Integrity Program LLC Complaint
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Integrity Program LLC Magazine Scam
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Category:
Door to door sales people
Integrity Program Bogus Magazine Subscriptions RIPOFF Las Vegas, Nevada
Company
Integrity Program
Address:
2620 S. Maryland Parkway #933
Las Vegas Nevada 89109
U.S.A.
Phone Number:
987-654.3210 (bogus)
I live in Galveston County, Texas and I was a victim of the Integrity Program LLC Magazine Rip Off on March 7th, 2007. Two young men came to my door selling magazine subscriptions in my neighborhood. I talked with them for a while, listened to what they said, asked questions, decided to help out, and got scammed. I started having uneasy feelings about it after they left. After re-thinking some of the things that were said, that didn't make sense in hind sight. Knowing my right to cancel a business transaction within three days, I called the phone number I was given to cancel the order, of course the number was not a good one.
I immediately googled Integrity Programs and saw the links to other rip offs by the company, I use the term, company, loosely. I called my bank and put a "stop pay" on the check. I had to pay to put the "stop pay" on my check so I was out $25 and the emotional distress caused by the incident. I called the local police and filed a report, hopefully to stop anyone else in my area from being targeted as well.
My situation is very similiar to the ones I read when I googled Integrety Programs. Wish I had googled it before writing the check. The young men selling magazines said it was to help raise money to go to cooking school in France, that they were students at the Epicurean School in Houston. I asked for identification and was shown a legitimate looking ID. They also used lines about living in the neighborhood adjacent to mine, specific streets, and asked me if I knew my neighbor was sick, which she is??? I was told about one of the young men's father being in Irag, etc. The young men we're pretty "crafty" with their scheme. I consider myself to be fairly aware of the scams going around these days but this one caught me off guard.
I hope more people become aware of the scam.
Regards,
Marilyn
Galveston County, Texas
U.S.A.
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Reader Comments:
Posted by capewood on 06/18/2007
They got me on March 2, 2007 in Galveston county.
Posted by sanmarcoskat on 06/19/2007
College age kid came to friend's door in Novato, CA (claimed to live down the street) seeking "donation for his UCLA theater group to perform in a John Cleese theater production in London". No receipt, no brochure, no ID - friend was scammed to give $$. Friend called bank and cancelled check after researching the fraud of http://www.integritypgm.com/ and reading of other horror stories. Scam artists!
Posted by bohammertime on 06/20/2007
They were out in CA (June 07) making up stories and scamming people left and right. The saddest part is, these young adults often come from very sad/bad backgrounds and are scooped up by these shady companies who abuse them and make them think this is the way for them to improve their lives. The "independent contractors" as the company calls them(to protect themselves) from having to take responsibility for them are young, and desperate, some are dangerous. They are fighting to have enough money to even eat daily. It is a tragic, abusive cycle and the Integrity PGM compnay is run by corrupt and vicious people. Please warn others about them to avoid being scammed. Also call the police to report them in the area.
Posted by shayla.sisler on 07/13/2007
I live in Oakland, Ca. I just got scammed by these people too. Same story, neighbors blah blah. Has anyone ever gotten their money back at all? I am thinking of disputing my check that they already cashed through my bank.
Posted by friscogeorge on 09/06/2007
I live in San Diego, and I was scammed too. A guy came by on June 2, 2007 and said he was our neighbor. We were new to the neighborhood and did not doubt him. He said he was trying to fund a trip from school and his Mom said to come out and meet the neighbors to see if we would help. I bought the cheapest thing on his order which was a cookbook for $48 to help him out. When weeks and months went by no sign of the cookbook in the mail I started to suspect something fishy. I have a record that they cashed my check. I tried contacting the company but the contact info was bogus. I googled "Integrity PGM" the company I made the check to and realized this was all a scam. I feel soo cheated. I am kicking myself for not photocopying that guys ID. By the way he showed me what at the time looked like a legit ID. That guys name was "Daniel". I got scamed. I hope this email reaches others in my local areas of San Diego County and around the country. This will not happen to me again, I hope it does not happen to you.
Frisco
San Diego
Posted by katzmeeow77 on 09/17/2007
Damn that guy who came to my door on a Friday evening when my husband and I were enjoying a beautiful September evening together. He sold his story to me and I gave him a check for $27. After thinking about it I realized he never showed me any documentation frm the University of Illinois indicating he was trying to raise $$ for his trip to London to work with the BBC. I called a neighbor and we compaired stories and realized these guys going around were SCAMMING us! I've placed a stop paymnt on my check AND closed the account. You don't want these people to have your routing and checking account #. Unfortunately my neighbor gave them cash. NEVER AGAIN!!!
Posted by xelpmoc2 on 10/15/2007
These guys were in Smithfield Virginia October 15, 2007. The gentleman who came to my door somehow found his way into my house and seated at my table. After twenty minuetes of something close to sexual harassment I wrote him the check to just get him out of my house (should have spent the money on self defense/assertive classes). He scammed many in the neighborhood including a magistrate and a fireman-s don't feel bad for eating their lies. Call 911 ASAP after they leave and report them!
