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Predicto.com PredictoMobile Predicto mobile phone "game" scam! Nationwide
I, too, was a victim of Predicto.com. After seeing "spam" text messages on my phone, I checked my bill. In addition to the unsolicited text messages, there was a "mobile purchase" charge for $9.99 from Predicto.com on 7/7/2008. I called their customer service line to inquire about the charge and refute it. They said they could "prove" that I signed up by replying "yes" to the text message. First of all, my cell phone bill showed no outgoing text messages (I don't even have text messaging) on my phone for 7/7. It did show 4 incoming text messages, all at 11:43am on 7/7, but they showed coming from my own cell phone number. (Not sure how that's possible.) Furthermore, I was in the hospital that day! My cell phone was turned off and remained in my purse all day (cell phone use is strictly prohibited in hospitals). I am single / no kids, so no one else could have used my phone. When I explained this to the customer service rep, she changed her story and said I had signed up through some survey website (that I had never heard of). This is also a lie, because I was IN THE HOSPITAL that day! Of course, she refused to issue a refund. I have filed complaints with the BBB and the FCC. Because so many people have fallen victim to this fraudulent company, I would like to speak with an attorney about filing a class action law suit!!!
Leeann
Fort Mill, South Carolina
U.S.A.
5 Updates & Rebuttals
Predicto Customer Service
New York,New York,
United States of America
Customer Service
#6UPDATE Employee
Tue, November 17, 2009
We are sorry to hear about your experience. Please be aware that we at PredictoMobile take customer satisfaction very seriously and would like to address any concerns you may have. You can call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 800-360-0518 so that we can resolve your inquiry; you can also contact our customer service at http://predicto.com/support or by sending an SMS message with the word HELP to 654654. Keep in mind, we post our toll-free customer service number on our website and include it in SMS messages we send to your cell phone.
Please note we use an industry best practice double opt-in to prevent inadvertent or fraudulent sign-ups. To enroll in our service, a prospective member must first submit their cell phone number on the PredictoMobile sign-up page which clearly explains our terms and conditions including the monthly price of the service and billing to the cell phone. We then send a text message to their cell phone which again discloses the essential membership terms. They then must correctly enter the PIN on our website or reply with a confirmation SMS message from their cell phone to activate the account. The double opt-in process and clear disclosures ensures a high level of consumer protection and satisfaction. If a member wants to cancel the service, they can simply text stop to 654654 or call Customer Service or go to http://predicto.com/support.
We hope this addresses any concerns you may have; if not please contact us and well take care of your issues.
Sincerely, C
ustomer Service PredictoMobile
Predicto Customer Service
USACustomer Service is Here to Assist
#6UPDATE Employee
Tue, October 06, 2009
We are sorry to hear about your experience. Please be aware that we at PredictoMobile take customer satisfaction very seriously and would like to address any concerns you may have. You can call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 800-360-0518 so that we can resolve your inquiry; you can also contact our customer service at http://predicto.com/support or by sending an SMS message with the word HELP to 654654. Keep in mind, we post our toll-free customer service number on our website and include it in SMS messages we send to your cell phone.
Please note we use an industry best practice double opt-in to prevent inadvertent or fraudulent sign-ups. To enroll in our service, a prospective member must first submit their cell phone number on the PredictoMobile sign-up page which clearly explains our terms and conditions including the monthly price of the service and billing to the cell phone. We then send a text message to their cell phone which again discloses the essential membership terms. They then must correctly enter the PIN on our website or reply with a confirmation SMS message from their cell phone to activate the account. The double opt-in process and clear disclosures ensures a high level of consumer protection and satisfaction. If a member wants to cancel the service, they can simply text stop to 654654 or call Customer Service or go to http://predicto.com/support.
We hope this addresses any concerns you may have; if not please contact us and well take care of your issues.
Sincerely,
Customer Service
PredictoMobile
john_SanFrancisco
SANTA CLARA,California,
USA
NextWeb Media, Predicto Lawsuit
#6Consumer Comment
Sun, October 04, 2009
Sorry to answer so late, I just get hit by the same NextWeb Media and co scam. I did some researches.
The company that owns Predicto is NextWeb Media. 2 Lawsuits are filed:
First Law suit is the basic "cramming" or unauthorized cell phone charge fraud that affected you and me, actually they try to get class action certification:
Gantchev et al v. Predicto Mobile, LLC et al 1:2009cv02349.
It is in Federal Court, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division.
Plaintiffs Counsel is:
KAMBER EDELSON LLC
350 N. LaSalle St., Ste. 1300
Chicago, IL 60654 Ph: (312) 589-6370
The other is a class action since 09/18/2009, NextWeb Media/Predicto used expired cell phones contracts (because the cell phone number changed owner) to bill new cell phone number subscriber: see court document at http://www.courthousenews.com/2009/09/18/Alltel2.pdf
NextWeb Media and all other scam companies CEO and President were already involved in previous lawsuits for "cramming" (unauthorized billing scam).
Here are their pedigrees:
"Eyal Yezchekell is NextWeb Media CEO and Itai Kathein is NextWeb Media President. NextMedia Media owns Predicto.com and other scam websites.
Yezchekell and Kathein were respectively CEO and President of EDN (Email Discount Network) which was previously involved in previous unauthorized cell phone scams whih affected hundreds thousand of subscribers in different states (Florida, Georgia, Washington).
See Washington State Office settlement agreement (EDN) http://www.atg.wa.gov/pressrelease.aspx?id=14424
See Georgia Settlements (EDN) http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/settlements/07712/unauthorized-cramming.html#
See Georgia Subscriber Refunds http://www.georgia.gov/00/article/0,2086,5426814_5684686_80061913,00.html
See State of Florida complaint: http://myfloridalegal.com/webfiles.nsf/WF/JFAO-6U3MJB/$file/EDNComplaint.pdf "
In June 2006, 200,000 subscribers were enrolled in Florida base on $1000 Worth Online Coupons!... displayed on EDNs webpage. The displayed delay for cancellation to the subscription was 30 days (30 days risk free), it was 3 days in reality: see section 29 page 4 of State of Florida Complaint above.
According to consumers contacted by the Attorney General, EDN, KATHEIN and YEZCHEKELL charged many consumers who had never visited EDN web pages and who, in some instances, did not even own computers. (page 9 section 65 of State of Florida complaint).
In every cases, financial settlements allowed them to end the suits and to keep "cramming" using new company names.
They turned the scam into a multi million dollars business, adding new sophistication like phishing and extending their influence through social networking websites.
After some research I found that you can report to FBI cyber crime division at https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx, to Better Business Bureau, your State General Attorney, and the FTC. It may take some times (2 to 3 monthes) because there are lots of complaints.
Jeremy
Pembroke Pines,Florida,
U.S.A.
Predicto is a BOGUS company
#6Consumer Comment
Wed, October 01, 2008
I would also like to join in a class action lawsuit against Predicto.com. They have refused to refund $9.99 charge and simply state that I voluntarily went on website and entered a code to join predicto. NOT TRUE AND I HAVE NEVER AND WILL NEVER SIGN UP FOR ANY TEXT COMPANY SERVICES. Supposedly they are sending me a refund by mail, but I find that hard to believe. Please contact me if and when you file a class action lawsuit. I don't want other people being taken advantage of like I was.
Customer Care
New York,New York,
U.S.A.
Customer Care
#6UPDATE Employee
Tue, August 05, 2008
We are happy to answer any questions or address any concerns you may have regarding Predicto. You can call our Customer Care at 800-360-0518.