"Do you want some free new equipment?" What is this scam??

[ShenandoahJoe]

Doesn't it count against your score every time you credit is checked?
also I am skeptical about putting my SS number on the net even it says it is a secure web site.
has anyone received theirs online?

It's legit. I've done it. You get your credit report, but not your FICO score. FICO scores, you have to pay for. The idea is, you'll be so disappointed at not learning your magic number that you'll give them a couple of bucks to complete the experience.

 

[LD1]

It will be a deal where you pay for the equipment and some crook in Nigeria will send you worthless checks to re-imburse you. It sounds like they have it figured out where the first few checks will actually clear, and then they clean out your bank account.

Interesting. IF the first few checks actually clear, have your bank freeze the account and transfer funds into another account:laughing: And THEN let them rot in jail:thumbsup:

It's legit. I've done it. You get your credit report, but not your FICO score. FICO scores, you have to pay for. The idea is, you'll be so disappointed at not learning your magic number that you'll give them a couple of bucks to complete the experience.

Those commercials drive me nuts too. Because MOST of them even make refrence to your credit "score". Like the commercial with the 3 guys in the blue suits:confused2: Its exactally as you say, because they bait you in making you think you will get to know your FICO #.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Doesn't it count against your score every time you credit is checked?
also I am skeptical about putting my SS number on the net even it says it is a secure web site.
has anyone received theirs online?

I know it doesn't count against you to check your own. At least not through the annual credit report website. Beyond that I think it only affects your score if you have more than about 3 credit checks within a certain time frame.

It's a good idea to check your credit report regularly just to catch any old accounts that may have started accumulating fees or to check for any new unauthorized accounts. The first time I checked mine there were a half dozen open accounts from my college days when I'd apply for every store charge account just to get the $10 off.

 

[Western]

Doesn't it count against your score every time you credit is checked?
also I am skeptical about putting my SS number on the net even it says it is a secure web site.
has anyone received theirs online?

It doesn't effect your credit when you check your own score or one of your creditors do a maintenance check called a soft pull.

Hard pulls effect your credit as when you apply or get a new credit line.

MYFICO. com is the best place to get your report WITH a score.

 

[Johnbro]

well, to get back to the OP, the next time someone offers to give you some free equipment, send him to my house. I'm not so picky!

I can think of lots of perfectly legit reasons someone might give stuff away. I do it all the time (ever heard of freecycle or St. Vincent de Paul?).

 

[beppington]

well, to get back to the OP, the next time someone offers to give you some free equipment, send him to my house. I'm not so picky!

I can think of lots of perfectly legit reasons someone might give stuff away. I do it all the time (ever heard of freecycle or St. Vincent de Paul?).

Will do. Just post up your name, address, phone #, & I'm sure he'll want your SSN, too :thumbsup:

 

[phiferpharm]

I actually had a fun experience at work today when an individual came up to myself and a friend and tried to give us a "free" car stereo and asked us to look at equipment in his trunk. We went and looked at the assortment of powertools and other stuff he had. It was pretty impressive.

Unfortunately the friend I was with is a plainclothes cop who was dropping off papers for his wife who works with me. When I went back upstairs to work, the individual was not enjoying his afternoon very much...

 

[beppington]

Now that's the kind of story I like to hear about :thumbsup:

 

[Iplayfarmer]

well, to get back to the OP, the next time someone offers to give you some free equipment, send him to my house. I'm not so picky!

I can think of lots of perfectly legit reasons someone might give stuff away. I do it all the time (ever heard of freecycle or St. Vincent de Paul?).

I'll cautiously agree with you that there may be legit reasons to give something away. I'll also admonish you to be very cautious if someone does offer you something like this. These guys really are good. A lot of otherwise intelligent people have been scammed big time by some pretty sophisticated schemes.

I'd rather regret giving up something free or cheap than regret losing my entire bank account because I fell prey to some crook.

 

[beppington]

I'll cautiously agree with you that there may be legit reasons to give something away. I'll also admonish you to be very cautious if someone does offer you something like this. These guys really are good. A lot of otherwise intelligent people have been scammed big time by some pretty sophisticated schemes.

Universal Health Care?



Sorry ... I couldn't resist :laughing: