptions cancelled.
2006-10-23 19:03:24 · answer #4 · answered by big_bookworm 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sound like the same thing Readers Digest tried on me, sent me a free sample and then billed me, i wrote back, then i got a subscription renewal a few weeks later, they call it promotions, I call a scam
2006-10-23 17:33:16 · answer #5 · answered by blue_eyed_southernman 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When it is too good to be true, it usually is. How much is the magazine subscription costing...do you have a written contract?
2006-10-23 17:35:24 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't necessarily call it a scam but it cetainly is a way to try to get you to buy something.
2006-10-23 17:31:07 · answer #7 · answered by Jack1234 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes.
2006-10-23 17:50:58 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no scam they just want you to buy magazines and they weren't real diamond--it's probably glass
2006-10-24 05:13:25 · answer #9 · answered by Happy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As long as you didn't give any credit info then u r alright.
2006-10-23 17:35:28 · answer #10 · answered by Me 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