Help me figure out this scam

[mom2rtk]

We got a piece of mail today addressed to someone with our last name at our actual street address. We've lived here 30 years and nobody by that name lives here. It's a credit card (maybe debit? Not sure) in his name.

Any ideas on what the deal is with this? If you're running a scam, wouldn't you use a different address? Or try to do something in one of our names?

I'm going to try to call the company tomorrow.

 

[JimMIA]

I think the one thing you can be sure of is that it's not a real card with which you can do financial transactions. It's most likely just bait to try to get you to sign up for some credit card. Worst case scenario, it could prompt you to submit a bunch of personal financial information to someone you don't know.

Do you want a new credit card? If not, cut it up, throw it away, and don't waste any more time thinking about it.

If you do want a new credit card, apply for one through the usual channels with a financial institution you know and trust.

 

[mom2rtk]

I think the one thing you can be sure of is that it's not a real card with which you can do financial transactions. It's most likely just bait to try to get you to sign up for some credit card. Worst case scenario, it could prompt you to submit a bunch of personal financial information to someone you don't know.

Do you want a new credit card? If not, cut it up, throw it away, and don't waste any more time thinking about it.

If you do want a new credit card, apply for one through the usual channels with a financial institution you know and trust.

No, it looks pretty real to me. I've seen fake ones you're talking about and this isn't that. And it comes with a form attached showing an account number and routing number. It also says it's for receiving government payments like SSDI and the like.

I just can't get past the fact that it's our last name and our address.

 

[JimMIA]

And it comes with a form attached showing an account number and routing number. It also says it's for receiving government payments like SSDI and the like.

LOL. You want an account number and routing number? How many would you like?

I just can't get past the fact that it's our last name and our address.

In today's Internet world, last names and addresses are SO easy to get!

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

Is it one of these Direct Express Prepaid Debit cards? The mystery deepens...

https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/6175

 

[mom2rtk]

Is it one of these Direct Express Prepaid Debit cards? The mystery deepens...

https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/6175

Not sure but maybe similar?

It's from this company (I think).

https://www.netspendallaccess.com/c...aS5hoClRUQAvD_BwE&context_name=ns_aa_bravo_dd

 

[JimMIA]

Is it one of these Direct Express Prepaid Debit cards? The mystery deepens...

https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/6175

NO, it is NOT. The one you cite is an official US Government method of paying government benefits.

What @mom2rtk received is nothing but an online debit account that will serve as an intermediary (for a fee) between normal payments (paycheck, etc) and her bank account.

The card is a DEBIT card which allows them access to your existing bank account to make deposits or WITHDRAWALS.

@mom2rtk, your bank will probably provide exactly the same thing for no fee, plus the assurance of dealing with an institution you know is legit.

 

[mom2rtk]

@mom2rtk, your bank will probably provide exactly the same thing for no fee, plus the assurance of dealing with an institution you know is legit.

I'm not in the market for a card. This came unsolicited addressed to someone with our last name (correct spelling of a name that is frequently spelled wrong) at our address and we have lived here for 30 years. That's what has thrown me off.

 

[JimMIA]

1. I'm not in the market for a card. This came 2. unsolicited addressed to someone with our last name (correct spelling of a name that is frequently spelled wrong) at our address and we have lived here for 30 years. That's what has thrown me off.

The two key phrases bolded above should automatically route the offer to your garbage can. The underlying bank may very well be legit, but you don't need it and you didn't ask for it.

 

[mom2rtk]

The key phrases above should automatically route the offer to your garbage can. The underlying bank may very well be legit, but you don't need it and you didn't ask for it.

Yes, I'm very close to doing just that. If it was addressed to one of us, I'd likely have done so already. What caught me off guard with this is that:

1) The last (but not first) name and address being ours and
2) The card is actually real. I've seen tons of the fake ones. This one has a real 3D name and account printed on it, along with the "call to activate" sticker.

 

[JimMIA]

Yes, I'm very close to doing just that. If it was addressed to one of us, I'd likely have done so already. What caught me off guard with this is that:

1) The last (but not first) name and address being ours and
2) The card is actually real. I've seen tons of the fake ones. This one has a real 3D name and account printed on it, along with the "call to activate" sticker.

Two questions:

1. Are all names imprinted on the card correct?
2. If you don't need an additional DEBIT card, what part of any of this matters?

 

[mom2rtk]

Two questions:

1. Are all names imprinted on the card correct?
2. If you don't need an additional DEBIT card, what part of any of this matters?

What do you mean by "all names" on the card?

 

[DLgal]

Just shred it and stop thinking about it. These kinds of things get sent out ALL the time. Just ignore it.

 

[Carol_]

This has happened to me. Someone is using your address to get debit cards. It’s a money laundering scheme of some sort. You can call the company and tell them no one by that name lives there and to remove the address from the account. That said, the money has already moved through that account and it’s empty by now.
Check out “Money Mules” here:
FBI Common Scams

 

[Donald13]

Just shred it or cut it up. You know you didn’t order a card, your name and address is everywhere on the Internet. If you know it’s a scam, what do you think the company is going to tell you? Throw it away and move on

 

[luvnwdwgal]

I wouldn’t call about. I would shred it and forget about it.

 

[lovesmurfs]

No, it looks pretty real to me. I've seen fake ones you're talking about and this isn't that. And it comes with a form attached showing an account number and routing number. It also says it's for receiving government payments like SSDI and the like.

I just can't get past the fact that it's our last name and our address.

I had my name/SS#/etc. used for fraud for unemployment benefits -- received a debit card to receive the benefits (they wound up getting $900 from the State of Illinois). Definitely let the card issuer know. They actually had my employer's name and the date of separation was the last day we worked in the office before the pandemic. It's crazy what info they have/can steal.

I froze my credit entirely, which is good. A year later I got a bunch of card denials in the mail saying that I needed to unfreeze my credit -- they apparently tried to use my info a year later to open credit card accounts. What a PITA.

 

[wenrob]

Two questions:

1. Are all names imprinted on the card correct?
2. If you don't need an additional DEBIT card, what part of any of this matters?

She doesn’t want to use the card, she’s just trying figure out what the scam is in general.

 

[Skippy918]

Sounds like synthetic identity theft where ID thieves take bits and pieces of info from multiple people and try to get loans and credit cards. I would call this issuing bank (look up the name on the internet and don’t use the phone number from the back of the card), let them know a fraudulent card was received with your last name and address. Pull a copy of your credit report to ensure that there’s nothing else fishy going on.

 

[Calee]

What does the top right of the envelope say? Where the stamp would go?

If it is a stamp or says first class it is "real mail". Someone had to intentionally send it. There *are* scammers that send mail this way. They know what they are doing and it is purposeful.

If it says anything else ( standard, pre-sorted standard,.bulk, periodical, etc) it is considered junk mail. The post office won't forward it. It is auto generated either from something that has at some point been signed up for, etc. There is nothing and no one behind it. The sending/addressing is done basically by a machine. Don't worry about it.