Internet Fraud Complaint Center

ByJoel Comm

With the increase in the use of the Internet, there is an increase in companies doing business over that medium. With an increase in this booming e-commerce arena, there unfortunately will be an increase in e-rip-offs. If you or someone you know thinks that they may have been taken advantage of, then today’s Family First Site is one you will want to visit.

Called the Internet Fraud Complaint Center, this site is a collaboration of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C). Here you can find out what constitutes internet fraud, how to file and follow up on a complaint, how to resolve complaints, and statistics on this type of crime (currently under construction). There are also links to the FBI and the NW3C for visitors to find out more about those agencies.

This is a great site to visit, learn about, and bookmark. You may not need it now, but who knows what the future will bring. Enjoy your stop here today, and be sure to share it with a friend.

https://www.ifccfbi.gov/

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  2. FastReward.com promised me a free DVD player if I would apply for and use American Express “Blue Cash” credit card. After this was approved and used for 45 days FastReward.com was to e-mail me a Redemption Request form to complete and verify the transaction. After four requests for this form, they’ve not even replied to my request.

  3. During Feburary of 2004 I applied for a Discover Platinum credit card through FastReward, I was promised a Sony DVD Player. I received the card and have used it as was required. I have not received the DVD player, nor have I received a reply from FastReward.

  4. FastReward advertised a free dvd player upon completion of two-month membership with Columbia House DVD Club. I have completed my two months and still, after several email messages through their help center, have not received an email confirmation with the gift redemption certificate. I even provide d an alternate email, still no reply although they promise to respond within 48-72 hours. I have contacted the BBB and The Complaint Station, and will be contacting Columbia House, California Attorney General’s Office and the other advertisers about FastReward’s failure to follow through with their advertising promises. There are several complaints thoughout the web about this company also known as MetaReward.

  5. FastReward advertised a free dvd player upon completion of two-month membership with Columbia House DVD Club – I did the same thing and have sent 20 plus emails and no response. I sent the redemption certificate via postal service. I inquired to FastReward if they received it and no response. Hook-Line-Sinker. What a Rip-Off.
    I will contact Columbia House as well. Let me know how you progress on this topic.

  6. I have recently done the fastreward program back in April. I have done everything even sent in the form to get my DVD player. Now it is edgeing on my 6-8 weeks after I sent in the form and the site has been down for 2-3 days now. Anyone know an email for them. They have been good to reply back to me, up until now when I am going to check on it the site is down!

  7. I too was supposed to get a free dvd player from fastreward after joining the Columbia House dvd club. I have fulfilled my membership and contacted fastreward via several emails and still have not received a redemption request form. I have threatened to file complaints with the BBB and the NY Attorney General’s office, but I doubt they will care one hoot. I will never buy anything again from a company who associates with fastreward or metareward.

  8. I was promised a DVD player from Fastreward.com for signing on with Columbia House. It has been over 4 months and I have yet to hear from them. I was unable to verify my email address or password because they never sent me the emails. when I emailed them, they never responded. Now i’m stuck with a membership to a club I have to buy 5 more dvd’s from in order to cancel.

  11. I fell for FastReward rip off on June 2,2004. I was suppoase to receive a free DVD player in 60 days after having my Discover Platinum card activated and or/made a purchase. I have used the card three times and have yet to hear anythng from FastReward or receive the DVD.
    I think companies like this should be banned from the Internet all together.

  12. I joined the Columbia House DVD club and completed all of the criteria set forth by Fastrewards.com. I verified my information, e-mail, password and clicked on the ‘Redemption Form’ link to have an e-mail sent to me so that I could access the ‘Redemption Form’, but I have never received an e-mail from Fastreward. I have contacted the customer service at Fastreward and they have sent me the same useless information 16 times.I have written the customer service at Columbia House, and they have never answered my e-mail.Perhaps they are more concerned about losing prospective customers instead of being associated with a fraudulent company.

  13. I joined the Columbia House DVD club and completed all of the criteria set forth by Fastrewards.com. I verified my information, e-mail, password and clicked on the ‘Redemption Form’ link to have an e-mail sent to me so that I could access the ‘Redemption Form’, but I have never received an e-mail from Fastreward. I have contacted the customer service at Fastreward and they have sent me the same useless information 16 times.I have written the customer service at Columbia House, and they have never answered my e-mail.Perhaps they are more concerned about losing prospective customers instead of being associated with a fraudulent company.

