Suntasia Dba Agents Travel Network - Distinct Advantage - Freedom Gold - Florida Passports - Capital Vacations Attempt to Rip OFF Banking information, Impersonating Bank Officer, Harrassment Saint Petersburg Florida

St. Petersburg Time newspaper article

Largo business accused of scam
A 25-year FTC official says it may be "the biggest telemarketing fraud I've ever seen."
By LORRI HELFAND and KAMEEL STANLEY
Published July 26, 2007

LARGO - The Federal Trade Commission raided Strategia Marketing on Wednesday, saying the Largo telemarketing company scammed tens of thousands of customers out of millions of dollars.

The FTC alleged in court documents filed Wednesday that Strategia, formerly called Suntasia, used at least 15 different business names to defraud consumers nationwide.

"I've been doing consumer fraud cases for the Federal Trade Commission for 25 years," said C. Steven Baker, director of the FTC's Midwest Region. "And I believe this may well be the biggest telemarketing fraud I've ever seen."

Strategia offered consumers supposedly free trial memberships in discount shopping and travel clubs, deceived them into divulging bank information and charged their accounts without authorization, the FTC claimed.

Since 2004, more than 5,000 formal consumer complaints were submitted to law enforcement agencies and the Better Business Bureau, Baker said, adding that on average only 8 percent of fraud victims ever officially complain.

Reached at his Safety Harbor home Wednesday night, Donald L. Booth, general counsel for Strategia, said the company didn't want to comment before reviewing the lawsuit.

After the FTC filed the complaint, the U.S. District Court in Tampa temporarily stopped the company's telemarketing operation, froze the assets of all defendants and appointed a receiver to temporarily run the company and its affiliates.

No criminal charges were filed Wednesday.

The FTC's suit names six individuals and nine companies - several doing business under various names - as defendants. The nine interrelated companies employ 700 to 800 people at the Ulmerton Road offices.

Starts with 'free' trial

According to the FTC's suit, the company's scheme worked this way:

Telemarketers called consumers offering "free" trial memberships in discount shopping and travel clubs. They tricked consumers into providing bank information with claims they were calling valued bank customers to verify account information, the FTC said.

The free gifts touted by the company had many undisclosed conditions that rendered them worthless, according to the suit.

Consumers were told they could keep those gifts even if they canceled. But that wasn't the case, the suit stated. Plus, it was nearly impossible to cancel. Consumers had to call three separate numbers to cancel, and cancellation periods sometimes ended before consumers got information in the mail.

Gayla Scott, 30, a Fort Myers single mom, lost almost $300.

"It can happen to anybody," she said.

Scott, who spoke at a news conference about the investigation Wednesday, said a company called Florida Dreamway Escapes called her last year. The caller said Scott qualified for a free vacation in Orlando.

Mom's treat for son

Scott said she wanted to treat her 12-year-old son for his upcoming birthday. She was told she had 10 days to cancel, and even if she did, she'd win a one-night stay in Orlando, she said.

But a couple of days after she received a packet about the vacation, the company deducted money from her account. When she called to cancel, she was told she could not get a refund. Instead, the company offered her $200 in gas vouchers.

Then she noticed more money was taken out of her account by two other companies: Travel Agents Go Direct and Prism Long Distance.

Scott eventually got her money back with assistance from the Better Business Bureau.

The federal inquiry is separate from a similar civil investigation by Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum.

McCollum's office is looking into the company's marketing practices as they relate to the sale of consumer data, unfair and deceptive trade practices regarding telemarketing sales and unauthorized debiting of consumer bank and credit accounts, according to Sandi Copes and the office's Web site.

Strategia is affiliated with FTN Promotions Inc., which was once based at 9641 Gulf Blvd. in Treasure Island. In 2000, Florida Travel Network, which did business at the same address, was ordered by the state Attorney General's Office to pay refunds to settle claims it duped consumers into buying vacation packages.

Complaints galore

The Better Business Bureau of Florida's West Coast has logged 174 complaints about the company in the last 36 months, according to the bureau's Web site. The Largo Police Department has received dozens of complaints about the company, according to Largo police Sgt. John Trebino.

As the company was searched Wednesday morning, county and police officials told employees to leave.

Leon Talpalar, 59, of Redington Beach, who had been at the company only five days, said he felt foolish and used.

"We just found out it's a scam," said Timothy Harvey, 42, of Largo, who started at the company two months ago. "... We were duped, too."

Times staff writers Abhi Ragnunathan and Carrie Weimar and Times researcher Angie Holan contributed to this report. Lorri Helfand can be reached at 445-4155 or lorri@sptimes.com

AT A GLANCE: The defendants

Companies: FTN Promotions Inc., Guardian Marketing Services Corp., Strategia Marketing LLC, Co-Compliance LLC, JPW Consultants Inc., Travel Agents Direct LLC, Agent's Travel Network Inc., Bay Pines Travel Inc. and Suntasia Properties Inc.

Company executives: Byron W. Wolf, Roy A. Eliasson, Alfred H. Wolf, Donald L. Booth, Jeffrey P. Wolf and John Louis Smith II.

sptimes.com/2007/07/26/Northpinellas/Largo_business_accuse.shtml

St. Petersburg Time newspaper article

Largo business accused of scam
A 25-year FTC official says it may be "the biggest telemarketing fraud I've ever seen."
By LORRI HELFAND and KAMEEL STANLEY
Published July 26, 2007

LARGO - The Federal Trade Commission raided Strategia Marketing on Wednesday, saying the Largo telemarketing company scammed tens of thousands of customers out of millions of dollars.

The FTC alleged in court documents filed Wednesday that Strategia, formerly called Suntasia, used at least 15 different business names to defraud consumers nationwide.

"I've been doing consumer fraud cases for the Federal Trade Commission for 25 years," said C. Steven Baker, director of the FTC's Midwest Region. "And I believe this may well be the biggest telemarketing fraud I've ever seen."

