Complaint Review: Apex

I received a phone call on my cell phone of all places. I thought that you were protected from solicitors on your cell phone because you can get charged for incoming calls. I guess not. Someone named Alicia with a foreign accent said that I had won a vacation and a digital camera, and they would send it to me. All I would have to do is pay $1.95 for shipping. She said that they would send me the package and I would have 10 days to send them a check for the amount. Then she tries to verify that I am a U.S. citizen. She already had my address, phone number (obviously) and my name. She wanted to know what the bank name was that I would be sending a check from and my checking account number. Thank God that I did not give her the information. I was at the grocery store at the time, and told her I did not have that information with me. If they are sending me something for free, and I have 10 days to send a check, why would they need my account information? Besides, having my name, address, phone number, etc. should verify my residency in the US. Having a bank account here would not do that. She seemed very nice, though hard to understand, and commented that I sounded like a nice person and asked about my child making noises in the background. I just do not understand how people can act so nice to you, pretend to be concerned about your welfare, while intended to steal from you. Especially around the holidays. If I had been confused enough to give her my information, especially anticipating a digital camera and a vacation, they really wouldn't get that much! I believe there should be harsher punishments for people like this. I don't think it is much different that robbing a store, or a bank, or stealing your wallet or purse. They should not only have to pay damages to their victims, but serve jail time also. It's still robbery, no matter how you look at it.

Urainah
Pell City, Alabama
U.S.A.