I got a call from "Ben Green" from Adspec, he called asking if we wanted to buy pens and magnets, we agreed. He said we had deferred payment until we got our stuff, and that my cc would be preauthorised only. The very same day my card was charged for $298.00. I emailed them and said I was concerned about the charge etc as it was not what we agreed to. They didn't ask for a shipping address or anything, just said they would follow up once they got our logos etc. Well after numerous emails with no response, and leaving a message on a sketchy answering machine with no company id that cut me off halfway through, I got a call back from "Ben Green" saying not to worry, if it was a scam they would have stolen more money. This was a month ago. He said they would be dealing with the emails etc over the next few days. NOTHING. I have called visa and cancelled my cc and reported it as fraud and will most likely get my money back. I think "Ben" might have tried calling back today but I don't want to have anything to do with him or his fake company. BEWARE of Adspec! Total scam!!!

I just was scammed by a Allen B Clark from ADSPEC...I cant believe I fell for this.  I tried to immediately call back to cancel call but number went directly to an answering machine.  Called VISA and the charges that were supposed to be held off until I received my free truck were put thru immediately.  Now trying to dispute with VISA.

Did you get your money back from Mastercard?

I too fell victim to these bozo's. ADSPEC is otherwise known as American Advertising Specialties. They are based out of California but are believed to be out of business. The initial call came from a Company called Business Development Canada. These guys ship their cheap products to you promising free gifts if you accept their promotional offer. They search listings of new business's that are available to the public after you file with the city you work out of. They are not a BBB company and no one has actually filed complaints against them. The company is working out of Quebec and all who were affected should file a complaint with the Quebec BBB. Hope this helps.

We too got Scamed. AdSpec called sold us "swiss army knives" we foolishly got taken and paid the $298? Killer part is they called back to see if we liked what we had received. My husband complained. Guy said he would refund us the $ but needed the card info we originally paid with it for. Dang? $998 came off our card next. Insurance said because its under $1000 they can't do anything. Bugger? Hope this saves someone from getting fooled!

Had the same thig happen to me!  Bought the $300 pens and then the second call came because I apparently won the ford F-150!  Cancelled my card after finding this site!  Thanks!

Sad but true I just got burnt with the same scam. It started with a call from Nicole Smith. I ended up buying 100 "leather" notebooks. For a charge of $298 they would be delivered. I didn't think much about it at this point, they looked ok and the price wasn't that bad. The next call I got was from the "postmaster general" in Quebec saying the whole spiel about the huge prize package I had just won including the ford f-150. But first I had to place an order for 400 pens ($998). I just received the package of pens and there is only 50, not 400. Same thing, try to call them and all you get is an answering machine with about a 5 second timer. The name that the guy was using this time was Glen Brown. I now have two useless $1000 select your gift certificates. Hope no one else gets burned like I did.

The gal who called me said her name was Nicole Smyth and that she was calling on behalf if the Canadian Counsel of Advertising a division of Canwest.

I also received this call, and sadly fell to the cleverness of the rep. I paid for 150 pens ($300) and only received 98 and a phony looking certificate that said I was eligible for the $1000 shopping spree. There was no ID# on the certificate meaning that I could have gone to Staples and printed out a hundred of them.I just called my mastercard and disputed the charge, and would suggest that anyone else do the same.

On the 8th Nov 2012 I fell for the promotion from Adspec as well where they promised one of five promotion gifts a Dodge Ram 1500 truck, Diamond watch, $1000.00 Gift cert. or a skidoo which you were supposed to receive along with your order and be satisfied with your order before the product was charged to your visa account. I received the pen order 29th Nov 2012 [a poor quality product that hardly writes] and checked my Visa account and  Adspec had charged my account the same day as the order was placed. There was a Official Certificate included in with the pen order that states you are entitled to receive a 1000.00 'select your gift shopping spree' and the certificate was to be signed and returned within one month to qualify. I have received calls from John Joseph Mciver previously and I think this George Woods is the same guy. Too bad I hadnt checked this web site before. Last time burnt, Will buy local in future.

My husband fell for this! Bought the pens. Received them and said they suck and wasn't going to order anymore! Then couple weeks later received more pens which we had not ordered and a bill of $998!!! Tried to call and they didn't answer, also tried to email, but no response!

I got a call first from Andre Rachard at Canada Customs July 30/12  telling me they intercepted a package that didn't pass inspection.  It seemed they were trying to send high value things to me,which is against Revenue Canada policies.  He opened the package and it contained 5 items. A letter, $2000 Esso Gift Card, $2000 Canadian Tire Gift Card, $2000 Rona Gift Card, a $1000 Select a gift Card, and a certificate for a new F150 Truck.  He said he couldn't release it to me, but would call the sender and have them call me.  The Sender was Adspec Marketing.