Strategia offered consumers supposedly free trial memberships in discount shopping and travel clubs, deceived them into divulging bank information and charged their accounts without authorization, the FTC claimed.

Since 2004, more than 5,000 formal consumer complaints were submitted to law enforcement agencies and the Better Business Bureau, Baker said, adding that on average only 8 percent of fraud victims ever officially complain.

Reached at his Safety Harbor home Wednesday night, Donald L. Booth, general counsel for Strategia, said the company didn't want to comment before reviewing the lawsuit.

After the FTC filed the complaint, the U.S. District Court in Tampa temporarily stopped the company's telemarketing operation, froze the assets of all defendants and appointed a receiver to temporarily run the company and its affiliates.

No criminal charges were filed Wednesday.

The FTC's suit names six individuals and nine companies - several doing business under various names - as defendants. The nine interrelated companies employ 700 to 800 people at the Ulmerton Road offices.

Starts with 'free' trial

According to the FTC's suit, the company's scheme worked this way:

Telemarketers called consumers offering "free" trial memberships in discount shopping and travel clubs. They tricked consumers into providing bank information with claims they were calling valued bank customers to verify account information, the FTC said.

The free gifts touted by the company had many undisclosed conditions that rendered them worthless, according to the suit.

Consumers were told they could keep those gifts even if they canceled. But that wasn't the case, the suit stated. Plus, it was nearly impossible to cancel. Consumers had to call three separate numbers to cancel, and cancellation periods sometimes ended before consumers got information in the mail.

Gayla Scott, 30, a Fort Myers single mom, lost almost $300.

"It can happen to anybody," she said.

Scott, who spoke at a news conference about the investigation Wednesday, said a company called Florida Dreamway Escapes called her last year. The caller said Scott qualified for a free vacation in Orlando.

Mom's treat for son

Scott said she wanted to treat her 12-year-old son for his upcoming birthday. She was told she had 10 days to cancel, and even if she did, she'd win a one-night stay in Orlando, she said.

But a couple of days after she received a packet about the vacation, the company deducted money from her account. When she called to cancel, she was told she could not get a refund. Instead, the company offered her $200 in gas vouchers.

Then she noticed more money was taken out of her account by two other companies: Travel Agents Go Direct and Prism Long Distance.

Scott eventually got her money back with assistance from the Better Business Bureau.

The federal inquiry is separate from a similar civil investigation by Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum.

McCollum's office is looking into the company's marketing practices as they relate to the sale of consumer data, unfair and deceptive trade practices regarding telemarketing sales and unauthorized debiting of consumer bank and credit accounts, according to Sandi Copes and the office's Web site.

Strategia is affiliated with FTN Promotions Inc., which was once based at 9641 Gulf Blvd. in Treasure Island. In 2000, Florida Travel Network, which did business at the same address, was ordered by the state Attorney General's Office to pay refunds to settle claims it duped consumers into buying vacation packages.

Complaints galore

The Better Business Bureau of Florida's West Coast has logged 174 complaints about the company in the last 36 months, according to the bureau's Web site. The Largo Police Department has received dozens of complaints about the company, according to Largo police Sgt. John Trebino.

As the company was searched Wednesday morning, county and police officials told employees to leave.

Leon Talpalar, 59, of Redington Beach, who had been at the company only five days, said he felt foolish and used.

"We just found out it's a scam," said Timothy Harvey, 42, of Largo, who started at the company two months ago. "... We were duped, too."

Times staff writers Abhi Ragnunathan and Carrie Weimar and Times researcher Angie Holan contributed to this report. Lorri Helfand can be reached at 445-4155 or lorri@sptimes.com

AT A GLANCE: The defendants

Companies: FTN Promotions Inc., Guardian Marketing Services Corp., Strategia Marketing LLC, Co-Compliance LLC, JPW Consultants Inc., Travel Agents Direct LLC, Agent's Travel Network Inc., Bay Pines Travel Inc. and Suntasia Properties Inc.

Company executives: Byron W. Wolf, Roy A. Eliasson, Alfred H. Wolf, Donald L. Booth, Jeffrey P. Wolf and John Louis Smith II.

sptimes.com/2007/07/26/Northpinellas/Largo_business_accuse.shtml

St. Petersburg Time newspaper article

Largo business accused of scam
A 25-year FTC official says it may be "the biggest telemarketing fraud I've ever seen."
By LORRI HELFAND and KAMEEL STANLEY
Published July 26, 2007

LARGO - The Federal Trade Commission raided Strategia Marketing on Wednesday, saying the Largo telemarketing company scammed tens of thousands of customers out of millions of dollars.

The FTC alleged in court documents filed Wednesday that Strategia, formerly called Suntasia, used at least 15 different business names to defraud consumers nationwide.

"I've been doing consumer fraud cases for the Federal Trade Commission for 25 years," said C. Steven Baker, director of the FTC's Midwest Region. "And I believe this may well be the biggest telemarketing fraud I've ever seen."

Strategia offered consumers supposedly free trial memberships in discount shopping and travel clubs, deceived them into divulging bank information and charged their accounts without authorization, the FTC claimed.

Since 2004, more than 5,000 formal consumer complaints were submitted to law enforcement agencies and the Better Business Bureau, Baker said, adding that on average only 8 percent of fraud victims ever officially complain.

Reached at his Safety Harbor home Wednesday night, Donald L. Booth, general counsel for Strategia, said the company didn't want to comment before reviewing the lawsuit.

After the FTC filed the complaint, the U.S. District Court in Tampa temporarily stopped the company's telemarketing operation, froze the assets of all defendants and appointed a receiver to temporarily run the company and its affiliates.

No criminal charges were filed Wednesday.

The FTC's suit names six individuals and nine companies - several doing business under various names - as defendants. The nine interrelated companies employ 700 to 800 people at the Ulmerton Road offices.

