Bay Area Business Counsel Credit Card Fraud
This past Monday I received a call from Bay Area Business Counsel promising am imsecired Master Card. The operator identified herself as Erica Bences operator ID#1019. They said they were the Florida's Bay Area Business Counsel.
I was told that for @ $169 I could receive an unsecured Master card with a credit of $2,000.00 with 0% rate and @ $14.00 for UPS shipping bring the exact amount to $184.90 from a my checking account to be deducted next week Thursday and my card would be mailed in 2 to 4 weeks. When I asked how they afford to do this I was told that they make their money up-front with the fee. I asked where they got my name and was told from Equifax. They get names from Equifax of people who have tried to apply for credit within the past year and their mission is to help people rebuild their credit. That certainly sounds like my situation so I went ahead and applied over the telephone. The reason for next Thursday instead of right away was because I told them that I did not have the money. I was then transferred to another operator who took the information and listened to a recording informing me of a $10.00 monthly fee. I was given the website of www.bayareabusinesscounsel.com to check their validity along with phone 800-339-1392 and an ID#02727459.
After the ordeal I realize they did not ask me for financial ability to repay nor my date of birth but they did ask for my social security number as well as my bank account information. I did not feel right about it. I decided to check out their website. I was not surprise to see that it does not exist. The phone is either busy or has a message that tells you to press 1 to be connected to an operator but when you do so you get disconnected. There is no way to get in touch with them.
I am absolutely certain that this is a scam and beg for your help to prevent the withdrawal of $184.90 from my checking account this coming Thursday.
Since I knew I had time to check them out before the withdrawal date, I did alter one digit when giving them my checking account information and wonder if they can still get it.
I certainly will go to my banck but I am wondering if they can mess up my credit or try to get to my account some kind of way.
Please help and thank you so much for what you have already done to help and continue to do to help others.
Sincerely,
Marie L. F.
Brooklyn, New York