Complaint Review: Star Communication - Premier Benefits - 6433 Canyon Blvd Internet

I've received 4 phone calls recently from star communications llc. First I hung up. Second I asked for a company name and then hung up. Third call I mentioned that and a rep had previously called and requested to NOT call this number again. I was starting to get pissed off and iniated a search on the internet when...as you probably have already surmised a 4th call came through.

I'm not in the unfortunate position that others apparently have found themselves in by relaying bank info, but these calls are so e'fing annoying that I decided to post what little info I could dig up. I hope it helps.

The star communications internet site is registered through GoDaddy, using GoDaddy's register by anonymous proxy service. That in itself is no big deal, as anonymous proxy registers in concept are meant among other things to hide ICANN registrant info from script bots looking for email addresses to spam. However, given the phone calls and the other info to follow, it is blatantly apparent that star comm. is using this service in an attempt to cover their tracks.

starcommunicationsllc.com is on a web server with the ip address of 66.209.66.153. What I'm posting now is all publically available information.

Website Title: Star Communications, LLC

Response Code: 206

SSL Cert: www.boilfrog.com SSL is expired!

Alexa Trend/Rank: The lower the rank the better. 2,517,793 (1 Month) 4,480,780 (3 Month)

Website Status: Active

Reverse IP: Web server hosts 29 websites (reverse ip tool requires free login)

Server Type: Apache/1.3.27 (Unix) (Red-Hat/Linux) mod_fastcgi/2.2.12 mod_jk/1.2.0 mod_perl/1.26 PHP/4.3.3 FrontPage/5.0.2 mod_ssl/2.8.12 OpenSSL/0.9.6b

(Spry.com also uses Apache)

IP Address: 66.209.66.153 (ARIN & RIPE IP search)

IP Location: - Nevada - North Las Vegas - Boilfrog

Blacklist Status: Clear

Whois History: 3 records stored

Oldest: 2005-11-14

Newest: 2006-01-21

Record Type: Domain Name

Monitor: Monitor or Backorder

Wildcard search: 'starcommunicationsllc' or 'star communications llc' in all domains.

Other TLDs:

.com .net .org .info .biz .us

X [5 available domains]

Name Server: NS1.BOILFROG.COM NS2.BOILFROG.COM

ICANN Registrar: GO DADDY SOFTWARE, INC.

Created: 09-mar-2005

Expires: 09-mar-2006

Status: REGISTRAR-LOCK

Registrant:

Domains by Proxy, Inc.

DomainsByProxy.com

15111 N. Hayden Rd., Ste 160, PMB 353

Scottsdale, Arizona 85260

United States

Registered through: GoDaddy.com

Domain Name: STARCOMMUNICATIONSLLC.COM

Created on: 09-Mar-05

Expires on: 09-Mar-06

Last Updated on: 09-Mar-05

Administrative Contact:

Private, Registration [email protected]

Domains by Proxy, Inc.

DomainsByProxy.com

15111 N. Hayden Rd., Ste 160, PMB 353

Scottsdale, Arizona 85260

United States

(480) 624-2599

Technical Contact:

Private, Registration [email protected]

Domains by Proxy, Inc.

DomainsByProxy.com

15111 N. Hayden Rd., Ste 160, PMB 353

Scottsdale, Arizona 85260

United States

(480) 624-2599

Domain servers in listed order:

NS1.BOILFROG.COM

NS2.BOILFROG.COM

You might try contacting domainsbyproxy as they are the actual company that provides the anonymous register service for GoDaddy. In simple terms, use of their service is NOT meant be a cover for abusive activitis including email spam, fraud, etc. I'm not sure if phone telemarketing is included, but since star commun. is utilizing ACH (automated clearing house) transactions you might be able to complain to DomainsByProxy.

The actual website is hosted by boilfrog.com

My guess is that boilfrog is a reseller of webhosting services, and does not own an actual server datacenter. Assuming that boilfrog only hosts star comm.'s webpages and is legit, contacting them and explaining the fraud going on with star comm. should get the site/server shut down and star comm.'s account terminated.

