Is the Poptropica membership a scam?

Almost fell for a scam - will I be held liable for the bill?

• A company pretending to be Who's Who in Education contacted me for an interview. They wanted to know all about me then accepted me into their prestigious organization. They told me I had to pay $1000 to join for a lifetime. I gave them my credit information and hung up, but then did some research. The organization was not the real Who's Who - it was not even affiliated with the prestigious name it went under (Biltmore)! It was pretending to be the more prestigious organization my father was a part of as an educator. They told me that someone nominated me, but on their website it said that nobody gets nominated - they "select" candidates to contact themselves. It was all very misleading. I immediately called back to cancel. When I did, I got hung up on. I called back and nobody picked up, so I left messages telling them I DO NOT want to be a member. I then immediately called my bank and canceled my credit card before they charged it. They were able to cancel the card before any charges went through. I called back the fraudulent company many times over the course of an hour, but got ahold of no one. I left messages telling them that I did not want the service and I was scammed. Finally, I blocked my number and called - surprise, they answered when the number was blocked! A woman told me she canceled the membership and I would not be charged. My membership was NOT processed yet. I told her that my bank told me I was not charged, and also that I would be notifying the police department. I documented the whole mess in a string of emails to their "contact" email on the website because they refused to send my documentation of my declining membership. They cannot charge the card number I gave them because it is canceled. Am I all set legally? On their website, it says no refunds - but my card was not charged before I discovered it was a scam. What if a bill arrives in the mail? I searched online, and apparently they have tried to send bills to other people who almost fell for this scam!

• Answer:

  "They cannot charge the card number I gave them because it is canceled." That right there was your ace in the hole. You're fine. But...you've learned a lesson here, right? Phone & email scammers are everywhere. Keep your credit card #'s close...and your SSN closer! Never ever give them out unless you know who you are dealing with. When you cancelled the card....did you explain why? Just to be sure this possible transaction gets rejected. Be sure the card company knows someone tried to scam you. PLEASE tell me you didn't give them your SSN!