Starts with 'free' trial

According to the FTC's suit, the company's scheme worked this way:

Telemarketers called consumers offering "free" trial memberships in discount shopping and travel clubs. They tricked consumers into providing bank information with claims they were calling valued bank customers to verify account information, the FTC said.

The free gifts touted by the company had many undisclosed conditions that rendered them worthless, according to the suit.

Consumers were told they could keep those gifts even if they canceled. But that wasn't the case, the suit stated. Plus, it was nearly impossible to cancel. Consumers had to call three separate numbers to cancel, and cancellation periods sometimes ended before consumers got information in the mail.

Gayla Scott, 30, a Fort Myers single mom, lost almost $300.

"It can happen to anybody," she said.

Scott, who spoke at a news conference about the investigation Wednesday, said a company called Florida Dreamway Escapes called her last year. The caller said Scott qualified for a free vacation in Orlando.

Mom's treat for son

Scott said she wanted to treat her 12-year-old son for his upcoming birthday. She was told she had 10 days to cancel, and even if she did, she'd win a one-night stay in Orlando, she said.

But a couple of days after she received a packet about the vacation, the company deducted money from her account. When she called to cancel, she was told she could not get a refund. Instead, the company offered her $200 in gas vouchers.

Then she noticed more money was taken out of her account by two other companies: Travel Agents Go Direct and Prism Long Distance.

Scott eventually got her money back with assistance from the Better Business Bureau.

The federal inquiry is separate from a similar civil investigation by Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum.

McCollum's office is looking into the company's marketing practices as they relate to the sale of consumer data, unfair and deceptive trade practices regarding telemarketing sales and unauthorized debiting of consumer bank and credit accounts, according to Sandi Copes and the office's Web site.

Strategia is affiliated with FTN Promotions Inc., which was once based at 9641 Gulf Blvd. in Treasure Island. In 2000, Florida Travel Network, which did business at the same address, was ordered by the state Attorney General's Office to pay refunds to settle claims it duped consumers into buying vacation packages.

Complaints galore

The Better Business Bureau of Florida's West Coast has logged 174 complaints about the company in the last 36 months, according to the bureau's Web site. The Largo Police Department has received dozens of complaints about the company, according to Largo police Sgt. John Trebino.

As the company was searched Wednesday morning, county and police officials told employees to leave.

Leon Talpalar, 59, of Redington Beach, who had been at the company only five days, said he felt foolish and used.

"We just found out it's a scam," said Timothy Harvey, 42, of Largo, who started at the company two months ago. "... We were duped, too."

Times staff writers Abhi Ragnunathan and Carrie Weimar and Times researcher Angie Holan contributed to this report. Lorri Helfand can be reached at 445-4155 or lorri@sptimes.com

AT A GLANCE: The defendants

Companies: FTN Promotions Inc., Guardian Marketing Services Corp., Strategia Marketing LLC, Co-Compliance LLC, JPW Consultants Inc., Travel Agents Direct LLC, Agent's Travel Network Inc., Bay Pines Travel Inc. and Suntasia Properties Inc.

Company executives: Byron W. Wolf, Roy A. Eliasson, Alfred H. Wolf, Donald L. Booth, Jeffrey P. Wolf and John Louis Smith II.

sptimes.com/2007/07/26/Northpinellas/Largo_business_accuse.shtml

St. Petersburg Time newspaper article

Largo business accused of scam
A 25-year FTC official says it may be "the biggest telemarketing fraud I've ever seen."
By LORRI HELFAND and KAMEEL STANLEY
Published July 26, 2007

LARGO - The Federal Trade Commission raided Strategia Marketing on Wednesday, saying the Largo telemarketing company scammed tens of thousands of customers out of millions of dollars.

The FTC alleged in court documents filed Wednesday that Strategia, formerly called Suntasia, used at least 15 different business names to defraud consumers nationwide.

"I've been doing consumer fraud cases for the Federal Trade Commission for 25 years," said C. Steven Baker, director of the FTC's Midwest Region. "And I believe this may well be the biggest telemarketing fraud I've ever seen."

Strategia offered consumers supposedly free trial memberships in discount shopping and travel clubs, deceived them into divulging bank information and charged their accounts without authorization, the FTC claimed.

Since 2004, more than 5,000 formal consumer complaints were submitted to law enforcement agencies and the Better Business Bureau, Baker said, adding that on average only 8 percent of fraud victims ever officially complain.

Reached at his Safety Harbor home Wednesday night, Donald L. Booth, general counsel for Strategia, said the company didn't want to comment before reviewing the lawsuit.

After the FTC filed the complaint, the U.S. District Court in Tampa temporarily stopped the company's telemarketing operation, froze the assets of all defendants and appointed a receiver to temporarily run the company and its affiliates.

No criminal charges were filed Wednesday.

The FTC's suit names six individuals and nine companies - several doing business under various names - as defendants. The nine interrelated companies employ 700 to 800 people at the Ulmerton Road offices.

Starts with 'free' trial

According to the FTC's suit, the company's scheme worked this way:

Telemarketers called consumers offering "free" trial memberships in discount shopping and travel clubs. They tricked consumers into providing bank information with claims they were calling valued bank customers to verify account information, the FTC said.

The free gifts touted by the company had many undisclosed conditions that rendered them worthless, according to the suit.

Consumers were told they could keep those gifts even if they canceled. But that wasn't the case, the suit stated. Plus, it was nearly impossible to cancel. Consumers had to call three separate numbers to cancel, and cancellation periods sometimes ended before consumers got information in the mail.

Gayla Scott, 30, a Fort Myers single mom, lost almost $300.

"It can happen to anybody," she said.

Scott, who spoke at a news conference about the investigation Wednesday, said a company called Florida Dreamway Escapes called her last year. The caller said Scott qualified for a free vacation in Orlando.

Mom's treat for son

Scott said she wanted to treat her 12-year-old son for his upcoming birthday. She was told she had 10 days to cancel, and even if she did, she'd win a one-night stay in Orlando, she said.