What interested me, however, was the 29 (29 domains found on 66.209.66.153 line in the registrant info) other sites that are on that server. If you perform a reverse-dns on the ip address, you can get a list of EVERY SINGLE site also on that server.

For free you get a limited number of listings, so I was only able to obtain 3. They included:

www.Busquelaestrella.com

www.Calloneunlimited.com

www.Clevercreativ.com

The first brings up a webpage that has yet to be developed, and the third I haven't checked yet.

Calloneunlimited, however, brought up a sh#t load of stuff.

One news story:

http://www.krdotv.com/displaystory.asp?id=5776

And of particular interest is this notice by the Vermont Attorney General's office.

http://www.atg.state.vt.us/display.php?smod=63&pubsec=4&curdoc=1033

Registrant info for call-one (premier) is still publically available : )

Website Title: Call-One Unlimited Communications

Response Code: 200

SSL Cert: www.boilfrog.com SSL is expired!

Alexa Trend/Rank: Not Ranked

Website Status: Active

Reverse IP: Web server hosts 29 websites (reverse ip tool requires free login)

Server Type: Apache/1.3.27 (Unix) (Red-Hat/Linux) mod_fastcgi/2.2.12 mod_jk/1.2.0 mod_perl/1.26 PHP/4.3.3 FrontPage/5.0.2 mod_ssl/2.8.12 OpenSSL/0.9.6b

(Spry.com also uses Apache)

IP Address: 66.209.66.153 (ARIN & RIPE IP search)

IP Location: - Nevada - North Las Vegas - Boilfrog

Blacklist Status: Clear

Whois History: 2 records stored

Oldest: 2005-05-04

Newest: 2006-01-21

Record Type: Domain Name

Monitor: Monitor or Backorder

Wildcard search: 'calloneunlimited' or 'call one unlimited' in all domains.

Other TLDs:

.com .net .org .info .biz .us

X [5 available domains]

Name Server: NS1.BOILFROG.COM NS2.BOILFROG.COM

ICANN Registrar: ABACUS AMERICA, INC. DBA NAMES4EVER

Created: 08-jun-2004

Expires: 08-jun-2006

Status: ACTIVE

Registrant:

Premier Benefits (LET9F) [email protected]

Premier Benefits

333 City Blvd West 17th Floor

Orange, CA 92868

United States

Phone: +1 (818)5551212

Administrative Contact:

Premier Benefits (XD9FB) [email protected]

Premier Benefits

333 City Blvd West 17th Floor

Orange, CA 92868

United States

Phone: +1 (818)5551212

Technical Contact:

Premier Benefits (4EKGF) [email protected]

Premier Benefits

333 City Blvd West 17th Floor

Orange, CA 92868

United States

Phone: +1 (818)5551212

Billing Contact:

Premier Benefits (XUFTF) [email protected]

Premier Benefits

333 City Blvd West 17th Floor

Orange, CA 92868

United States

Phone: +1 (818)5551212

Record last updated on 2005-07-04 00:00:00

Record created on 2004-06-08 00:00:00

Record expires on 2006-06-08 00:00:00

Domain servers in listed order:

ns1.boilfrog.com

ns2.boilfrog.com

Registration Service Provider: Boilfrog LLC

+1 (702)2391755

So what does all this mean? To me they set up web sites/companies which ALL RUN THE SAME SCAM. The only thing that changes is the company name when they start running into complaints/legal problems.

If you want, you might look up registrant info for the other sites listed on the star comm.'s webpages.

http://www.thefamilyfunpass.com/

http://www.thedreamvacations.com/

http://www.thehalfpricetv.com/

Sorry if this is getting confusing. What really ticks me off is that despite the VT legal action, the Call-One website is still up, and it's so d**n obvious that Call-One (premier) is essentially Star Communications.... on the same f*cking server, running the same $$ cash giveaway for only a low fee, only to be followed by unauthorized fund withdrawals.

Detailed Star Comm. info was actually posted by another peep on another consumer advocacy site I found. People were also complaining about Star.

The site archive page:

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/consumeractionline/2005/05/scam_alert_phon.html

And the info by the poster Darius:

------------------------

Here's their information, please read on;

(the first bit of info is the name they are registered under then dba document filing number, then date of filing; you'll also find info underconsumer reward network, mega movie club, thats entertainmentand health network company, I only had two hours to research these folks.)

