Over 2,000 "credit card" spam messages from myFico Credit Card links....be forewarned!!!

[CBear]

The story is below - and at first - it looked like myFico was taking the situation seriously. Now - it's been five days and no action has been taken. myFico apparently likes supporting unethical banks - as long as they can make a buck - and as long as the credit card bank changes the name of cards to fool the end users...

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After enrolling in the myFico program I decided to take a look at the credit card offers offered through the myFico site as suggestions. These cards are advertised on the myFico site - but link to the credit card's website. I was in the process of enrolling for a New Millenium card, and had entered my information - but before hitting "Submit" thought (belatedly) - "maybe I should check these guys out first!" I backed out, closed the tab - enough said. I did my due diligence and found TONS of negative feedback on New Millenium and decided not to "go there".

However, within TWO hours, of submitting my information to this bank (turns out they are also the bank behind the First Option card offered on the myFico site) - I was receiving credit card spam. Not a little spam - I'm talking HUNDREDS of messages! I was appalled - I only went to this site because it was linked through myFico - and I thought they were reputable! They obviously sold my email address immediately to scammers.

I called the New Millenium Bank - no one has ever returned my calls. I called First Option (not associated with New Millenium, but having the same first name)  - and the first thing they said was "That bank is bad news. If they have any of your information, we recommend closing your bank accounts. And here's the number for the New Jersey Banking Commission and the FTC." 

Needless to say - I was shocked. This is a bank that is linked from the myFico site. 

On calling myFico - I got a massive runaround - from "it's not our responsibility what they do...", etc, etc., etc.

As of today I have over 1300 spam messages, all of them from credit card companies -  I have had to close and move ALL of my bank accounts and monitor them for unauthorized withdrawals.(First Option says they have some people that they take 99.99 dollars out PER MONTH!). I have also had to change my email address that I have had for years because of this.

My question is - why is myFico linked to such an unethical bank - and not taking responsibility for removing it from their "marketing" campaign? Do they need the money THIS badly????

Chana Campos

 At first from myFico -

Thanks for bringing this to our attention, CBear! We're very concerned and are seriously looking into it. I'll let you know the outcome shortly.

ETA: New Millenium Bank has been removed the myFICO credit card offer program. (emphasis mine)

Sorry you had this experience, CBear!
 

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Then I discovered  that the bank had just changed the name on the CARD! and it was STILL New Millenium Bank issuing the card!  So, I called this to myFico's attention - and have gotten ZERO response. 

myFico is doing business with an incredibly unsavory bank - and doesn't mind exposing its customers to them...I'm guessing that New Millenium Bank is sending significant advertising dollars myFico's way.

WHY NO RESPONSE myFICO????

CBear

[CHARGE_IT]

This should also be located on the credit card thread.

CI

[fused]

Must you post this in the forums? What makes you think forum members can answer these questions?

[Creditaddict]

In the end does Myfico have ANYTHING to do with these credit cards that are posted there??

I mean if you google a credit card for bad credit Millenium will be right at the tops of the lists and if you give one of those websites your e-mail, your in for a surprise from ALL the creditors that offer products to people with bad credit, and payday loans etc.

Sorry to say but in my opinion in the end, your the only one that gave your e-mail address and call it a lesson learned to ask board members about banks you are thinking about or do the research like you did in the end but do it before you give out any of your information. 

I call Myfico a hosting site, kind of like Craigslist, you can't blame a host because they can't track it all. 

[Anonymous]

"..... I was in the process of enrolling for a New Millenium card, and had entered my information - but before hitting "Submit" thought (belatedly) - "maybe I should check these guys out first!" I backed out, closed the tab - enough said. 

However, within TWO hours, of submitting my information to this bank ....."

Wait, you backed out and closed the tab or you submitted it?  You said you did both...that makes no sense.  There is no conspiracy going on.  

MyFico is just a site.  The site is a business.  I don't know what email service you have but ALL email services have spam blocking.  You're making your life a very stressful one it seems.  

[CBear]

Sorry, you're right, I wasn't clear.

I had entered all the information - but never hit the "Submit button. I closed the tab. It is extremely easy to fake an "OnClick" event in a website - and that's how I believe they were able to retrieve my information. 

I wasn't worried until I read the reviews, contacted the bank with the unfortunate first name as the credit card "First Option" - and was told by *them* to close my bank accounts because these are such bad folks - and NEVER heard back from New Millenium Bank. 

What I am furious about is having to close an email that I had had for years - yes, GMail catches spam - but 5% gets through - and if you inadvertently click - you are in trouble if the site is serving up malware. (I'm an IT Security professional, btw.)

As for this being a "business" - well, why is myFico professing concern, telling me that they aren't going to do business with them (removing them from their marketing strategy) - and then allowing them to simply do business with them by changing the credit card name. 

That just seems a *little* coincidental. Frankly, there has been no response in 5 days - they said they were "taking it seriously" - which seems pretty funny now.

CBear

[CBear]

It was. myFico removed it back here.

Thanks!

CBear

[CBear]

I don't think they CAN answer these questions. But, I'm trying to protect your customers from the experience *I* had - which myFico doesn't seem to have the inclination to do.

CBear

[CBear]

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Sorry, but wrong. I *didn't* give them my email address...I backed out from the site by clicking the tab closed.

I believe (because it is extremely easy to do) that the site faked an ""OnClick" event. It is trivial to do that with a simple Perl or PHP function call. I *never* hit the Submit button.

First Option Bank (whose name New Millenium uses for a card) advised me to close my bank accounts, etc. My problem is that myFico trys to engender an aura of trust and respectability - that, in my view, is not justified

by their business association with scam artists like this.

Thanks for your response,

CBear

[haulingthescoreup]

I've wandered all over the myFICO forums for 2 years now, and I have never, ever had this happen to me. And I was a member here, just like you, for a long time before I became a moderator, so I don't think that I have some sort of mysterious immunity.

And I've read a bunch of angry posts (none of which have been censored or deleted, btw) by members who were unhappy with the myFICO CC recommendation link, but it was mainly because Discover was represented as easy to get or something. I've never seen anyone with an experience like yours.

I'm not discounting what happened to you. I'd be really p.o.'d if I had to change my e-mail addy. But you are the only person that I have ever, ever heard this happening to, and I'm sorry, but I don't think it was evil click recorders here.

Barry did look into this for you, as I recall. Perhaps some things can't be accomplished instantaneously?