  16. I have also fallen into the MetaReward trap on Sept. 3, 2004 through the TopFreeGifts.com email I received. My free gift was a $250 BestBuy card. I became a member of Columbia House DVD and ShareBuilder (no complaints with either of these companies). I received confirmation emails from TopFreeGifts regarding the completion of 2 of the 3 requirements. Looking good so far. When I went to check on my status, my login no longer worked at the TopFreeGifts.com site. I clicked the “forgot password” link… no response. I clicked on the “contact us” link… whad’ya know… it requires a password which doesn’t work anymore. I found the MetaReward contact information, called them, left a message with name, number, and email… no reponse. I did a little more checking, found that MetaReward was acquired by Experian on Dec. 3, 2003. Today, I also called MetaReward again, got an automated list of their phone directory. I got ahold of “Christian Chapa”, the marketing sales manager, left a message with him that he said he would deliver to Customer Service. We’ll see.
    Here’s the Metareward contact info:
    (877) 447-3547
    Metareward x490
    Caesar Alesendrini x345
    Feroz Ali x267
    Member Support x248
    Stacy Hodgekinson x274
    Angela Alvarez x264
    Christine Arogan x237
    Christian Chapa x258
    Jason Demasian x442
    We’ll see how long it takes before they change their numbers.

  17. Dear Sirs,I too have been had with Columbiahouse/fastrewards/free DVD player.After joining the Columbiahouse,receive 5 DVD’s @$.49 each.Now I have received them without a problem.And also ordered a Director’s Selection.One of the four I agreed to order in 2 or 3 years.Now I am stuck with 6 Dvds and no DVD player to play them on.Columbiahouse has a BIG company name and,should stand by that.I have sent 3or4 e-mails and have had no feedback from them.Please give me some feedback on what steps I should take on this matter. Respectfully,H.Jean Williams

  18. I TO FELL FOR PHONY FREE STUFF. I JOINED DVD CLUB AND CD CLUB. I HAVE MET MY PURCHASE OPLIGATIONS AND HAVE YET TO RECIEVE MY FREE DVD PLAYER AND MY DIGITAL CAMERA. I THOUGHT I WAS NOT PREY TO THESE KINDS OF THINGS BUT I GUESS I JUST GOT-GOT!!!!!
    THIS SHOULD BE AGAINST THE LAW AND MAY BE BUT THE BAD GUYS NEVER GET WHATS COMING TO THEM.
    NO THANK YOU

  19. I guess I’ve been had by TWO “rewards” companies. I even faxed proof that I completed the offer back in Dec. 2004 through FastReward.com for a $50 Target gift card. I heard back from them but I doubt I’ll ever see that reward since the company has apparently changed hands now. Also, I completed 2 offers thru FreeGiftWorld.com back in Oct. 2004 but have never received a password or reply to my numerous emails. I’ve never heard back from CreditGift.com either. Some of the sites I’ve heard back from say they’re “checking into the matter” or never received my redemption form. How can these companies get away with advertising these freebies and then not delivering? How can I receive these promised offers? Thanks so much for any feedback you can offer.

  20. Columbia House issued a Rain Check on my initial membership order [because the DVD was not available]. When trying to use the Rain Check, Columbia House informed me, “The Rain Check you submitted was sent to you in error.” RIP OFF!!!

  21. Columbia House also attempted to charge me for DVDs I never ordered. They advised that they will automaticly send me a DVD every month unless I notify them every month I don’t want the selection. I also haven’t received DVDs that I did order and paid for. I called and also was not able to speak to a live person, as their automated system doesn’t allow for it.
    However, with a little research I was able to get arround their secret system…
    Call this number 212-596-2000. You will get of course an automated system. As the system prompts you dial as follows:
    1….4653…#….1. This will transfer you to Mr Stuart Goldfarbs office and his assistant will answer. I have called three times in three days complaining and have immediately gotten transfered to a live human being!!!
    The way I figure is if we the consumer do the same thing they do to us, maybe we can force a change!!

  22. My husband got suckered into joining Columbia House because it sounded like a good deal. He later found out that regretted ever getting involved. By the time his year membership ended and he bought all of the necessary DVDs the company requires he buy before he can cancel his membership. A few months after he finished his obligations, the company continued to send him mail even though he called and tried to cancel his membership 3 times! When he calls he has to type in his account number, they should not even have his credit card account number anymore!!! After speaking with one man who said he would immediately cancel the service and send a letter notifying him that his account was canceled, the account is still valid, we still get mail saying we will be billed unless they are notified otherwise. The only mail we have received, other than mail to purchase a DVD, was a generic letter saying, “We desperately want you as a customer.” We can’t seem to get through to an actual human to fix the problem, and the only human he has been able to contact was unable to assist us with out problem. Apparently, Columbia House only has a fax number that goes directly to them. This company does not practice ethical business standards. I would never recommend getting involved with this company, because so far, it has been impossible for us to cancel our account. No one will do it, even though the mail they send says “you can cancel the service at any time.” That appears to be bull. They need some kind of customer service instead of a stinkin automated message that does nothing for you! They charged a $25 DVD to our bank account after the membership should have been canceled.

