Well the other day I received a call, I was told that I had won a $250 online shopping spree. This should have been my first sign that this was a scam, I hadn't signed up for anything. But I continued to talk to them. They started to talk about the shopping spree for awhile, giving essentially the same information over and over.

Eventually they got to a point where they said something about me having the opportunity to participate in a special magazine offer. At that point I was already worn out with all the talk of a some free money, and the wear and tear of the day. So I went along.

They did this process where they suckered me into giving them my credit card number. They also did this thing were an automated voice ask you questions and you answer. They said it was procedure. After that was done they said they were gonna charge my credit card $49.95 for the first month, and that they would charge me the first day of each month for 29 months.

Like I said before I was exhausted, I just went along with it, already thinking of using the shopping spree money to get myself an iPod Touch (god what a lame product placement. I hope Apple reads this. I did it for them. Maybe I'll finally get my new iPod.)

Then about a week later I receive a letter telling me all that I had 'agreed' to. I had agreed to pay nearly $1,200 to them for magazines. On top of that my of $250 shopping spree became a $250 gas card. They said that I would have send in a form with my signature to activate the gas card.

Good thing for me I was in my right state of mind. It was obvious they were trying to make me sign a contract obligating me to pay the entire so-called 'agreement'. The first thing I did was block my credit card from receiving any more charges. Then I called the Family Readers Club number they gave me. Of course, that number ended up going to the voicemail of some girl named Kimberly. So I called the number they used to contact me from my Caller ID. I spoke to them and they gave this crap that I had agreed. So I spoke to the supervisor and she told me that whenever I received the magazines to return them, and I would receive a refund.

I agreed and hanged up. But I know I will not be receiving any refund or any packages anytime soon. That's a $49.95 I will never see again. But if I learned anything it's that I should never believe anything that says I'll receive a shopping spree, if I buy some magazines.

Jonathan
Los Angeles, California
U.S.A.