As another measure of how exciting a Spring Break this will be, I'm finally digging through stacks of mail that have accumulated over the past few weeks. Well, okay: months. One that caught my eye (I guess that's what good marketing is supposed to do) is from a business calling itself "ARC, Inc," located in Cumming, Georgia. On the front of the postcard, to the left of my name and address, is an illustration of two dancing peanuts (peanut heterosexuals, it seems, with the female peanut on the left wearing pumps and the kind of tilted hat that one might associate with '20's or '30's glamour: Clara Bow would be wearing this hat), with a surrounding caption that reads: "We're going nuts trying to reach you!!" On the back of the card (and, I should note that most of the card makes use of a folksy-looking font - not Comic Sans MS, but one of its cousins), a "Karen Hightower" has personalized the message, letting me know that "[w]e have been trying to reach you!" Offsetting this folksiness is a series of bureaucratic codes on the front side of the card (Control #, Pin #, written in a more official-looking font), but I am nevertheless intrigued. Not intrigued enough, however, to call the 1-800 number that's been provided, so I do the next best thing, which is to search for "Arc, Inc. Cumming" on Google. (Yes, I've found more energy since yesterday, and can actually do exhausting tasks like Google searches this morning; however, I still woke up tired, and am beginning to wonder if I'm coming down with something.) And quicker than I can press the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button, I get more information about Arc, Inc. than I probably ever wanted or needed to know, most of it coming from this post made by a fellow blogger (a Mr. Mark Colgan). What I find most interesting about the post, and the comments that follow, is the centrality of Google to the enterprise. (The preliminary subject of the inquiry, ARC, Inc., is, as it turns out - and not really to anyone's surprise - a fake business name created to lure people into magazine subscriptions or who knows what else; Karen Hightower does not, apparently, exist.) My fellow travelers and I, seeking the truth about Arc, Inc., have arrived at the same destination, thanks to Google, and to Mr. Colgan, whose original post provides the end-point to our pilgrimage. Several comments begin with statements like this: "I received this postcard and wanted to find out more information about it, so I went to Google and..." Perhaps more about the techno-theological implications of all this in a future post. Except to say that, owing to the tardiness of my mail reading, I'm apparently arriving at a late moment in the Arc, Inc. meme (most of the activity on the thread dates back to January and February), but, like all converts, late or otherwise, I am happy to finally have my eyes open.
Posted by gminter at April 3, 2004 09:52 AMThanks a ton!!! I had no idea what this was about, so thanks for opening my eyes as well!
Posted by: Lynette at May 12, 2004 01:47 AMThanks for helping me not fall prey to another scam!
Posted by: Gonzo at May 21, 2004 10:10 PMwow, if i commented on my story it would sound like most everyone else's, so i will just say "ditto"!
Posted by: mike at July 2, 2004 09:49 AMthanks, google. curious about this postcard- my relative actually lives in cumming. i figured it was a scam, though.
Posted by: Karla at July 7, 2004 04:52 PMHaha, I also googled ARC inc. thanks for making my search easier!
Posted by: M at July 15, 2004 07:57 PMI am feeling a good hard yelling is coming to them when they open up on Monday. I feel like fighting someone and they got my vote.
Posted by: Tyler at July 17, 2004 03:12 PMKaren Hightower will not be getting any of my Money! Got to love Google!
Posted by: Erin at August 18, 2004 10:47 AMI too am relieved to have been able to discover this scam before these people got a hold of my money. From further searching, I discovered that they got my contact info from Capital One. Screw calling ARC- I am calling my credit card company and will demand to know why they are giving out my personal information. My contract clearly states that they will not give any info to third party companies.
Posted by: Noni at August 23, 2004 10:13 PMI recieved the card in the mail and knew it was someone or something trying to get money out of me. Didn't want to call the number since I had no idea who in the hell Karen Hightower was, searched on Google, found this site. Thanks.
Posted by: Meredith at August 28, 2004 06:42 PMLoL, I'm a trainee there right now, start work on monday, isn't that fantastic? It's actually not quite as bad as all of you are making out, and I'm not just biased because I'm on their payroll. They actually don't call you unless you request it, they don't sell your name to other companies, I dunno...they're not half as shady as most similar companies out there, though I agree that Karen Hightower thing is pretty wierd. But if you want to call in there and yell at us, be my guest. At least it's more interesting than the other 100 or so calls each of us answers a day. You don't even know how strange some of the calls are. We called this guy back the other day (he'd had to leave in the middle of his calling us and requested we call back the next day) and the man was very obviously having sex. I don't mean like it was two teenagers just wanting to have a good laugh...I mean the guy was in the very middle of intercourse with someone. And he didn't even hang up. He listened to everything we had to say, actually was interested, and stayed on the line long enough to have THREE DIFFERENT CREDIT CARDS rejected. He must really need something to spice up the sex life, eh? We also had a lady the other day who misunderstood one of us say something about those wierd dancing peanuts on the post card and was like "You sent me a dancing PENIS!?". That got quite a laugh... But anyways, hey...$10/hour, no experience required, benefits, etc...it's good for me, and well...at least WE'RE not calling YOU. Complain about the companies that do.
Used Yahoo instead of Google and found you guys, thanks for the info...can't imagine anyone responding to the postcard without first surfing the net but suppose some people fall for it. Appreciate the fact that they aren't calling me and they may not sell name lists but they obviously BUY them!
Posted by: Randi at September 9, 2004 10:14 PMWell, Matt, it is still obnoxious of them to send out ambiguous mail like that. If they want to send out mail trying to sell magazines (or whatever), I'm fine with that. I certainly welcome that over calls. At any rate, thank you google & random posters! PS: You guys are all so smart, you have each been selected by the Nigerian government to be awarded....... hehe ;)
Posted by: ason at September 9, 2004 10:15 PMJust want to say how great google is. Got that stupid card and looked info up on it and came right here. Also thanks for the heads up on what that card is all about. Now onto colins post, Shut up, of course he is favoring that company. He says that we should complain about the companies that do call, well I don't know what is worse getting a "junk" call or "junk" mail. But I quess there is one good thing out of this is that I should say thanks to the arc inc. for paying part of my sisters paycheck with the post office.
Posted by: aj at September 14, 2004 03:23 PMI wish I had the sense to look into this ARC company like many of you have. Instead I sat here in front of my computer and called the number. After waiting a few minutes, I was congratulated on my nomination and entry in some mysterious sweepstakes, promising three chances to win, and then was bombarded with "free" gifts. A watch with a diamond inset? Two free two-year subscriptions to magazines? As I was pondering the grounds for my receiving these great deals, the "agent" explained that as a speical deal just for me, I would be able to receive three magazines for only four or so dollars a month. I guess it sounds great if you are that captivated by magazines and can afford frivolous purchases along with your many bills. I was then asked to wait for a supervisor to confirm the agent, who was supposedly new to the company, had explained everything correctly. The supervisor asked how the young girl did, to which I had replied that she did a fine job. Unfortunately for them, I am not one to make quick decisions. I mentioned that I am not really interested in the three additional subscriptions at the moment. She then went on to say that I would not receive the watch and the other two subscriptions without taking advantage of my "special offer", and then asked didn't Alicia explain that to you? Sure she had explained everything else, but no, she did not mention that I wasn't a lucky person magically entered in sweepstakes and showered with gifts. I was still open to the offer, however, and asked if I could call back after discussing it with my boyfriend. She bellowed out NO and promptly hung up on me. I guess my order of doing things was a pretty bad decision, but I am only 19 and still a novice at dealing with scams. Thanks to all you post-ers, I'll remember you the next time I receive a post card with dancing legumes on it.
Posted by: Anji at September 15, 2004 12:22 PMI also googled for "Arc, Inc Cumming Georgia" and found this page. haha.
Posted by: Ali at September 18, 2004 01:23 AMI got one just card too. Booo!
Posted by: anon at October 2, 2004 05:25 PMme too
Posted by: bunksmack at October 5, 2004 12:07 AMyeah, i just got one. thanks for having this info up. found this page on google. nice to know my information is being sold.
Posted by: homer jay fong at October 6, 2004 12:02 PMYes indeed I a card also. Because I have a paranoid personality, I naturally had to google the info.
I will always trust my instincts.
Posted by: isobal at October 13, 2004 01:07 AMGood work on busting these jerks. I am another, among countless others, to receive this drivel. Too bad retroactive birth control is not a viable option for idiots that waste trees on a scam that can be found out in less than 10 seconds via Google.
This card must have been generated by a retard who saw the "help me transfer millions from a small African country just give me your bank account information and you can keep 10% of the balance" emails.
Posted by: Dave at October 19, 2004 12:45 AMJust a quick followup....Maybe this is the Telemarketers' answer to the Do-Not-Call-List. Instead of being annoyed during dinner we will all be scratching our heads trying to figure out odd pieces of mail with Google queries.
Posted by: Dave at October 19, 2004 12:48 AMI've been told that I fall prey to every scam that is out there. Like many, this is the first site that I came to on a google search. THANK YOU FOR THE WARNING! Of all the commments posted, I found the once posted on Sept 9 from one of the employees from this company very interesting! The interesting part is their job puts food on their table, yet us calling takes money out of our pockets and less food on ours! Hmmmmmm........ My postcard is shredded up in the trash.
