I gotta question about this...

[brainsmile]

This is what I got from a company recently... any comments?

Dear Customer,

As a patron of our program, please be aware that the unauthorized
use of credit card account numbers, including test or
verification numbers such as 4111111111111111, to obtain magazine
subscriptions or other property or services is fraud and
constitutes a violation of U.S. law under 18 U.S.C. sec. 1029.
Violators of this law may be subject to imprisonment and/or
substantial fines. We take such action on the part of consumers
very seriously. First-time offenders may be subject to up to ten
years imprisonment and/or a substantial fine.

Your account history shows that you have ordered magazines
through our program using an invalid credit card. All of those
subscriptions have been canceled and we will not accept any more
orders from you on our system. Moreover, we reserve the right
under the law to prosecute any individual or organization that
attempts to commit a fraudulent act of using an invalid charge
card on our system or supports commission of such acts.

Respectfully,


Customer Service
MagazineOutlet.com

[Twilight]

Originally posted by brainsmile
... any comments?

Yeah... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[Nanotech9]

well, did you use that number?

[sho.gun]

Heh, this was from a deal a while back, tons of ppl @ AT got busted for it too. Good thing I never did this one. Just hope you dont get prosecuted, that would extremely suck.

[OC]

Y'all might be in some deep sheepdip. I'd call a lawyer and offer to pay for the subs in full.

Jail or magazines subscriptions, jail or magazines subscriptions? Hmmm...

-OC

[Markel]

Any chance you entered an incorrect cc number when you signed up for a subscription? I'd write them back, asking for details, offering to correct any errors.

I would be certain that you are responding to a valid email address, and not some scammer trying to get your cc number.

[sho.gun]

I doubt they'd believe that you accidentaly entered the same number that hundreds of other deal hunters have been entering to their system. I doubt that they would go after them though, it would cost too much, and worse come to worse just really subscribe to them.

[spigidygak]

OK first I'm gonna laugh 'cause I can't stop BAHAHAHAHA. *ahem* and now. . . the serious side. Call up an attorney for advice. I doubt that a company like them will go after you for prosecutiong. . . but you never know. Take a great lesson from this everyone, credit card fraud isn't only when you steal a number, its from guessing ones and using *test* numbers. . . oy /me feels sorry for everyone who used that number.

[brainsmile]

Originally posted by Nanotech9
well, did you use that number?

No I don't recall doing this at all. I responded but I don't know what else to do. I suppose I can offer to pay for subscriptions but I think that's admitting to something I don't necessarily agree to.

[evil-will]

uh oh this doesnt sound good..brainsmile.did you get anything other than that letter ?

[spigidygak]

Hmm that makes this more odd. . . I recommend calling them then and finding out what you did wrong.

[BrewMaster]

I think I might have entered one of those test numbers on a whim. uh-oh.... Let us know what you do and what happens. i might need your lawyers phone number....

[billxp]

Well since when does a email constitute a legal notice?

I also have received the same email.

I'll start sweating when they send out the certified letters in the mail.

I'm calling no one at this point in time. Seems to me that this might be an admission of guilt.

I believe the fine print was:
"Cash-in my 3000 FREE Instantpoints for up to $60 in magazines at NO CASH COST for a whole year! While I'm enjoying my first year of issues at no cash cost and annually thereafter, I'll receive a notice with the option to cancel. As long as I'm 100% satisfied, my magazines will continue each year and the account I've provided will be charged the low rate(s) shown on the notice. My account information, including name, address and credit card number will be used by MagazineOutlet.com to fulfill my redemption. Of course, I must be delighted with my selections or I may cancel at any time. My satisfaction is guaranteed."

Is my first year up??? Where is my notice to cancel? Have I refused to pay?

If I was attempting to defraud why use my real name and address?

My guess is they don't know which names are real or fake so the don't want to waste the postage on certified mail.

But if you respond I guess they will now confirm your true identity.

