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SCAM ALERT: Companies “selling” credit are bad news
June 4, 2007 | Leave a Comment
I’ve just learned of a new identity theft scam where a company or individual offers to sell you positive credit…the pitch goes something like this:
We help people build credit by including them as a co-signer or co-buyer on an account that we pay off each month. With our service, your credit report will show you have a credit card in good standing with a large limit and your credit score will improve. All we need is your personal information (name, address, phone, ss#, birth date, etc.) and a cashier’s check or money order and we can get started…
Even worse, they’ll offer you a signed contract or guarantee that the debt will be repaid, just so you know that you can trust them.
UNBELIEVABLE! This is terrible. Let me put it another way…you give them your life’s information, and they’ll use it to get a credit card, etc., in your name, and they PROMISE they’ll pay it back. They’ll even give you a contract to that effect.
This is a scam.
- 1. The contract they give you is worthless. Can’t be enforced because what you’re agreeing to is illegal.
- 2. They will sell your identity info to illegal immigrants to help them get IDs, as well as criminal enterprises that file false medicare, medicaid, and welfare claims.
- 3. You are asked to do something that is against the law, and you can be prosecuted in states with tough identity theft laws. Even if a company is “legit”, it’s still a bad idea.
Stay away! Anytime someone needs your personal information, you should be cautious. If you are approached by anyone offering to “sell” you good credit, turn them down and report them to local authorities immediately.
Also, please list the names of any scammers in your comments and file an FTC Complaint against them. Let’s work together to put these people out of business.
KNOWN SCAMMERS:
Williams Financial Group aka “tradlinesrus.com”
United Family Services and USA Membership Services
Total Resources, Inc.
