LABELLE, FL. -- If you receive a mailing hailing "2011 Important Medicare Information" from Dallas, Texas with an offer to receive "a comparison that outlines the companies, plans and costs in your area," what you get may surprise you.
What they really are doing, and not disclosing anywhere on the card, is selling your name and the personal information you disclose to them to third party insurance and annuity companies. The post card asks for your date of birth, month turning 65, phone, and spouse's birth date.
National Data Research Center (N.D.R.C.) has received many complaints, and government agencies have been watching them for years. The Dallas Better Business Bureau says the company is based in Melissa, Tex., and lists its owner as Ronald Morgan. The BBB says Acc-U-Lead also does business under Lead Room, United States Senior Service Inc. and USSS.
The company also sends similar mailings as "2011 Senior Income Tax Update."
The company will sell your data to others for up to $19 per lead.
The Social Security Administration ordered Acc-U-Lead and several related companies to stop another series of mailings directed at seniors. It also ordered the companies' founders to pay $200,000 to the Social Security Administration. That case alleged that Acc-U-Lead and its related companies sent misleading solicitations to seniors designed to obtain sensitive personal information.
Since the card does looks to some like an official document including two American flags on the corners, the card does have a small-print disclaimer saying "not affiliated with any government agency or Medicare."
The company website with price lists where they offer to sell leads obtained from the post card mailings: http://4rmleads.com/insurance_annuity.html
i received the card.. thanks for the update
ReplyDeleteJune 2012
ReplyDeleteI also got this scam sent to my California address.
Steve
we are currently researching a mysterious charge on our credit card for $250 from National Data Research, with a Florida phone number 561-715-1705, which we did not make. Has anyone else had this experience?
ReplyDeleteNational Data Research, Inc. (not National Data Research Center) seems to be associated with Terry Sweet and Integrascan and Instashied, which does background checks. Some references to him and that company can be found here:
ReplyDeletehttp://integrascan.pissedconsumer.com/integrascan-class-action-lawsuit-20090307146068.html
http://www.background-check.us.com/uncategorized/integrascan-launches-new-initiative-aimed-at-improving-safety-in-schools-while-saving-tax-payers-millions.html
-Editor