MYBEN
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HOW I WAS SCAMMED!, by Louise F. Barnett

On August 22, 2011, I received my monthly bank statement from SunTrust Bank. It showed a withdrawal of $447.35 from my checking account and an image of this "pre-authorized", "no signature required" check, dated July 25, 2011. That image also showed "Customer Service and Refund Policy, (866), 304-2401". Since I had not pre-authorized it, I promptly called that number. I was asked if I would like to hear their original phone call to me. They played a recording of a voice which gave my name and my checking account #, with no preliminary "Hello, This is so and so offering you" etc. etc. I asked for a refund. No problem! I would be receiving a package in a few days. I should return it to the post office, get a tracking #, call the above phone # with that # and they would return the money within 21 days. I did this, returning the package on Sept. 2.
At this point I enlisted the aid of my local SunTrust Bank manager, Fran Haynes. Over the next 2 months she made repeated calls, at least 5, to "Lina", at "Third Party Customer Service Co.", assured each time that the money would be returned within 21 or 7 or 14 business days. We gave up on Nov. 8 at which time I closed that account and filed a fraud report with SunTrust. They turned down my request for a refund because I had reported it too late.
If you type in "MyBen Champlain NY" you will see story after story like mine, a couple of them with the same exact amount of money extracted. The "Company" seems to have a number of variations on its name and a few different addresses in Champlain.
The Police in Champlain are very familiar with this scam but it is complicated to prosecute because the company is headquartered in Montreal.
Louise Barnett