Posted by zorabooth on 10/16/2007
I fell for it too -- same scam -- two kids claiming to be the son of a Doctor in the subdivision across the street from me -- knew the names of mutual neighbors, etc. The one kid said that he was selling magazines to help pay for a trip to London because he had earned an internship with the BBC and had dreams of becoming a sportscaster for ESPN. He said his mother came up with a great idea -- whatever magazine I purchased would be donated to the troops in Iraq -- this little twerp was so smooth he got me to buy two subscriptions for $72 each! I can't believe I fell for this scam - especially since I work at a bank and see our customers getting scammed and preyed on almost everyday!
Posted by apc8303 on 10/16/2007
As of 10/15/07 these guys were in Lexington KY. The guy at our door explained he was a UK architecture student and his class was selling magazine subscriptions that would be sent to our soldiers in Iraq! He said he was a neighbor, even asked if we knew so and so on this street or that street. In short he was slick, too slick. But, my daughter was hooked and I didn't want to make a scene AND I knew the banks were closed. After he left I went to work on the computer and found a lot of complaints about his company, Integrity PGM. I called my bank early the next morning and put stop payments on the checks. Then the bank charged us $58 in fees to cancell two checks, but thats better than a pair of $48 checks. Hmmm....... I wonder if they're working together!
Posted by mgoatandv on 10/19/2007
We were scammed this week in Virginia Beach, VA too. A college age kid said he was raising money for a college band competition in California. He mentioned that he lived on a street in my neighborhood and that his mom walks their golden retriever around the neighborhood - "You've probably seen her" he said. He even went so far as to wave to a woman who was jogging by, saying that he knew her. Later that day, I talked to my neighbor who said that a guy came to their door the night before trying to sell magazines. She said her husband refused, and then the guy became rude, and then left. I was trying to figure out how they knew names of some of the neighbors, but then I remember that my friend next door called me earlier this week and said that she thought she saw a guy looking through people's mailboxes at night . . . that's how they find out people's names! After I saw this website, I immediately cancelled my check and the one my husband wrote the night before - he was trying to surprise me and the kids by buying magazines and books that we liked. I already told my neighbors to beware, and let everyone know about these scam artists.
Posted by mers045 on 11/15/2007
I live in Houston and got taken for $40 cash today. I normally am not so gullible, but I work from home and was very busy, had the pool guy here trying to talk to me, etc. If I'd had a moment to think, I would have realized the kid was giving me too much information. Told me he lived on a street in the neighborhood, his mother let him take the day off from the local high school because it was the last day of the fundraiser and she was mad that he had procrastinated doing the fundraising, that she said to offer to help neighbors with chores if they helped him out, yadda, yadda, yadda. He said his drama club was going to London to perform Phantom of the Opera at a theater there. Well, after he left and I took a moment to call the school and they didn't know anything about it, and said the kid wasn't enrolled there, I got in my car and went scouring the neighborhood. I found a cop on the next street over and asked if he had seen the kid, and he said no, but I'm looking for him! Long story short, he looked up as we were talking and saw a white van that he said they usually traveled in, he went around the corner and stopped the van, and sure enough, it was them. I got my money back and so did the lady the cop was visiting, whose husband had given them $180. And this for books to be donated to Texas Children's Hospital -- you didn't even get anything out of it! Ahhhh.... people like that should be hung up by their thumbs. I went after the guy when I saw him standing there, but the cop shooed me away. If they hadn't had AZ license tags, I probably could have found who the car was titled to here. As it is, I will just be going to the Sheriff's Department to file a complaint. And I WILL be checking out any other fundraisers before I give them any money.
Posted by nachouston on 12/07/2007
Same story here. Young man named Josh. His mom rides bike in the neighborhood. Attends UT studying aeronautical engineering. Brother in Iraq. Parents making him earn his way. Offered to do chores. Very chatty and flattering. Ordered the children's encyclopedias for $55. Claimed neighbors ordered avg of 4 items. Then pushed for ordering 2 items "everything works better in pairs". Told him that was what the budget could allow and sent him on his way. Saw local tv news bulletin about it being a scam. Went to their website listed on receipt and actually saw a picture of the young man that came to the door. Did the google search and saw the other complaints and reports and called the bank immediately to stop payment and put a fraud alert on account. These folks are ruining it for the children who actually have legitimate fund raisers.
Posted by deejoe1555 on 12/10/2007
I got taken big time. Two young people said they were earning money for their orchestra to go to New York. Both were clean cut and quoted neighbor's names. I got taken for almost $200 for "books being sent to M.D.Anderson for the children there". Until I saw an article in the paper, I had no thought it was a scam. My checks were deposited in Phoenix AX Wells Fargo bank by then. I feel very naive, but they were good at their job of acting, even told me which instrument they played. Is there anything legal that can be done? I live in Conroe, TX. and just spoke with a lady in Cypress TX where they hit recently.