Posted by: danielle at October 19, 2004 03:28 PMwill these scams never end? i almost want to call these people up. even though i know it's fake, it still makes me wonder who these persistant idiots are.
Posted by: james at October 20, 2004 01:29 AMDon't Get Mad - Get Even!
I first thought this was tied to my upcoming Class Reunion - called the number, and stayed on hold long enough to get mad and hang up. Then I thought I'd look up the card address, and found this site instead.
I know my bank sold me, because the address on this stinkin' card is exactly the way it is on my bank statements. Who really cares how we got on their list - citizens of the planet unite! Or, as Georgy Porgy says, "Lets Roll!"
If you have multiple phone lines at work - dial their 800 # and when it starts ringing, place the call on hold, dial them back on the next line and put it on hold - jam their boards so they can't get any calls!
If you do decide to talk to them, give them a fake pin number and proceed to waste their time argueing that it is the one they sent on the card! Keep them talking for as long as possible - IF THEY'RE TALKING TO US, THEY CAN'T MAKE ANY MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!
Ask for the H.R. Department and tell them you want to work for them - threaten to turn them over the the Department of Employment & that you will personally show up at their door with a News Crew, if they don't send you an application.
Call and try to sell them something - anything!
Call and ask to talk to "Mommy", tell them your stranded and need gas money to get home. Try to sound like you're a kid and start crying when they say they don't know who your mom is, threaten to call the police if they don't let you talk to her right now!
Turn the 800 # over to other crummy telemarketers - leave it on their answering machines after hours with the message - "Please call me back at work, I'm Karen Hightower and I'm really interested in what your calling me about. Have one of my office personnel direct your call to me - to my voice mail - page me." * Be Creative!
Turn this story over to your local television channel to do a feature spot on the late night news; how about 60 Minutes or 20/20?
I have to think this is somewhat of a scam if those who caved in to their demands and signed up, and aren't even getting the magazines they ordered. If you look at the cost vs. what you supposedly are going to be sent. you'd be doing better to buying magazines at Wal-Mart.
Anybody out there care to give instructions on how to mail a brick? Does the post office actually accept these things - I suppose you have to pay postage - but, it would be worth it. Does the post office require a return address?
Remember - You Get What You Settle For!
haha i love u guys i didn't want to have to call a 1-800. thanks
Posted by: spidee at October 26, 2004 05:11 PMThanks for the info. I received a card today and I am also going to call my credit card company.
Posted by: Ricky at October 27, 2004 01:41 PMThanks for this info. I also got this post card.
Posted by: Jeni at December 11, 2004 02:57 PMI was on hold waiting for someone to answer at that 1-800 number while looking up what ARC was and as soon as I read this page I hung up!! Thanks!!!
Posted by: Jennifer at December 14, 2004 10:10 PMthanks for the information.
Posted by: melinda at December 26, 2004 06:01 PMthis page is great. i was a bit worried about the post card but all of these comments reassured me it was all a scam. so much for her going nuts trying to reach me!!
Posted by: monica at January 3, 2005 04:19 PMThanks, I was a little worried also...thought it might be one of them "bill collectors" or something...I just got one of these today.
Posted by: Russell at January 3, 2005 07:06 PMI just got this postcard today. I'd like to know how they got my mailing address...
Posted by: dee at January 8, 2005 04:52 PMYeah, got this card in the mail last week. Called them while I was, doing a yahoo search on the company. The minute they started givin me shit, i knew somethin wasnt right. I found this thread a beagn to read. After i continue wit h conversation for a little while, I got bored and hung up. Its tempting to call the number back and prank them or somethin. There are a lot of pricks out there. The fact that people will actually sit down and develop scams like this is pathetic, I ve even had a local friend who tried to get me signed up with a pyramid scam. It works but is dangerous. Where are peoples integrity? What has the nation developed into, a scam farm?
Posted by: Simon at January 10, 2005 12:49 PMgot the card today and thought I should check it out first, thanks for the info. I think I agree with the one who said we should mail them a brick.
Posted by: Al at January 11, 2005 11:13 PMThe only way to fight being ARC'd is to let them know. I did! By sending them a message - "You dumb shits!" - on their contact site. The link is http://www.americanreadingclub.com/cs/contact/index.cfm?page=contact
You may want to use a fake name, email address, etc. You know the drill. If more people drum into the little ARC heads with annoying messages, then "being ARC'd" may be in the Smithsonian soon.
This is not a scam, but a creative way to generate telemarketing leads. The following is how it works:
1. The card is from Karen Hightower, but your right, she doesn't exist.
2. The person that picks up the phone is instructed to go directly into the sales pitch by asking for a PIN#.
3. They will inform you that you are entered in a sweepstakes for $5,000 quarterly and $50,000 at the end of the year (true).
