By Staci DaSilva
sdasilva@kcautv.com
$100 gift card to Wal-Mart, free in the mail. Sounds like a good deal. To redeem the card you're asked to call a phone number and then, what do you know? Give your credit card information.
David Tedford and his wife, Sharon thought it was a scam the moment they saw it.
"We had suspicions because something like that in the mail, too good to be true," said David Tedford.
But they figured they'd call the number on the card offering a $100 gift card to Wal-Mart or Target anyway and lo and behold, the person on the other end needed a credit card number.
"They wanted $6.95, well, that's a red flag there for $6.95. she kept telling them, no we don't have a credit card and they hung up," said Tedford.
We do a lot of these scam stories, so we thought we'd see just what happens when you actually call these numbers.
When reporter Staci DaSilva called, the man asked for her claim number and shortly thereafter, her credit card information.
"You only have to just take care of a 1 time processing and activation fee of $6.95. So which card would you like to use? A debit Visa or Master?" asked the representative.
Staci DaSilva said, "Actually, you're being recorded right now, I'm a reporter at a TV station and we got reports that this was actually a scam."
The man stuck by his story , saying he worked for USA Benefits out of Phoenix, Arizona, a legal, legitimate company in service for 7 years.
So why give out free money?
"Ma'am, we are giving this $100 because we are a promotional company and we are promoting our new service in your market," said the representative.
In the end, the verdict on the $100 gift card is up to you. But police do warn that you should never give out your credit card information over the phone.
And so does David Tedford, "Nothing's free in the mail and if you have suspicions, don't give them your original phone number, don't give them credit card numbers. If you have Internet access, by phone or computer, look it up!"