Posted by johnsonjb2 on 12/11/2007
I just got hit by them today, had no idea, wrote a check for nearly $300, same story as deejoe1555... "going on a band trip new years at new york..." I feel so stupid :-(
Posted by kcm_911 on 12/12/2007
My 84 year old Mother was recently hit by this scam also. A young woman came to her door claiming to be a student at Dallas Baptist University in Dallas.She claimed to be raising money for a trip to China.She asked for 255.00,but when my Mother refused, she said the "minimum" donation was 55.00. The young woman also stated she lived four doors down. My Mother wrote the young woman a check. After realizing something wasn't right, she went four doors down and met a widowed lady that never had children!This happened in Rowlett Texas.
Posted by urbanad on 12/17/2007
I'm also a victim of this scam. Two "nice" young ladies came to my door and I believed their very conviencing story about trying to better their lives by doing research in Austrailia. They came to my door on Friday, the day two of their fellow co-workers were arrested for murder. An elderly couple in Albuquerque New Mexico were killed and two Integrity PGM (a Las Vegas Nev. based company) salesmen are the only suspects (they've actually admitted to the murders). They robbed them while they beat and suffocated the wife and stomped on the husband. I just can't beleive I let people like this in my home. Hard lesson learned...don't let it happen to you.
Posted by leeallison on 01/03/2008
I read your story just in time. Tonight a young woman came here claiming to be raising money for several journalism students to go to London for an internship with the BBC. She just needed to sell two more and she could go home. I was skeptical but gave her the 'karma' talk. If I donate with a good heart, my karma is good. If you are ripping me off, your karma is shot. Fortunately she asked if she could wait on my porch for her ride and while she did so I ran a search on Integrity PGM. So, Karma aside, I opened the door, showed her the multiple stories and demanded my check back, which she did stating her "Mom sure will be disappointed to hear about this!". She wanted to know if her Mom could come by to talk to me! No doubt she has already transmitted my account number so I will alert the bank. Thank you for helping me not flush away money!
Posted by 8dred8 on 01/04/2008
Just got scammed too... Heres the web site:
http://integritypgm.com/team.asp
Who have you been scammed by?
Any one else been scammed by Shane (bottom of the page)?
K1
Riverside, CA
Posted by stukadriver on 03/31/2008
I just had an individual stop by the house (Houston, 03/31/08) with the exact same story as nachouston had on 12/07/07. Same name, same story. He was selling $110 magazine subscriptions for soldiers in Iraq and $50 sets of children's books for hospitalized kids. All other details were identical, including the name.
Posted by atrevino_65 on 03/31/2008
Some kid came to my door too. I should never have answered the door. Are these folks dangerous? I feel a little worried - he was s chatty and made me very uncomfortable. I live in Southeast Houston.
Posted by ddugo on 10/15/2008
10-14-08 1:30pm A young man and a young woman came to my door claiming to be my neighbors. A new sub development here so the neighbors don't know each other! He fed me a speech about it being for school and the books would be donated to sick children in the hospital. I told him that I was not willing to purchase anything at the time but he said no problem could you just write your name and address on this paper (the back of a receipt) so I can get the credits from school that I was actually here. I thought well sure what harm could that be. As I was finishing writing my name and address I seen the young woman writing I asked what are you writing she said I need one too! At that point I ripped the paper in half I thought ohh this isn't happening! The male grabbed it out of my hands and instantly changed attitude asking what the hell was I doing am I crazy... I grabbed it back shredding it into small pieces as I could with him grabbing to get them back calling me huge vulgar names! I realized at this point ut oh I may be in trouble here! I instantly started screaming as I pushed him out of my way then pushing her away from my door so I could yell to my son who was home to get help. As they heard me yell a mans name they bolted! I called the police in Streamwood, Elgin, Bartlett and the County Sheriff! None could find them! I felt totally violated and I sure am glad my instinct kicked in at the right time! I also did smell alcohol on the males breath as he was grabbing at me for his receipt back! I was able to maintain enough of the paper for evidence. If you get any of these people at your door call 911 immediately, I'm not so sure I would not have been hurt if I didn't get out of the position I was in when I did!
Posted by stukadriver on 12/11/2008
I had one of these guys show up again yesterday. A 25-ish kid came by (SE Houston) saying he went to school at Sam Houston State and was doing a fundraiser for a London trip sponsored by the BBC to "re-enact Monty Python." He claimed that his grandparents lived a few houses down the street, "you've seen them walking their dog down the street," etc. He ran that same story about selling the books to be given to the local Children's hospital. He then handed me the exact same small red laminated card that "Josh" (in the front row wearing the baseball cap on http://www.integritypgm.com/company.asp )had in March '08 when he came by. It has a few postage stamp-sized pictures of children's books with no other info except a few handwritten pricing packages on a piece of paper. They also carry blank order forms with no information on them regarding what you're ordering. When I asked him what he was studying at SHSU, he became evasive and finally said "journalism" after the third time I asked. He then became very defensive asking things like "what's the problem?" and accused me of being rude for asking questions. I called the police after he left. None of my neighbors saw him, so I think they pick a few houses in a neighborhood at random and then leave before the police start looking for them. Better not open your door to anyone you don't know, and don't fall for it if they know your neighbors' names - all that info is public record and easily accessible on the internet.
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