I too have now become a victim of the Web Detective / Privacy Chest ripoff scam.
On April 22, I subscribed to the Web Detective trail for $2.95, and the option to use the service for 3 days. With that said, I began using the service to attempt to find old classmates to send out invitations for a class reunion. I was not satisfied with the service - it does not offer any information, it is very hard to navigate, and I cancelled it the same day. I received an email confirmation of my cancellation, with the information that my account would not be charged.
A few weeks later I receive that same envelope in the mail about the privacy chest. Not knowing that this had anything to do with Web Detective, I figured that this was some other piece of junk mail.
On May 22, I noticed that my account was charged for $38.83 from the Razoreye Media Group, and I had no idea what this charge was for. I called the number that was listed on my account, and after listening to a recording for 15 minutes, spoke to a representative. I informed them that I had no idea what this is for, and how did they get my account information. I was then given the number to call Privacy Chest and when I called them, I began a 2 day argument that got me absolutely no where.
I called my bank and submitted a claim to dispute the charge, as I did not authorize Privacy Chest to debit my account.
The inability of this "manager" at Privacy Chest to provide me with information about the company, who is the President, who was his supervisor, is there another number that I can call to speak to someone who is in a position to make decisions -- nothing from this manager except - "there was no clerical error so I can't reverse the charge." I then asked for an example of a clerical error & (sound of crickets please) no answer.
Needless to say, I was livid. I began to do some research on my own, and I think I have figured out the scam.
They are all the same - Razoreye Media / Web Detective / Privacy Chest. The reason they offer the trial subscription for $2.95 is to get your account information. The site sucks, it is horrible, and they know that you are going to cancel the service in your frustration - I couldn't even find myself through that site. Now, somewhere on this site is a "checkbox" that is pre-checked for you to select the Privacy Chest trial membership, and if you don't want it, you have to uncheck the box! Who saw that box - I sure didn't. So you cancel, and you think that you are finished with the service at no additional charge, and lo and behold - here comes that information in the mail.
This is the biggest ripoff on the site - they use a ligitimate resource -- finding friends and family, and they take your money -- they need to be stopped, or better yet - expose their deceptive practices!
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