  23. colmbia house is a headache i can do with out after numerous emial which i have on file they finaly reply with me threatning legal action to which for the last mont hcause it takes then 2 to 4 days to respond to anyreply i send im getitng the run around on money due me and trying to have it credited to a balance due to which i owe or should say owe half of and they refuse to credit the account which btw they them slefs cancelled because my time was up with out notifing me before hand. par tof the problem with this company is no live customer service. the problem im having with this com[any is they donrt listen they use ‘canned’ responses and usually dont read previous interactions by diffrent csr’s adn they keep trying to credit a card that is nolonger valid adn keep saying take it up wit the card company well thats all well and good if it was aindivual account i had opend my self which it was not it a state issued card form bcse(childsupport enfocement) to which they have now changed banks scince then adn ar enolonge raffiliated with the original bank from which the card was issued which u have tried to exsplain to theses ppl but i keep getitn the same responses about due on contract obligations adn why they closed the account which im aware of all i wan tis my money credited to the account which they refuse to do they sya it has to be doen on the original card thast been cancelled scince mid 2006. any ideas on what i can do is theer any legal action besides complaints which i have done thru every place i can fi=ind the bbb consumer protection adn various others?

  24. i loaned a girl money who i met online to buy a car and to help her with living exspensives.i got e-mails where she said she was going to pay me back.what type of legal steps can i take againt her.is this fraud or can i sue her in small claims we live in different states

  25. I purchased a few DVD’s from Columbia House and then decided that I was not interested in continuing being a member. I notified them that I was canceling and wished to be taken off their list. I have now been receiving bills for over $117 for items I have not received or requested. I am at my wits end trying to get these parasites out of my life and pocket book. I think their business practices are quite shady and fear for my credit safety. I definitely would join any class action suits against these scoundrels.

  26. I GOT my DVD player after only a few months. Of course, it was not a Sony, but a Cyberhome — worth maybe $20. The fine print says they can substitute “equal value” merchandise. I knew I wouldn’t get a Sony.
    Fastrewards sets up several hoops you have to jump through, and you have to do it in a precise order and fashion; otherwise, nothing. There is no point trying to call them and talk to someone. Read the instructions carefully, and do exactly what they say. If you skipped a step, you have to rewind and start over. Or, decide whether a $20 crappy Cyberhome DVD player is worth it. It might do some general good to complain to the credit card company or Columbia or whatever, but it won’t get you the DVD player. Good luck.

  27. Film-Classics. I ordered a DVD of a movie Cannery Row. I received two confirmation e-mails. They charged my credit card. Now they tell me they had trouble with their Credit Card prodessor and can’t send me my DVD or refund my money. They say its up to the Credit Card processor. They also say I have to do all the work.
    All they have to do is send me the movie without all this drama.
    Their motto is “Film-Classics’s customer service goal is simple: We are committed to providing our customers total satisfaction. Every time.”
    I am not getting my movie nor am I getting a refund for the purchase.

  28. My ISP- Wildblue- had Peak 8 Solutions listed on my homepage as a reputable solution to computer problems. The first time I used them it was great. Within four hours the problem was solved.
    When I bought a refurbished laptop and needed help, I went to them again. They took my money and I have not been contacted since. I e-mailed and it was returned. I called and left a message- no return call. I even wrote a letter to the address on my receipt and it was returned.
    This was back in February. I found their web site and have e mailed, but always get an automatic response saying they will contact me- but they never do. The phone is simply an answering machine.
    Stay away from them.

  29. I signed up with columbia house even though I was told they are a rip off..and I checked my bank statement and they are charging me for a directors selection that I went on the internet and denied the selection. I called customer service around the time they were closing and the representative told me that I would have to wait and send it back. I told him I need that money in my account now or I want a supervisor. He put me on hold came back and told me that there was no supervisor available. This was only said because they were closing. So I gave him my number and said I expect a call back tomorrow and he advised me it will be about a week before I hear anything. Columbia House has horrible customer service.

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