Consumer complaint received 2025-08-11 00:00:00
Product: Credit card — General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Problem with a purchase shown on your statement — Credit card company isn't resolving a dispute about a purchase on your statement
Company: DISCOVER BANK
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
I was scammed by XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) starting XX/XX/year>. They advertised a remote appointment setting opportunity that required completing training modules and outreach tasks, promising payment and eventual employment. Instead, they pressured me to open multiple credit lines to pay them, misrepresented the nature of their business, and failed to pay me a single cent. Their operation follows a pyramid scheme-style model, exploiting desperate job seekers and leaving them in debt. 
On XX/XX/year>, I was contacted by XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX  ) regarding a work-from-home appointment setting role. They claimed I could earn income after completing training and daily outreach. They required me to pay for their program and instructed me to open new credit lines to cover the cost. I opened five credit linesXXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, Discover, XXXX XXXX, and XXXXtotaling {$6300.00} under my name, solely to pay them. I completed their required daily work for 45 consecutive days, which included sending 50 emails, 50 messages, 50 phone calls, and completing all online training modules twice. After reviewing my work, they manipulated their system to falsely show that I had only completed 50 % of the modules, despite my actual 100 % completion. When I questioned them, they promised a resolution and full refund, urging me to cancel my disputes. They called me repeatedly, threatened legal action by email, and scheduled XXXX  meetings they recordedappearing to delay me until the dispute window expired. They never provided a job, payment, or the promised refund. 
The misconduct included misrepresenting the nature of the job, which was actually a pyramid scheme requiring members to recruit and scam others to recoup their own investment. They required me to open credit accounts in my name to pay them, taking advantage of my unemployment and financial vulnerability. They manipulated training completion data to create false grounds for withholding payment and used intimidation tactics, including threats of legal action and constant calls, to pressure me into canceling disputes. They deliberately delayed resolution until dispute deadlines expired. 
The financial impact has been severe. My total loss is {$6300.00} across XXXX credit lines ( XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, Discover, XXXX XXXX, and XXXX ), and I am currently carrying debt from these accounts with accruing interest. Discover, in particular, failed to return the {$1500.00} charged to my account and is now billing me monthly with interest, even though I was scammed and have no income. This has been extremely unfair and unethical, adding to the financial strain. I received no income despite meeting all contractual obligations. The emotional and mental impact has been equally damaging, causing extreme stress, XXXX, and mental health strain from the debt and deception. I have experienced sleepless nights, headaches, and recurring dark thoughts, along with feelings of betrayal and hopelessness due to being exploited during a period of unemployment.

Company response to consumer: Closed with monetary relief