4. For participating, you will also receive a watch with a diamond at 12 o'clock.
5. Also you will be given 24 complementary issues of 2 magazines.
"NOW THE CATCH"
6. For all of the above, they will ask you to subscribe to 3 other magazines for 5 years. The cost on this is $4.50 per week.
7. If you agree, they will transfer you to a manager to confirm payment arrangements. Payment equals charging your card $84 per month for 14 months ($1176, or $235 per year)
Everything is legal, it may be expensive and evasive. but it is legal. BUYER BEWARE!
Posted by: Anonymous at January 13, 2005 03:25 PMThanks for the advice...I was wondering who the hell Arc,Inc. was anyway.I had this postcard sitting on my dining room table for about a week now and i debated weither to call or not. Well you have saved me some time. Thanks again.
Posted by: nicole at January 17, 2005 11:25 PMI just one in the mail this morn. Called them but first blocked my number from showing. At first I thought it was a collections agency trying to fool me into calling. Then when the girl said she was with the book club, I was relieved but nonetheless hung up.
Posted by: Johann at January 28, 2005 12:41 PMHow are these people getting our information? I know I'm not in the phone book and I don't have much of anything going to my address.
So the question is what do we all have in common?
Posted by: jman at February 8, 2005 05:15 AMHi this is Karen, just hoping that you have called us. Please call 1-800-536-2514 9am-3pm EST
Monday-Friday
Saturday 10am-2pm EST
Thanks Again,
Karen.
I just happened to get this in the mail today, I made up the top part. I was just searching for this company and found this.
Posted by: Karen Hightower at February 10, 2005 03:04 PMAll I have to say is a big THANK YOU!!! California Girl Thanks for all the bright ideas!!
Posted by: I HATE SNAIL MAIL at February 11, 2005 12:21 AMhahahah...I was stressing out about who I owed money to and what in the heck was ARC. Glad I searched Google before I called.
Chalk me up in the smart category ;)
Posted by: Nancy at February 21, 2005 10:39 AMIs there any protection from being scammed??? Don't worry, I didn't fall for this one. But a year ago,I had bought magazine subscriptions for family members from three honest looking teenagers! THE BASTARDS! The magazines were never sent and I lost $80. Boohoo. Anyways, THANX guys
Posted by: sciencevixen at February 25, 2005 07:25 PMi just got the card too,what a scam!
Posted by: timmy dunn at February 27, 2005 07:41 PMvery interesting--I love google. had no idea what the card was, just decided to google it and got my answer! thanks everyone!
Posted by: Alison at February 28, 2005 08:41 PMi thought perhaps karen hightower fathered a child of mine from the college days...and now trying to collect retroactive child support. a sigh of relief and a big thanks to google!
Posted by: Zach at March 1, 2005 06:35 PMThanks for the info. Got the card in the mail today, and had no idea what it was. Almost called the number, but thanks to you I know what it is.
Posted by: John at March 1, 2005 10:00 PMI was also searching for what Arc Inc was. when I received this postcard and could not get through on the 1-800 number i was curious to what the Arc Inc. was and googled. I was very pleased to come across this page. It is a shame the way people try to scam you. Thanks for the warning! stay clear of the junk mail
Posted by: Danieal at March 3, 2005 04:38 PMok yes the 5yr package does end up costing $1176 but it sounds alot better if you say 4.56 a week for 60 months doesnt it less than what you would spend at mcdonalds
if this sounds like to much money for you just call in and ask for a one year. Its a years subscription to a magazine of your choice for a one time charge of 8.95 it comes to 74cents an issue. whats wrong with that? nothing, its just for the people that dont fall for the package.
Hey, I just got that card in the mail today and, like so many others, got curious enough to google it. I think that the reason I was most puzzled by it was nowhere does it really say who they are (other than ARC, INC) and doesn't say why the heck they want to get a hold of me. Anyhow, thanks.
Posted by: jimmy at March 8, 2005 12:50 AMI work for arc and most of the people we send postcards to can barely read. we sell magazines to some of the dumbest people in america.
"Thanks america for supporting our drug habits and redneck kids for over 30 years."
ARC
I did a little checking into our friends at ARC (aka American Reading Club) and found this info from the Better Business Bureau, of which they are a member. Feel free to contact this company and tell them how you feel.
American Reading Club
5175 Performance Drive
Cumming, GA 30040
General Information
Original Business Start Date: July 1991
Principal : Mr. David J. Grzybowski CFO
Phone Number: (800) 242-5548
Fax Number: (770) 844-2112
Email Address: dgrzybowski@amread.com
BBB Membership: This company is a member
Type-of-Business Classification: Sweepstakes
Thanks for the advice, It looked kinda wierd
Posted by: Christina at March 22, 2005 07:55 PM