STAR COMMUNICATIONS 0910674 06/13/2000

STAR COMMUNICATIONS 2171429 09/16/2002

STAR COMMUNICATIONS 0357619 02/05/2003

STAR COMMUNICATIONS 2661202 10/15/2004

STAR COMMUNICATIONS 2734340 10/22/2004

STAR COMMUNICATIONS 00 910674 1122680 07/20/2000

STAR COMMUNICATIONS 02 2171429 2416392 10/15/2002

STAR COMMUNICATIONS 03 0357619 1169462 04/24/2003

STAR COMMUNICATIONS 03 0357620 0793449 03/20/2003

STAR COMMUNICATIONS 04 2734340 3133231 12/03/2004

STAR COMMUNICATIONS 2171429 0357620 02/05/2003

STAR COMMUNICATIONS INC 2982020 12/06/2002

STAR COMMUNICATIONS INC 02 2982020 0120359 01/14/2003

STAR COMMUNICATIONS LLC 0982738 04/27/2005

STAR COMMUNICATIONS LLC 1469909 06/22/2005

Consumer Reward Network

6433 Topanga Canyon Blvd. PMB 402

Canoga Park, CA 91303

Contact: Paul Tosi

Phone: (800) 357-7518

Company

Rating

F

Rating Explanation:

The rating the Better Business Bureau assigns a business is determined by our composite score of such factors as its type of business, length of time in business, compliance ...

Full Rating Explanation

Company Profile

DBA: Consumer Reward Network

Other DBAs: Consumer Reward Network

Health Network Unlimited

Auto Gold Consumer Reward

Net Forever

Health Network USA

Mega Movie Club

Fun Pass

Star Communications

Family Fun

Family Fun Pass

Half Price TV

Fantastic Fun

Arch Communications

Mega Movie Club

Consumer Reward Network, Inc.

Address: 6433 Topanga Canyon Blvd. PMB 402

Canoga Park, CA 91303 Other Addresses: 6433 Topanga Canyon Blvd. PMB 402

Canoga Park, CA 91303

P.O. Box 4172

Woodland Hills, CA 91365

P.O. Box 801

Canoga Park, CA 91303

#1023 P.O. box 4172

Woodland Hills, CA 91365

1442 East Lincoln Avenue

Orange, CA 92865

22130 Clarendon Street

Woodland Hills, CA 91367-6307

Primary Phone: (800) 357-7518 Other Phone Numbers: (800) 357-7518

(888) 400-0935

(800) 357-9147

(800) 357-9238

(800) 357-9267

(800) 357-9258

(800) 357-9241

(800) 357-7518

(800) 357-8873

(800) 357-7518

(866) 656-9891

(866) 713-9366

(800) 357-9147

(800) 357-9153

Primary Fax: Other Fax Numbers:

Primary Contact: Paul Tosi

President Other Contacts: Paul Tosi

President

Email:

Richard Clarke

Account Manager

Email:

Email:

Kevin Oliver

Account Manager

Email:

E-Mail Address:

Website: http://www.starcommunicationsllc.com

Other Websites: http://www.starcommunicationsllc.com

Company ID: 100008595

Business Start Date:

BBB Created Record on: 4/15/2005

Nature of Business:

This company's nature of business is providing various gift certificate or membership packages for a fee.

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Bureau Membership

Join Date:

This company is not a member of the Better Business Bureau. This fact does not disparage the company in any way.

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Licensing and Bonding Information

We believe this company is a Discount Buying Service organization and is therefore subject to certain regulations in California. In general, companies subject to these laws must give written notice of a three day right to cancel; they must establish and escrow account out of which refunds must be paid, and they must post a bond. The law also provides for other types of disclosures which are relevant to the program. It does not appear that the company has complied with this law.