But a couple of days after she received a packet about the vacation, the company deducted money from her account. When she called to cancel, she was told she could not get a refund. Instead, the company offered her $200 in gas vouchers.

Then she noticed more money was taken out of her account by two other companies: Travel Agents Go Direct and Prism Long Distance.

Scott eventually got her money back with assistance from the Better Business Bureau.

The federal inquiry is separate from a similar civil investigation by Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum.

McCollum's office is looking into the company's marketing practices as they relate to the sale of consumer data, unfair and deceptive trade practices regarding telemarketing sales and unauthorized debiting of consumer bank and credit accounts, according to Sandi Copes and the office's Web site.

Strategia is affiliated with FTN Promotions Inc., which was once based at 9641 Gulf Blvd. in Treasure Island. In 2000, Florida Travel Network, which did business at the same address, was ordered by the state Attorney General's Office to pay refunds to settle claims it duped consumers into buying vacation packages.

Complaints galore

The Better Business Bureau of Florida's West Coast has logged 174 complaints about the company in the last 36 months, according to the bureau's Web site. The Largo Police Department has received dozens of complaints about the company, according to Largo police Sgt. John Trebino.

As the company was searched Wednesday morning, county and police officials told employees to leave.

Leon Talpalar, 59, of Redington Beach, who had been at the company only five days, said he felt foolish and used.

"We just found out it's a scam," said Timothy Harvey, 42, of Largo, who started at the company two months ago. "... We were duped, too."

Times staff writers Abhi Ragnunathan and Carrie Weimar and Times researcher Angie Holan contributed to this report. Lorri Helfand can be reached at 445-4155 or lorri@sptimes.com

AT A GLANCE: The defendants

Companies: FTN Promotions Inc., Guardian Marketing Services Corp., Strategia Marketing LLC, Co-Compliance LLC, JPW Consultants Inc., Travel Agents Direct LLC, Agent's Travel Network Inc., Bay Pines Travel Inc. and Suntasia Properties Inc.

Company executives: Byron W. Wolf, Roy A. Eliasson, Alfred H. Wolf, Donald L. Booth, Jeffrey P. Wolf and John Louis Smith II.

sptimes.com/2007/07/26/Northpinellas/Largo_business_accuse.shtml

I AM A EX-EMPLOYEE OF SUNTASIA MARKETING WHEN I STARTED I WAS GIVEN A SPILL ABOUT WHAT THE CUSTOMER IS GETTNG AND HOW WONDERFUL THESE GIFTS ARE ETC. ON THE SCRIPT I WAS TOLD TO READ FAST AND GET THE CUSTOMER INTO SAYING OKAY OR YES.. THEY MADE SURE I EMPHASIZED ON THE YES AND OK PART. (EX) if you are not interestd please call he 800 number in your package and you wont be billed OK there is no obligation OK OK OK OK we had to rebuttle the mess out of people as of why it is safe to give your checking account number out over the phone DONT DO IT! HANG UP IMMEDIATLEY

WHEN I TYPED IN SUNTASIA IN YAHOO SEARCH I GOT RIP OFF REPORT ALL DOWN THE LIST I READ SOME OF THESE REPORTS. I QUIT THE NEXT DAY..

TOO ALL THE VICTIMS I DEEPLY APOLOGIZE AND I HOPE SUNTASIA MARKETING IS CLOSED DOWN FOR GOOOOOOD!

I was being harassed by this company over the last few days. I never gave them any information.

Today (Monday) I checked my bank account. Someone has stolen $500 from it. I never lost my card, have had privacy issues, or any problems to date with my account. I do not compromise my banking information.

Conincidence?? You decide.

What is going on with this company and why are they still in business? Spread the word...there's something up with this company.

Good luck to everyone who was robbed by these people.

Jessica
Chicago, IL

The following companies are ALL currently or were promoted by "Suntasia Marketing". Here is the information I've compiled on this company.


Suntasia Marketing, Inc.
8751 Ulmerton Rd
Largo, FL 33771

Tel#: 727-471-0276 or 1-800-NEW-TEAM

Website: suntasia.com
Email: info@suntasia.com

Better Business Bureau Record: Status-information on this company is being updated, and no report in available at this time.


Travel Agents Go Direct
11125 Park Blvd Ste 104-364
Seminole, FL 33772
Tel#: 1-888-546-8844 or (727) 471-1411

Website: travelagentsgodirect.com
Email: traveler@travelagentsgodirect.com

Better Business Bureau Record: Status-Unsatisfactory
Over 160 complaints about this company in the last 36 months.


FloridaWay Dream Escape
2655 Ulmerton Rd Ste 407
Clearwater, FL 33762-3337
Tel#: (888) 488-8770

Website: floridaway.net
Email: traveler@floridaway.net

Better Business Bureau Record: Status-Unsatisfactory
111 complaints about this company in the last 36 months.


Prism Communications
3665 East Bay Drive Ste 201B
Largo, FL 33771
Tel#: (888) 694-9151

Website: prismld.com
Email: talkto@prismld.com

Better Business Bureau Record: Status-Unknown
25 complaints about this company in the last 36 months.


Distinct Advantage
10500 Ulmerton Rd Suite 726-302
Largo, FL 33771
Tel#: (866) 545-5486

Website: distinct-advantage.net/pc_home.html
Email: info@freedomgold.com

Better Business Bureau Record: Status-Unsatisfactory
160 complaints about this company in the last 36 months.


Freedom Gold
10500 Ulmerton Rd Ste 726-302
Largo, FL 33758
Tel#: (800) 853-0473

Website: freedomgold.com
Email: N/A

Better Business Bureau Record: Status-Unsatisfactory
278 complaints about this company in the last 36 months


Agents Travel Network
3993 Tyrone Blvd Suite 608-182
Saint Petersburg, FL 33709

Tel#: (800) 853-9982

Website: agents-travel.net
Email: info@agents-travel.net

Better Business Bureau Record: Status-Unsatisfactory
230 complaints about this company in the last 36 months.


