Anyone else dealt directly with Model Power?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hi all,

After to placing an order for 2 heavyweight coaches with Model Power from their website, I received the following email:

All of the items you have ordered are currently out of stock. They will ship as soon as they become available. You will not be charged until it has shipped. Thank you for your patronage.

I find it a bit odd that they’re asking for my credit card statement, even if it is partially redacted. Has anyone else gotten such an email from them?

Thanks in advance,

tbdanny

2

I’d be extremely reluctant to provide any such information. This message may be from a spoofed identity theft site.

Why are you trying to order directly from them, anyway? Many very legitimate dealers carry MP products and will probably be selling them at exactly the same price.

In all my years of purchasing from mail order sources I’ve never been asked to provide information of this type.

It should be rather easy to perform a reverse URL search to determine if this message is really from Model Power, and then get a phone number and call to verify the request before sending them anything.

This sounds very fishy even if they do allow you to redact the credit card number. With just the last 4 digits it still may be possible to charge stuff to your account if there is any identity of your bank or card type; i.e., Visa, Master Card, American Extortion, etc., included.

3

I would cancel your order (block it through your credit card company if you must) and shop somewhere else. The amount of damage they can do with your extra info is devistating…not worth the risk.

David B

4

I have ordered from them 3 times and never had an issue, I think you are being scammed.

5

I, too, have had a couple of dealings over the phone with Model Power–very nice people. Perhaps if you call them up and talk to a real person, you can figure out the best approach.

Ed

6

That is their fax number, strange request.

http://www.modelpower.com/images/sales_pacific_logger.pdf

7

I would never do what they requested for anyone. Have been through identity theft once, will not put myself in that position again. Also I never buy from Model Power so that is a second reason for me not to deal with them.

Bob

8

Yeah I smell a rat. I’d call Model Power directly and see what they have to say. When you get asked to provide your credit card information again via email etc. it’s usually not a good thing.

9

I would contact them just in case they have had a security breach of there computer system. You would be doing them a favour. There is no way I would do as they ask.

Brent

10

Is no one in this thread paying attention?

The OP lives in Queensland. Way back when I was a young whippersnapper taking geography, Queensland was a state in Australia. According to my latest info, it still is and there have been no late-breaking news stories stating otherwise.

Given that there is a 15 hour time difference (well, 9 if you look at it another way) between Queensland and New York, it makes calling Model Power a bit problematic.

If you’ll also notice the warning MP made, the problem is with FOREIGN orders. I do believe, since I’m pretty sure that Australia is a foreign country to everyone except the Aussies, that the caveat about foreign orders might apply.

Due to a rising problem with credit card fraud from foreign orders (and the fact that we cannot verify foreign Due addresses), our company has been required by our bank to ask for detailed information.

MP is also not asking for the full credit card number, but only the last four digits:

Proof of your home address is required. A copy of your credit card statement showing only your home address and the card number is sufficient. You may block out all but the last four digits of the card number. Please email this information may fax it to (631) 694-7133. We apologize for any inconvenience.

11

Of course you could take the reverse tack and tell them that YOUR bank requires Proof of Solvency from any merchant you place an order with, and therefore it will be required OF THEM to ship you not just ONE but TWO identical items and bill you for just one. The fact that they can afford to GIVE AWAY the second item constitutes sufficient proof of their continued solvency…

Two can play

12

And frankly, it sounds like you’re getting scammed, even if it turns out to be a real request. I’d tell 'em “no thanks” and spend your money elsewhere.

So how’s it a scam if it’s actually Model Power making the request?

Foreign credit card fraud is a real risk to merchants. Before advising someone to do something, it might be advisable to do do a little research. For one thing, Model Power does not have an online secure ordering system, otherwise, this would probably not be an issue. The OP can tell us how the order was made, but my guess would be via email.

A few sites providing info on fighting CC fraud:

http://www.wiscocomputing.com/articles/ccfraud.htm

http://www.merchantexpress.com/reduce_credit_card_fraud.htm

http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/scams.htm

http://www.ic3.gov/crimeschemes.aspx#item-4

http://gspay.com/fighting-credit-and-debit-card-fraud-for-e-commerce-merchants.php

I wouldn’t be so quick to put the label “scam” on what Model Power told the OP. The OP’s not the only one who has to protect himself.

Andre

13

Actually, it was placed through a secure order page on their website - I received an automated order confirmation email after placing it. I’m also a bit cheesed off that they have them listed on their site when they’re not in stock.

14

Hmm. I guess you’re right about being able to order online. Boy, they sure don’t make it obvious. You kind of stumble onto it. But the, there’s a vacuum in space because their website sucks.

I can understand why you’d be irritated by the items being listed but not in stock. However, when it comes to preventing credit card fraud, I can understand why Model Power might be more careful with foreign orders.

Andre

15

Just because they’re making the request doesn’t (a) make it not a scam, or (b) make it a good thing to do. And I recognize that merchants often have trouble with foreign buyers / credit cards. One thing they could do would be to establish local dealerships for their foreign customers to purchase from. Then they wouldn’t have the problem.

16

Why are asterisks used instead of quotes?

Ed

17

The word “SCAM” implies intent to defraud. Where’s the evidence of Model Power’s intent to defraud? In any case, MP wasn’t asking for the tbdanny’s full credit card number, only the last four digits (which would match the credit card info they already have from the original order). He’s also asked for proof of his home address. That’s it. Seems to me it’s not an unreasonable request. They’re just trying to confirm he is who he says he is. If Australia’s anything like the States, tbdanny has some protection if someone uses his card number fraudulently. However, the merchant who sells to the person who fraudulently uses the card is not protected.

How’s MP going to establish “local” dealerships for “foreign” customers unless they open up branches in “foreign” countries. No company in its right mind would open up foreign branches unless they expect to make money by doing so. I doubt there are sufficient Model Power customers in Australia to make that a viable business strategy any more than supplying free track to induce customers to spend more would be.

Andre

18

And of course, in all the fussing and posturing, nobody checks to see if the company in question does have distributors/importers in the area. Which they do.

http://www.modelpower.com/distributorsimporters.html

Maybe the poster could call one of the three choices in his own time zone (or country at least) and see if they can help. They may even have what he wants in stock.

Or maybe he could start another thread about trash.

19

Sometimes sites get hijacked and mirror sites are formed to look like the original. It does happen and some anti-virus software will look for it. It might not be model power that is sending you the request. Just drop it an walk away. If you can find the model power phone number try to call them. Just don’t use any number from the current site you’re looking at.

20

The OP indicated that he was to fax the information to Model Power. The fax number for model power is the same as the message received.

I have never heard of anyone hijacking a telephone number, have you?