Then about half an hour later John Joseph McIver- the promotion manager called me, and explained there was a mixup with the head office in Fullerton California, and I was only entitled to 1 of the 5 gifts, and they were susposed to send them to the Canadian office, not to me.  However because of the competition act, they required a recent purchase from us if they were audited.  He said for $998 we would receive 400 Schafer Mark II executive pens with oour company name on it, as well as one of the prizes.  

I gave him my visa number and company address.  i then thought about it and called back to cancel the order at 1-888-236-1278, but just got an answer machine.   I left a message to cancel, but no call back.

I called the Canadian Fraud line and reported this. They told me to immediately cancel my visa, and dispute any charges which I did. They also told me to accept the package when it arrived and call Adspec telling them to pick it up, but let them come and pick it up, don't send it back.

Some pens arrived in 2 weeks, but they were really cheap looking plastic pens, with a coupon to send in and redeem for a $1000 "SELECTYOURGIFTS", but must be completed and returned to Adspec, 442 Beaconsfiels Blvd. #113, Beaconsfield. PQ, H9W 4B9.  I called again and left a message for them, but no calls back.

sorry regarding my spelling was bouncing my baby on my lap... we contacted Visa and have changed our Credit Card number

We also received a call and the Gentalmen tried to tell me that I had ordered 200 knived and that he tried to bill my company Credit card and it did not go thru can they have another form of payment. UMMM hold on buddy we did not order any knives nor do we want any and we ordered pens ( did recieve and were nice enough) but never recieved our prize either and of course we knew to go to be true. DO NOT DO buisness with this company

Thank you to you all, after getting a call from John Joseph Mciver saying that my friend was getting the truck
I thought, customs does not work this way.  We looked this up and read to him(john joseph mciver) your post and called him on it.  He then asked my friend if he had hemroides and said he must have cause he is the biggest a** hole!!  So thank you again to you all we did not get taken by this scam!!

same deal i actualy ordered the some knives and notpads, I got them as promised but not the prize.
cindy macarthy was the one who called, all I get is answering machine to # she gave.514-671-0044.
a John Joseph Mciver also called me from same place,(adspec) after a package for me from them got stopped at customs. rather then telling me why the package was stoped at customs he said I won the grand prize a 2012 F-150, it never came, his # is 1-888-236-1278. also just get answering machine.  all said, the products they are selling do show up cheap quality and slightly over priced.

Got the same call from Cindy Mccarthy. I called numbers back and got answering machines

Hey there

Has anyone tried to go to your local authorities over this.  It would be wise to contact the anti-fraud department of the government and speak to someone there.  
As well if you trace back their information the local authorities can work with other jurisdictions to try and capture these people.
But you have to register a complaint first for the action to take place.  If you take these steps it won't be too hard for the authorities to go after these people as it seems that they are still up and running this business for the past few weeks.

Hi

I recieved that call too, saying that they were invovled in the same setup and you had to sign up to get the products.  It was the same person and they said that they work for part of Can West Media which is now bankrupt.  I have the contact info for this person if you would like as I have called it back and gotten a response to verify the number and people.
They are reaching out to Albert now and knew that the company had just started up in the past couple months.
Can someone tell us how they find that information out?

I just received a call from this number. The woman told me her name was Cindy McCarthy and she was working for Business Development BC. She claimed to have been given my number by the city of Burnaby.
She insinuated that she was authorized from the city of Burnaby to call my business and offer prizes from large companies such as Lowe's, Home Depot, Shell, Chevron, Canadian Tire and that they were offering the prizes in return for tax deductions. All I had to do to receive one of these prizes ranging from $250 to over $1000 was order pens, magnets, Swiss army knives, or note pads from her company costing me $298.00

She was very reluctant to give me her number or any contact information. She would not send me any information in the form of an email as I requested. I was not able to find any info on Business Development BC and the number came up as Tim Tailor Home Inspections ADSPEC.

Got a call from "Ben Green" from Adspec. Offered one of several prizes, including $500 gas or $1500 Home Depot card. Required a purchase of $298 worth of pens, fridge magnets or key chains.

I asked for a website, he replied that I should simply google Adspec. Probably not a good move on his part since I found this site instead.

Used 411 reverse look up to determine that the number is registered to "Tim Tailor Home Inspections-ADSPEC".

Very weird, very suspicious.