Teliflex Communications Unlimited Long Distance
3303 Seffner Drive
Holiday, Florida 34691

Tel#: 617-782-2900

Website: teliflex.com
Email: phoneservices@teliflex.com

Better Business Bureau Record: Status-Unsatisfactory
126 complaints about this company in the last 36 months

Suntasia Marketing according to their website also promotes other programs such as Leisure City, Freedom Ring Long Distance Service, Monster Mastercard, Variety! Spice of Your Life and Credit Life.

I have been searching for information on the companies listed above but have found nothing as of yet. I will be updating the list as changes occur. So far everything that is being marketed by Suntasia has had an unsatisfactory rating with the BBB. Currently the products being promoted by them are Travel Agents Go Direct, FloridaWay, Prism, Distinct Advantage and Freedom Gold.

I got a phone call from 727-683-1126 letting me know that I have $100 for gas and $400 for airlines. They knew my routing number, so I figured that they had the checking account number as well. I gave them the account number and figured I could cancel. I then became very suspicious, called my bank and "froze" the account within minutes of the phone call.

Now I have to take time off work, and go to the bank, and open a new checking account.

I work for a major media company, I will make sure that more of this information is spread to the appropriate people.

I got a phone call from 727-683-1126 letting me know that I have $100 for gas and $400 for airlines. They knew my routing number, so I figured that they had the checking account number as well. I gave them the account number and figured I could cancel. I then became very suspicious, called my bank and "froze" the account within minutes of the phone call.

Now I have to take time off work, and go to the bank, and open a new checking account.

I work for a major media company, I will make sure that more of this information is spread to the appropriate people.

I got a phone call from 727-683-1126 letting me know that I have $100 for gas and $400 for airlines. They knew my routing number, so I figured that they had the checking account number as well. I gave them the account number and figured I could cancel. I then became very suspicious, called my bank and "froze" the account within minutes of the phone call.

Now I have to take time off work, and go to the bank, and open a new checking account.

I work for a major media company, I will make sure that more of this information is spread to the appropriate people.

I got a phone call from 727-683-1126 letting me know that I have $100 for gas and $400 for airlines. They knew my routing number, so I figured that they had the checking account number as well. I gave them the account number and figured I could cancel. I then became very suspicious, called my bank and "froze" the account within minutes of the phone call.

Now I have to take time off work, and go to the bank, and open a new checking account.

I work for a major media company, I will make sure that more of this information is spread to the appropriate people.

HERE IS AN ACTUAL SCRIPT THEY USED OR STILL USE.

When they call people they use this Script.

*Agents Travel Network Script & Verification!!!!!!

Hi, (Customers name)

My name is __________ I'm a registered agent calling on behalf of *Agents Travel Network (or Travel Agents Direct which is what it's called now)in regards to your bank account. As a valued customer we are going to send you $400.00 in American Airline Saving Vouchers and two free nights of hotel accomodations, just for accepting a 14 day free trial into our *Agents Travel Network program.

* Note IT IS NOW CALLED TRAVEL AGENTS DIRECT

This program will give you the same hospitality benefits usually only available to travel professionals, such as discounts of up to 50% on cruises, rental cars and airline tickets. You'll also receive major discounts at thousands of resorts and hotels nationwide, including Hilton, Marriot and Radisson and you'll save a ton of money on selected theme park tickets. Your membership will arrive with your own personalized Agents Travel Network (now TAD)identity card.

After your 14 days, if you decide to keep it, it's only $19.95 a month billed to your checking account, with a one time activation fee of only $40.00. If you decide to cancel, just call the 800 number in your package during your free trial period, you'll never be billed, and there's no further obligation, Either way you still keep the airline vouchers and your free hotel accomodations, as our way of saying thanks for looking over the program. So you can't lose!

Now we will be shipping your package to (Verify Address) is that correct?

How does your name appear on your checking Account?

If different from customers name: are they authorized signer on this account?

What is the name of your bank?

And you opened your account in (Customers City and State)

Now we are going to pull up your information to confirm that everything is correct. Please Hold.

(Obtain the nine digit ABA routing # from your manager)

OK, (Customers Name) I'm going to verify your ABA routing number that's on the bottom left hand corner of your check book. If you can follow along with me to make sure the numbers are correct. (Confirm ABA Routing Number with customer) Is that Correct?

** Now there will be a symbol after those numbers I just verified with you, please go ahead and verify the next set of numbers, which is your account number.

Thank You!

** ASSUMING YOU GAVE THEM YOUR INFORMATION THEY THEN PREPARE TO RECORD THE CONVERSATION FOR BILLING PURPOSES. NOTICE ON THE RECORDING SCRIPT BELOW THAT THERE'S NO DATE SO YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN YOUR FREE TRAIL ENDS. THE ONLY DATE THEY RECORD IS THE DATE THEY CALLED YOU. ALL THE AGENT TELLS YOU IS THAT AFTER TWO WEEKS WHEN YOU RECIEVE THE PACKAGE IS WHEN YOU WILL BE BILLED IF YOU DON'T CALL TO CANCEL. PROBLEM HERE IS THAT YOU NOR SUNTASIA KNOW THE DATE YOU'LL GET THE PACKAGE EXACTLY B/C IT IS SHIPPED REGULAR MAIL. THIS IS SO THEY CAN CHARGE YOU AT ANYTIME IF THE PACKAGE EITHER NEVER ARRIVES OR GETS TO YOU LATER.


Verification Must Be Read VERBATIM.

Thanks for holding, the remaining portion of this call will be recorded OK??
(Must get affirmative, YES, OK, OR CORRECT) I'm speaking with (customers Name) and todays date is __________.