[brainsmile]

well honestly I don't mind paying for magazine subscriptions so I just decided to email them and tell them to send me a list of the mags in question. I offered to pay cause if someone used my name... well I'm still responsible for it. So I sent them a real credit card # so that they can charge me. I'd rather pay for a years subscription than deal with the law. I'd suggest you do the same.

[M_A_C]

Man, you guys sure do panick easy. I'm just not going to do anything, I pretty sure nothing will come of it.;)

[santra]

The only consequences I foresee is losing your subscriptions. No more Playboy, Sports Illustrated, PC Magazine, Popular Photography for me :( I'm not gonna do anything about it, and probably resubscribe next year with a real cc #. (for free, of course)

[leemaj]

i almost bought into this...but people who used their real cc#s got scammed and were charged and recharged...im not going to give these ppl my cc# until i can get amex blue and use privacy payments...

[M_A_C]

Heh, yeah, i think these people just got pissed that they could bill us the hidden charges, and decided to send out a hate mail.

[brainsmile]

well I talked to my lawyer and I don't know if just sitting tight is the best course of action. It means that you received the notice and decided to ignore it. How do you explain that?

[M_A_C]

All the notice said that pretained to what they are actually gonna do, was to stop sending mags, and to not let you sign up agian under that name agian. I just got a sports illistrated yesterday, so they might not even be doing that much.

[brainsmile]

your choice... I listen to what my legal guy says... good luck.

[billxp]

All I have to say is were is the proof of receipt?

certified mail — A service that provides the sender with a mailing receipt. Certified mail may
be combined with return receipt service and restricted delivery service.

They don't know which email address's and names on file are correct.
That's why they are not sending out certified mail. Its a scare tactic. So your subscription is cancelled. Hell they maybe be doing something wrong by cancelling your subscription before the year is up.

Most online stores that accept credit cards do a check to match the billing address with the credit card. Guess they forgot that step.

My guess is that its only fraud if I was then notified that my one year was up and I then told them it was ok and I wanted to continue my subscription. And then gave them a bogus number.

Test # or not how did I comment fraud on a FREE offer.

[joe52985]

where the hell is the lone gunman when you need him...

[BigJon]

This is the last time I go for these types of deals. I'm just sticking to the stupid free sample stuff.

[evil-will]

Originally posted by billxp
All I have to say is were is the proof of receipt?

Test # or not how did I comment fraud on a FREE offer.
:heh: since yo put it that way it seems kinda funny now

[brainsmile]

Dear Sir,

I write in response to your inquiry received by our customer service
center. Our records indicate, in September 2001 you placed an order for Businessweek magazine through Treeloot.com.

We have reissued your Instant Points, so you may begin a new redemption. Please be aware, you are under no obligation to place another order.

**Please note: Depending on your e-mail provider, the link below may
appear on 2 or 3 lines. If the link below gives you difficulty, please copy everything into your address window or type the entire link into your address window. The link needs to be all on one line in order to work correctly.


http://www.redeemmags.com/servlets/RedirectServlet?reason_code=1057694280&customer_id=122<merge name="Tracking ID"/>


Once again, thank you for contacting our Customer Service Center. If
you have any further questions, please e-mail us at [email protected]

Sincerely,


Amy R. Blake
Internet Customer Service


The information in this transmission is privileged and confidential and is intended only for the recipient(s) listed above. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately by E-mail and delete the original message.

[evil-will]

bah! its a ploy to get your real CC #

[brainsmile]

well I'm not going to sign up again.

[billxp]

Just curious.

Anything else happen?

Is anyone else still getting the magazines?

[ZrEo0]

Originally posted by billxp
Just curious.

Anything else happen?

Is anyone else still getting the magazines?
i used 3333333333333 and im getting gamepro, maxium, max pc, and pc gamer.
all with the name bob smith

[Jenny]

I never use 4111 on anything that I'm actually doing (magazine deals or whatever). But I do use that when I am verifying coupons and you can only tell the coupon is valid after entering information before pressing submit. Ocasionally I'll have an order go through, but it is always with a fake name & addy, so...