Area Circulation Scam 309-589-0867

[Peter Cornstalk]

There is this company called Area Circulation, Inc. http://www.areacirculation.net/ that telemarkets "magazine subscriptions".

They call and fast talk you about "million dollar prizes", magazines, free vacations and such and try to confuse you into accepting large charges on your credit card. They try and get you to repeat what your charges will be so they can tape you saying you agree to $74 a month charges to your credit card.

Of course they do this to prey on the dumb and elderly. Once they get the recording, they most likely use it to challenge charge-backs.

Here is their info:

Area Circulation
5656 Shell Rd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23455
Customer Service: 800-324-9452

They called me from this number:
309-589-0867

I had some fun with them and you should too.

Have a fake name, address, phone number and fake credit card info available when you call. Agree to everything. If they ask you to repeat the amount and frequencies of the charges, always say it wrong and they will fast talk you some more and keep asking you to repeat it again until you screw up and say $74 a month charges.

I don't know for sure, but I would be very careful about agreeing to anything over the phone. I do not know about the specific legalities about providing false information in these cases, but your verbal agreement is being recorded and they have your phone number and likely other personal information about you. Submitting false information may get you in hot water and your verbal agreement may be binding.

If anyone has verifiable information on such scenarios, please post it with links, thanks.

[nomaxim]

Area Circulation
5656 Shell Rd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23455
Customer Service: 800-324-9452
309-589-0867
Whitepages.com gives;

(309) 589-0867 is Unpublished or Unavailable
Type: Land Line, Provider: Ameritech Illinois, Location: Peoria, IL

Whitepages.com gives;

Avatech Solutions
5656 Shell Rd
Virginia Beach, VA 23455-3725
(757) 460-8100

BBB address search results:
BBB report for Avatech Solutions, Inc.

The BBB has requested basic information from this company but has not received a response. As a result, the BBB may not have current information about the company

Customer Experience

The BBB processed a total of 0 complaints about this company in the last 36 months, our standard reporting period.

BBB report for Area Circulation, Inc.;

The BBB processed a total of 120 complaints about this company in the last 36 months, our standard reporting period.Of the total of 120 complaints closed in 36 months, 73 were closed in the last year.

Industry Tips

MAIL ORDER TRANSACTIONS

Here's some helpful tips from the Council of BBBs on Mail Order Transactions:

Under the Federal Trade Commission's Mail Order Rule, a company must ship your order within 30 days from the time it receives the completed order, unless, in making the offer, the company clearly stated some other time for shipment.

If the company cannot ship your order within the time advertised, it must inform you in writing of the delay. The company must give you the chance to cancel your order if you do not agree to the delay. If you decide to cancel, the company must refund your money within 7 days of your notice of cancellation. If you do not respond to the company's notification of delay, the company may assume you agree to the delay. It then has another 30 days to send the merchandise. The company may not, however, delay shipment beyond an additional 30 days without your expressed consent.

The Mail Order Rule does not apply to orders placed over the telephone and charged to your credit card, COD orders, or orders for which you send no advance payment. The Rule also does not cover mail order services such as photo finishing, seeds and plants, magazine orders, and "negative option plans" such as those used by some book, record, and tape clubs.

Whenever you shop by mail, be sure to record the date, name and address of the company, merchandise ordered, and payment made in case you need to reach the company about the order.

Further information on this industry, BBB publications entitled "Buying by Mail" and "Shopping at Home" are available free of charge by sending a self addressed, stamped, business size envelope to: BBB, 586 Virginian Drive, Norfolk, VA 23505.

Magazine Subscription Solicitations

Originally Posted by Lara RR

If anyone has verifiable information on such scenarios, please post it with links, thanks.

Some websites (ie Porn sites) will log your IP address in order to fight charge-backs and charge disputes from consumers.

"Honey, what's this $39.95 charge from TinyTeenXXX?"
"Uhh, don't know dear. Must be a billing error."

Don't know if it actually works or not.
(And no, you don't need to know how I know that. )

[Peter Cornstalk]

Originally Posted by Lara RR

I don't know for sure, but I would be very careful about agreeing to anything over the phone. I do not know about the specific legalities about providing false information in these cases, but your verbal agreement is being recorded and they have your phone number and likely other personal information about you. Submitting false information may get you in hot water and your verbal agreement may be binding.

If anyone has verifiable information on such scenarios, please post it with links, thanks.

Whatever... bring it on... I have a lawyer. As a matter of fact, I was doing it in front of my lawyer and I told him I gave them fake info and fake credit card number and he thought it was funny.

[twistedbrntucker]

Originally Posted by Peter Cornstalk

Whatever... bring it on... I have a lawyer. As a matter of fact, I was doing it in front of my lawyer and I told him I gave them fake info and fake credit card number and he thought it was funny.

I wish I had the money to pay a lawyer for his time to watch me make a prank phone call.

[Peter Cornstalk]

Originally Posted by twistedbrntucker

I wish I had the money to pay a lawyer for his time to watch me make a prank phone call.

Well he kind of got in on the end of the conversation and I hung up them after a few minutes so we could get to business.

[Peter Cornstalk]

Check it out: http://www.areacirculation.net/test.htm

They check username and password in javascript.

It doesn't get you anywhere though...

[Admin RR]

Yes a family friend was scammed by this exact same method, I don't know if it was the same company or not but I'll find out.

They tell you that you'll get 20 magazines for "eight thirty two" as in "$832" but you think they're saying "$8.32" and then you repeat it on the recording, "yes I agree to pay you "eight thirty two". That kind of thing. Ridiculous. And these scams prey on the elderly.

[frostbitetwice]

Originally Posted by Lara RR

I don't know for sure, but I would be very careful about agreeing to anything over the phone. I do not know about the specific legalities about providing false information in these cases, but your verbal agreement is being recorded and they have your phone number and likely other personal information about you. Submitting false information may get you in hot water and your verbal agreement may be binding.

As a procurer of sensible advice, this time you have gone over the top...Unconventional actions are viewed by you as dangers..There is no damage to this company because all the information received would be deemed unreliable....In fact, many states do not allow tape telephone recording what so ever...Furthermore, since when is lying a criminal or civil offense unless the intention is to defraud and this is not the case hear..I support Cornstalk action, moreover, if thousand did likewise these companies would not exist today...

Power to good consumers, death to scam artist...

[twistedbrntucker]

Originally Posted by Peter Cornstalk

Well he kind of got in on the end of the conversation and I hung up them after a few minutes so we could get to business.

Don't take what I said seriously. I was kidding around!!