Now we will be shipping your package to (Customers Address) Is that correct? OK. Great ! And I'm showing your telephone number as (read customers telephone number back) For security purposes we need to attach a password to your file. What city were you born in ?

And what is your email address? These will act as passwords whenever You contact us.

How does your name appear on your checking account.

If different from customer name:(Are you an authorized signer on this account?)

What is the name, city & state of your bank?

Now, please read your routing number back to me that starts with a 0,1,2 or 3. Now please read back to me the account nunmber that YOU PROVIDED. Ok great.

After your 2 week free trial period, the program is just $19.95 a month with a one time activaction fee of $40.00 billed to the checking account YOU JUST PROVIDED to us. If you decide to cancel your membership, just call the 800-number in your package. Theirs no further obligation and the airline vouchers and hotel vouchers are yours to keep just for accepting the membership for the first 2 weeks. With your permission we'll rush your Agents Travel Network card (Now TAD) and materials to you and your benefits will start immediately. OK?

If funds are unavailable upon deposit after the free trial your bank may charge you a processing fee.

Now, (Customers name), you qualify for 2 additional packages

!!AGENTS TRAVEL NETWORK ---> FLORIDA PASSPORT UPSELL!!! (Changed to Floridaway)

As a new VIP member The Florida Passport (FloridaWay) would like to sponsor your first travel agent fam trip. Its called the Fun in the Sun Dream Escape, you'll receive 6 days 5 nights of hotel accomodations in Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. You will receive this on a 7 day free review basis. This fam trip is subject to blackout dates of Christmas, New Years & Special Events. These vacations are fully transferable and will be sent to you with a travel date of 1 year from today, which can be changed at no additional charge. This vacation package comes to you risk free for 7 days. If, during your free review period, you do not call to cancel,the promotional fee of only
One Hundred Forty-Nine Dollars will be applied to the checking account we have just verified with You. OK? Great. (Must Get an Affirmative, Yes, Ok, or Correct)

!!!Teliflex Communications UpSell!!! (Changed to Prism Communications)

As a Special Bonus you will also receive a free 21 day trial of unlimited long distance with voice mail from Teliflex communications (Now Prism). This has nothing to do with your home phone its in the form of a calling card and comes with a pin number. You can use this service from any touch tone phone at your home or office and call anyone, anytime, anywhere, coast-to-coast and talk as long as you want, free for 21 days. If after your free trial you decide to continue its only $49.95 a month billed to the checking account used today and thereafter, but keep in mind you are under no obligation to continue. If You feel its not for you simply call the customer service number within the free trial period and you will never be billed... its that simple... So with your permission under the terms described your billing information will be transferred to TELILEX Communications (Prism) and they'll send out your free trail in the mail. OKAY?? (must get an affirmative)

*** Thank you for your time and have a good day/night.

*** Note You are told to hang up immediately and not engage in any other conversations with the customer b/c he or she might end up asking too many questions.


END OF SCRIPT..


Notice a few things on this script. I capitalized some words purposely b/c it lets you know how they get away with charging you. The words are "Now read back to me the account YOU PROVIDED" or ". . .billed to the checking account YOU JUST PROVIDED". This places YOU responsible NOT them for giving out your information in order for them to have the right to bill you.

Another thing that sticks out is they tell you to call an 800 number that's on your package to cancel the travel program but on the second package (Florida Passport or Way) they just say to call and cancel. On the last package (Teleflex or Prism) they say to call customer service # to cancel. Why? Because the truth is that they have 3 different numbers for you to call if you want to cancel everything. The agents are told NOT to give this information out to the customer in fear that they may cancel on the recording. They are also not allowed to give out the customer service number b/c many of them cancel everything on the same day. When the customer starts asking questions like, "Do I have to call 3 different numbers to cancel everything?" The agents are told to say, "if you have any questions or problems just call the customer service number on your package and they will handle everything". The customer might ask what is that number and the agent will say, "it will be on your package the day you get it". The truth is that any numbers that the customer sees on the packages or gets from the agent themselves ALL lead to the same place Suntasia Marketing customer service department. When you call they tell you in order to cancel the other two packages you must call these numbers. Again it ALL leads back to the same place. They do this to frustrate you enough so you get tired of trying to cancel thus buying enough time to be billed later.

Finally, as for the travel discount card and the 21 day trial calling card, if you don't send back the travel card you'll get billed. The calling card has to be de-activated, by you writing a letter to them to do so, otherwise you'll get billed. Another thing is even if you liked using the calling card (most of us have cell phones so there's no need for this unless you are that dumb to pay $49.95 a month for long distance), the pin number often doesn't work at all and you constantly have to call in to customer service to either get it fixed or get another pin number.

Hopefully this will bring you more insight on how these crooks work. I also know what rebuttals they use in case the customer has any objections to the products they sell. I will post those in the near future.

To begin with Suntasia Marketing is located on 8751 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL 33771 and their corporate website is www.Suntasia.com. Bryon Wolf is President and CEO, Michael Berndgen is the Chief Financial Officer and Roy Eliasson is the Vice President of Management Information Systems.

There are about 8 rooms total that hold about 24 agents in each. Six of those rooms are outbound (an automatic dialer that calls you), the other 2 rooms are for inbound calls (people who call in and are curious about who called them or maybe have a complaint). There is also one big room for customer service only, where they are suppose to handle the cancellations or any other concerns from customers like being billed without having the product in hand. Any phone numbers the agent gives you for their products they're selling(Travel Agents Direct, Floridaway, Prism Communications, Dinstinct Advantage, Freedom Gold etc), ALL lead to the same place, SUNTASIA MARKETING in Largo.

Your name, address and phone number are obtained through a third party company that they purchase it from. The third party company gets their information by the products you buy, or any other transactions you do that contains your personal information. They DO NOT and are NOT allowed to have or sell your SS#, DOB etc. Once the information is bought by companies like Suntasia, it is put into their dialer system to call you. The dialer clearly labels the list of names that are brand new leads and also how many times that specific list has been called. Unfortunately, this information is only seen by the manager of the room. He or she has access to it from the bridge (the big, high desk overseeing the agents when you enter the room).

