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Callers wouldn't take 'no' as answer

Three telemarketers are accused of completing sales with each other, using customer credit card numbers, to collect undeserved commissions.

By JACOB H. FRIES
Published September 29, 2005

CLEARWATER - Telemarketers are pushy, but these three wouldn't take no for an answer, police said.

After a customer hung up, the telemarketers would keep the line open and patch in a friend on a conference call. The friend would then complete the purchase, confirming the original customer's credit card number that was already on file.

Whatever this group of telemarketers was hawking - from products to special packages to Florida theme parks - their friends were willing to buy, said Clearwater police Detective Roberto Felici. Each sale brought the telemarketer a commission of up to $6.

"It's unclear how long they've been doing this," said Felici.

On Wednesday, the detective arrested three telemarketers working at Illuminati Worldwide at 18167 U.S. 19 N in Clearwater: Terrance Natson, 32, of St. Petersburg; and Toronda Knights, 34, and Aquilla Withrock, 26, both of Largo. They were all charged with scheme to defraud.

All of them confessed, Felici said. On Thursday, each was still at the Pinellas County Jail. Knights and Natson were being held in lieu of $10,000 bail. Withrock was being held without bail.

The detective was still reviewing sales records and could not say how much commission money was stolen. He said he called several of Natson's customers from Sept. 16 and found many had not bought anything.

Police were tipped off to the racket by an employee who overheard the trio laughing about the scheme, Felici said. He is investigating whether any other employees have used similar fraudulent tactics.

Cody Charif, part owner of Illuminati, said their internal records have shown the incidents were isolated to some sales made Sept. 16-17. Customers from previous months have not complained, he said.

"We're the victim in this right now," Charif said. "No customers were wrongly charged. . . . Due to a tip from an employee, we stopped the sales that were submitted fraudulently."

Charif estimated the company's losses at $3,000, including money spent on new software that prevents the telemarketers from calling a third party.

"We will not stand for this," he said. "We'll do whatever it takes to safeguard ourselves and our potential customers."

[Last modified September 29, 2005, 19:54:02]