BBB of Northern Indiana has seen increased incidents of e-mails, letters, Internet purchases, advance fee loans, work-at-home opportunities and other information being questioned by consumers. Listed below are a couple of company practices that are being questioned.
National Deed Service
A consumer received a letter from NDS, Inc., 3375 Commercial Ave., Northbrook, IL 60062. The BBB Reliability Report about this company (aka National Deed Service) has an “F” rating. According to the information provided in the report, consumers allege they were misled by the company's solicitations into thinking that Illinois Deed Provider was a governmental agency, and/or that the service provided was either necessary and/or official.
This company offers to obtain a certified copy of the consumer's property deed. On its solicitation, Illinois Deed Provider, Inc. states that the U.S. Government Federal Citizen Information Center website "recommends that property owners should have an official or certified copy of their deed". Illinois Deed Provider, Inc. is not affiliated with the State of Illinois, however, and consumers should be aware that most government records may be obtained either for free or at nominal costs from government agencies. For a complete report on this company, go to www.bbb.org.
Readers Digest Association
Another consumer received a letter from “Readers Digest Association” about their 72nd annual Reader’s Digest Sweepstakes drawing and that she was one of the lucky winners who won a prize of $4,600,000USD, “payable by bank to bank wire transfer to any bank of your choice. And, due to past experiences of winners who fail to comply and follow company procedures, it is now a mandatory company policy to keep all information confidential.” The letter gives two numbers to call and an attached sheet to their ‘Verification Department’ to be filled out.
That Verification form asks for your name, address, city, state, zip, telephone, driver’s license, expiration date…. And, here’s the catch: mother’s maiden name, date of birth, Social Security number, place of birth, bank name, bank address, all credit card numbers and banks who issued them.
You give them your personal information, and THEY will be the big winners…not you! You will never have to pay an up front fee when you have supposedly won something. Steer clear of them!