Vericheck is a software system connecting them to all the banks nationwide that confirm whether you have an open checking account or not. Grocery stores, retail stores all use them to scan your checks to make sure your account is legit.

The only information the agent has on their computer at the time when they call is your name, address and telephone number. That's it. After they give you their mumbo jumbo script about how you qualified and the free gifts (gas, airline vouchers etc) you'll be receiving, they tell you it's a reward for maintaining an active checking and ONLY active checking account holders qualify. They ask you for your bank name and the city you opened it in. The reason is b/c they can obtain your routing number through what else? That's right Vericheck! It is only then that many are fooled to believe that the agent has your account number as well. The excuse the agent uses is, we need you to verify the number to make sure it's you, but when you call their bluff they either hang up or put a manager on the phone to push for the sale and get the account. Their tactics are slick even downright insulting.

They usually say that you made a purchase through one of their 400, 1000, 1700 affiliates (pick a number yourself) and that is how your name was entered into their system for this special promotion. ALL A BIG LIE! Like I said before, they bought the names and numbers from another company for anywhere from .20 cents to up to .60 cents per name. Oh and by the way this same information can be sold to another company by the people who bought them in the first place.

If you make them mad the agent can recycle your name back into the system. B9 is the code for DNC (Do Not Call List) on their system but unfortunately many times it is not used b/c they want to get back at you. The only way to get these people off your phone is by sending them a CEASE and DESIST letter to their corporate address. Donald Booth is their lawyer and the letter should be addressed to him. When they call again ask them for their FULL name and let them know they need to code your phone call as a B9, Do Not Call, after you hang up with them.

This company was raided by the feds a couple of years ago. They were there to look at what the agents were saying over the phone with their scripts. This is why they watch the agents to make sure they are not using any other scripts but their own. Sadly some managers turn a blind eye when their top sellers re-word the script to their own liking. I have one of those scripts that are used.

Thank God I don't work there anymore.

To begin with Suntasia Marketing is located on 8751 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL 33771 and their corporate website is www.Suntasia.com. Bryon Wolf is President and CEO, Michael Berndgen is the Chief Financial Officer and Roy Eliasson is the Vice President of Management Information Systems.

There are about 8 rooms total that hold about 24 agents in each. Six of those rooms are outbound (an automatic dialer that calls you), the other 2 rooms are for inbound calls (people who call in and are curious about who called them or maybe have a complaint). There is also one big room for customer service only, where they are suppose to handle the cancellations or any other concerns from customers like being billed without having the product in hand. Any phone numbers the agent gives you for their products they're selling(Travel Agents Direct, Floridaway, Prism Communications, Dinstinct Advantage, Freedom Gold etc), ALL lead to the same place, SUNTASIA MARKETING in Largo.

Your name, address and phone number are obtained through a third party company that they purchase it from. The third party company gets their information by the products you buy, or any other transactions you do that contains your personal information. They DO NOT and are NOT allowed to have or sell your SS#, DOB etc. Once the information is bought by companies like Suntasia, it is put into their dialer system to call you. The dialer clearly labels the list of names that are brand new leads and also how many times that specific list has been called. Unfortunately, this information is only seen by the manager of the room. He or she has access to it from the bridge (the big, high desk overseeing the agents when you enter the room).

Vericheck is a software system connecting them to all the banks nationwide that confirm whether you have an open checking account or not. Grocery stores, retail stores all use them to scan your checks to make sure your account is legit.

The only information the agent has on their computer at the time when they call is your name, address and telephone number. That's it. After they give you their mumbo jumbo script about how you qualified and the free gifts (gas, airline vouchers etc) you'll be receiving, they tell you it's a reward for maintaining an active checking and ONLY active checking account holders qualify. They ask you for your bank name and the city you opened it in. The reason is b/c they can obtain your routing number through what else? That's right Vericheck! It is only then that many are fooled to believe that the agent has your account number as well. The excuse the agent uses is, we need you to verify the number to make sure it's you, but when you call their bluff they either hang up or put a manager on the phone to push for the sale and get the account. Their tactics are slick even downright insulting.

They usually say that you made a purchase through one of their 400, 1000, 1700 affiliates (pick a number yourself) and that is how your name was entered into their system for this special promotion. ALL A BIG LIE! Like I said before, they bought the names and numbers from another company for anywhere from .20 cents to up to .60 cents per name. Oh and by the way this same information can be sold to another company by the people who bought them in the first place.

If you make them mad the agent can recycle your name back into the system. B9 is the code for DNC (Do Not Call List) on their system but unfortunately many times it is not used b/c they want to get back at you. The only way to get these people off your phone is by sending them a CEASE and DESIST letter to their corporate address. Donald Booth is their lawyer and the letter should be addressed to him. When they call again ask them for their FULL name and let them know they need to code your phone call as a B9, Do Not Call, after you hang up with them.

This company was raided by the feds a couple of years ago. They were there to look at what the agents were saying over the phone with their scripts. This is why they watch the agents to make sure they are not using any other scripts but their own. Sadly some managers turn a blind eye when their top sellers re-word the script to their own liking. I have one of those scripts that are used.

Thank God I don't work there anymore.

To begin with Suntasia Marketing is located on 8751 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL 33771 and their corporate website is www.Suntasia.com. Bryon Wolf is President and CEO, Michael Berndgen is the Chief Financial Officer and Roy Eliasson is the Vice President of Management Information Systems.

There are about 8 rooms total that hold about 24 agents in each. Six of those rooms are outbound (an automatic dialer that calls you), the other 2 rooms are for inbound calls (people who call in and are curious about who called them or maybe have a complaint). There is also one big room for customer service only, where they are suppose to handle the cancellations or any other concerns from customers like being billed without having the product in hand. Any phone numbers the agent gives you for their products they're selling(Travel Agents Direct, Floridaway, Prism Communications, Dinstinct Advantage, Freedom Gold etc), ALL lead to the same place, SUNTASIA MARKETING in Largo.