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BBB Comments and Analysis

This company makes telephone solicitations offering promotional products and memberships on a trial basis along with coupon packages for gasoline, restaurants, auto services, long distance services or movie passes, as incentives to join their program. If consumers accept their offer, they must call to cancel the membership within seven days or risk incurring additional membership charges. Membership fees vary between $19.95 per month to $99.95 per year. We urge extreme caution. Ask the company to send information regarding the membership terms and conditions prior to accepting the offer. Prior to agreeing to the purchase, consider asking the company for the phone number to cancel since customers report the membership is not received prior to the seven day expiration of the cancellation period. Customers claim the only way this company accepts cancellations is over the phone; therefore, requests for cancellations may be difficult to implement. Verify your bank statement to confirm all charges are valid. If there is an unauthorized charge contact the bank to dispute the amount.

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Complaint Closing Statistics

The following grid displays the number and responses to complaints over the last 36 months:

No. of Cmpl Type of Response

223 Making a full refund, as the consumer requested

8 Making a partial refund

319 Agreeing to perform according to their contract

59 Refusing to make an adjustment

48 Refuse to adjust, relying on terms of agreement

65 Unanswered

0 Unassigned

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Complaint Experience

Of the complaints we have received against this company, in at least some cases, the complaint allegations are very serious.

All complainants allege they were unable to cancel the membership before the company debited their checking account for the full membership fees. In addition, customers state that they were to only pay $4.95 and receive $500 worth of coupons, but instead they were charged hundreds of dollars in most cases and never received the coupons. Despite the company's offer of a refund, some consumers report that they never received them.

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Government Actions

Agency: Attorney General (AG)-SAMP/Credit Svcs

Description: On June 3, 2005, the North Dakota Attorney General, Wayne Stenehjem issued a Cease and Desist Order against Consumer Rewards Network and its affiliates Mega Movie Club, Health Network and Net Forever.

The company is believed to be engaged in deceptive telephone solicitations in North Dakota. The company calls customer with claims that they are from Wal-Mart and offer vouchers for Wal-Mart shopping sprees worth up to $500 for a nominal fee withdrawn automatically from bank accounts. The company used the consumer account information to commit the consumer to various additional and automatic charges for movie and health services, which was not affiliated with the bogus solicitations.

The investigation exposed the companies' fraudulent practices and prompted Stenehjem to issue the Cease and Desist Order prohibiting the company from conducting business in North Dakota. Violations of the order subjects the business to civil penalties of $1000.00 per violation of the Order. The solicitations also are violations of the consumer fraud law and could result in civil penalties up to $5000 per violation.

Consumers in North Dakota who are solicited by this business should contact the Attorney General's Protection Division toll-free at 1-800-472-2600.

Date of Action: 6/3/2005

Agency: Attorney General (AG)-SAMP/Credit Svcs

Description: On September 12, 2005, the North Carolina Attorney General's office filed a complaint in Wake County Superior Court seeking temporary and permanent injunction, restitution and other injunctive relief. The complaint alleges the company promised consumers $500 in vouchers to spend at Wal-Mart or K-Mart, or $200 to spend at local movie theatres in exchange for fees less than $5.00. Instead the telemarketers debited the consumers account for more than $100.00 each, then failed to deliver the promised vouchers. The suit further alleges that the violated State law by calling consumer's whose name appeared on the Do Not Call Registry, and failing to register as a telemarketer in the State. The State's request for injunction was granted . The injunction prohibits the company from further telemarketing sales or taking money from any North Carolina resident during the time period required for legal proceedings. The case is pending.

Date of Action: 9/12/2005

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Advertising Review

We believe this company's advertising is deceptive and misleading. Reports received indicate this company is advertising BBB membership, implying that a percentage of their recievables actually benefits the BBB, and even verbally advising prospective buyers that the BBB requires them to record and retain their customers' bank account or credit card numbers. This information is false. This company is not a BBB member, nor do any financial considerations benefit the BBB in any form. Any references by sales personnel concerning BBB requirements for collection of personal information is also untrue. It is not within the scope of our activities to propose or dictate a company's policies or operating procedures.

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Other Considerations

We know of no other matter or practice relating to this company that may assist you in your consideration of this company.

Posted by: darius | Dec 6, 2005 10:54:44 PM

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That's what I managed to dig up today. Sorry if this post is long. I hope it helps improve whatever situation you are in.

Anonymous

Anonymous
U.S.A.