(This e-mail was written to Verifi (the 'parent company' of IConfirm) that the scam directed me to:
_____________________________________
My particular experience with this scam is as follows:

The scam was initiated through a phone call on 11/12/07, where the caller quoted the last four numbers of my credit/debit Visa bank card and stated that I'd been sent promo materials the week before (I hadn't received them yet) for three different offerings - long distance service, coupons, and DVDs. I was told that I had 30 days to evaluate the offers, at which time I would have to take it upon myself to make contact with each and either accept or decline them.

When I questioned how/why my card was selected, I was told that I had agreed to accept occasional promotional materials when I signed for my card. (As it so happens, I didn't sign for my card - it was automatically issued by my bank!)

I objected to receiving the promo materials and having the hassle of declining them after 30 days, so was told I could 'opt out' of them right away instead (on the phone). The caller (female) stated that I would be recorded while an explanitory statement was read to me. I should then decline (by saying "no") at the end of the recording, when asked whether I would accept the offer. I was also told that I would be taken off their list and would not receive any further calls of this sort.

We spent approximately 20 minutes in the 'opt out' process because I had to be recorded three times - once for each separate promo (as listed above). (The long distance recording had to be recorded twice, as I didn't respond at the proper time during the first run-through.) After that was finished I was again told that I was being removed from their list.

I called both my bank and Visa the next day regarding this call, and also checked my bank records for the next two days (no activity). Then yesterday (11/15/07) I received a message on my answering machine from Sure Touch long distance.

The message stated that they were calling to confirm my purchase of their service through the Verified by Visa program, WHICH I NEVER SIGNED UP FOR! They did not leave a phone number, but instructed me to go to the following web site: https://iconfirm.net and complete the confirmation in the next 24 hours by giving my name and verification code (which they gave me). I did NOT do this!

Instead, I looked up everything I could find on Verified by Visa, IConfirm (including your site), and Sure Touch long distance (they had MANY complaints with scenarios similar to mine). I was surprised to discover that Verified by Visa and IConfirm are legitimate businesses.

This morning (11/16/07) I checked my bank records again and discovered a $1 charge pending for a Visa purchase from: GGW VIDEO 800-6893666 CA 2007-11-16 07.44.19. I called my bank and immediately cancelled my card. They told me that the $1 purchase listed was from Girls Gone Wild (which just happens to be one of the charges named in several of the complaints that I mentioned earlier).

Later, I called the GGW 800 number (above) and spoke to a person named Tamara (operator #060). She stated that the charge meant that I'm enrolled in a monthly package. (This is apparently the DVD promo package the scam was pushing.) I informed Tamara that their business is dealing with a scam and that I intended to inform the companies involved, along with my bank, the police, the MN Attorney General's office, and probably the local media.

**************************************************
I intend to follow through with my statement to GGW, so this is my official notification to you and Visa that I will not allow any more charges from this or any other scam! Someone (?) sold my information and caused this problem, and I intend to try and stop it from happening again!

Please investigate this immediately and put a stop to your involvement in this scam before more people have to deal with this kind of crime! I don't appreciate having my personal information compromised, and all the hassle I'm having to go through because of it!

Sincerely,
Merrilee Spaeth