Your name, address and phone number are obtained through a third party company that they purchase it from. The third party company gets their information by the products you buy, or any other transactions you do that contains your personal information. They DO NOT and are NOT allowed to have or sell your SS#, DOB etc. Once the information is bought by companies like Suntasia, it is put into their dialer system to call you. The dialer clearly labels the list of names that are brand new leads and also how many times that specific list has been called. Unfortunately, this information is only seen by the manager of the room. He or she has access to it from the bridge (the big, high desk overseeing the agents when you enter the room).

Vericheck is a software system connecting them to all the banks nationwide that confirm whether you have an open checking account or not. Grocery stores, retail stores all use them to scan your checks to make sure your account is legit.

The only information the agent has on their computer at the time when they call is your name, address and telephone number. That's it. After they give you their mumbo jumbo script about how you qualified and the free gifts (gas, airline vouchers etc) you'll be receiving, they tell you it's a reward for maintaining an active checking and ONLY active checking account holders qualify. They ask you for your bank name and the city you opened it in. The reason is b/c they can obtain your routing number through what else? That's right Vericheck! It is only then that many are fooled to believe that the agent has your account number as well. The excuse the agent uses is, we need you to verify the number to make sure it's you, but when you call their bluff they either hang up or put a manager on the phone to push for the sale and get the account. Their tactics are slick even downright insulting.

They usually say that you made a purchase through one of their 400, 1000, 1700 affiliates (pick a number yourself) and that is how your name was entered into their system for this special promotion. ALL A BIG LIE! Like I said before, they bought the names and numbers from another company for anywhere from .20 cents to up to .60 cents per name. Oh and by the way this same information can be sold to another company by the people who bought them in the first place.

If you make them mad the agent can recycle your name back into the system. B9 is the code for DNC (Do Not Call List) on their system but unfortunately many times it is not used b/c they want to get back at you. The only way to get these people off your phone is by sending them a CEASE and DESIST letter to their corporate address. Donald Booth is their lawyer and the letter should be addressed to him. When they call again ask them for their FULL name and let them know they need to code your phone call as a B9, Do Not Call, after you hang up with them.

This company was raided by the feds a couple of years ago. They were there to look at what the agents were saying over the phone with their scripts. This is why they watch the agents to make sure they are not using any other scripts but their own. Sadly some managers turn a blind eye when their top sellers re-word the script to their own liking. I have one of those scripts that are used.

Thank God I don't work there anymore.

To begin with Suntasia Marketing is located on 8751 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL 33771 and their corporate website is www.Suntasia.com. Bryon Wolf is President and CEO, Michael Berndgen is the Chief Financial Officer and Roy Eliasson is the Vice President of Management Information Systems.

There are about 8 rooms total that hold about 24 agents in each. Six of those rooms are outbound (an automatic dialer that calls you), the other 2 rooms are for inbound calls (people who call in and are curious about who called them or maybe have a complaint). There is also one big room for customer service only, where they are suppose to handle the cancellations or any other concerns from customers like being billed without having the product in hand. Any phone numbers the agent gives you for their products they're selling(Travel Agents Direct, Floridaway, Prism Communications, Dinstinct Advantage, Freedom Gold etc), ALL lead to the same place, SUNTASIA MARKETING in Largo.

Your name, address and phone number are obtained through a third party company that they purchase it from. The third party company gets their information by the products you buy, or any other transactions you do that contains your personal information. They DO NOT and are NOT allowed to have or sell your SS#, DOB etc. Once the information is bought by companies like Suntasia, it is put into their dialer system to call you. The dialer clearly labels the list of names that are brand new leads and also how many times that specific list has been called. Unfortunately, this information is only seen by the manager of the room. He or she has access to it from the bridge (the big, high desk overseeing the agents when you enter the room).

Vericheck is a software system connecting them to all the banks nationwide that confirm whether you have an open checking account or not. Grocery stores, retail stores all use them to scan your checks to make sure your account is legit.

The only information the agent has on their computer at the time when they call is your name, address and telephone number. That's it. After they give you their mumbo jumbo script about how you qualified and the free gifts (gas, airline vouchers etc) you'll be receiving, they tell you it's a reward for maintaining an active checking and ONLY active checking account holders qualify. They ask you for your bank name and the city you opened it in. The reason is b/c they can obtain your routing number through what else? That's right Vericheck! It is only then that many are fooled to believe that the agent has your account number as well. The excuse the agent uses is, we need you to verify the number to make sure it's you, but when you call their bluff they either hang up or put a manager on the phone to push for the sale and get the account. Their tactics are slick even downright insulting.

They usually say that you made a purchase through one of their 400, 1000, 1700 affiliates (pick a number yourself) and that is how your name was entered into their system for this special promotion. ALL A BIG LIE! Like I said before, they bought the names and numbers from another company for anywhere from .20 cents to up to .60 cents per name. Oh and by the way this same information can be sold to another company by the people who bought them in the first place.

If you make them mad the agent can recycle your name back into the system. B9 is the code for DNC (Do Not Call List) on their system but unfortunately many times it is not used b/c they want to get back at you. The only way to get these people off your phone is by sending them a CEASE and DESIST letter to their corporate address. Donald Booth is their lawyer and the letter should be addressed to him. When they call again ask them for their FULL name and let them know they need to code your phone call as a B9, Do Not Call, after you hang up with them.

This company was raided by the feds a couple of years ago. They were there to look at what the agents were saying over the phone with their scripts. This is why they watch the agents to make sure they are not using any other scripts but their own. Sadly some managers turn a blind eye when their top sellers re-word the script to their own liking. I have one of those scripts that are used.

Thank God I don't work there anymore.