Virtual Reward Center review: Fraud, theft, and unpaid

After 2 years of giving this a fair chance, Virtual Incentives aka Virtual Reward Center and its subsidiaries and affiliates (USA & Canada) are a scam.

We reported ongoing issues to VISA, Angus Reid Forum, Angus Reid Institute, Service Canada, Labour Board of Canada and even their technologies provider Alida Inc (formerly Vision Critical Communications). The 23rd report was one of FRAUD on a $150 payment Visa card provided by Virtual Incentives USA aka Virtual Reward Center, where $ was stolen from the account without any accountability or way to track what happened, or how to have VI/VRC or Angus Reid restore the funds. It took 4 months to receive the card in the mail after it was mailed out, and took 1 more month to reissue the card when VI/VRC cancelled the card for no reason before arrival. That’s 5 months to get a payment on a study contract just to have it be stolen via fraud. VRC/VI did absolutely nothing about the fraud reports. Fake phone numbers with robotic answering machine loops, and auto-robotic responses from email “support” that doesn't read anything you put in writing and refuses to callback or fax (to eliminate post-mail dysfunction and inaccessibility).

VI/VRC claims to “require” a “token” in order to investigate fraud reports, which is technically impossible* to generate when these direct VRC accounts don’t exist because Angus Reid Forum is their direct customer, Angus Reid Forum automatically registers the payment cards without VRC accounts, and the cards are activated via telephone to an automated VRC activation line.

While the company publishes a phone number for customer service, it only goes to a robotic looped recording. It is horrifying. We recorded it for 36 minutes on loop. There is no option to speak to a person.

When contacting the company via email, the responses are almost always automated, generated apparently by AI. All emails go to support at virtualrewardcenter.com for USA and Can. You can try reward at virtualrewardcenter.com but that will do nothing.

We should get a Class Action Lawsuit going.

Virtual Reward Center is authorized by : Sutton Bank, Attn: Legal Department, 1 South Main Street, Attica, OH, USA 44807

[Visa USD] This card is issued by Sutton Bank, member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Visa is a registered trademark of Visa, U.S.A. Inc. All other trademarks and service marks belong to their respective owners.

[Mastercard USD] -This card is issued by Sutton Bank, member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Mastercard. Mastercard and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated.

[Visa CAD] *Visa Int./People's Trust Company, Licensed User. *Visa Int. /La Compagnie de Fiducie Peoples, utilisée sous licence.

[Mastercard CAD] -This card is issued by Peoples Trust Company under license from Mastercard International. Cette carte est émise par la Compagnie de Fiducie Peoples sous licence de Mastercard International.

[Visa GBP] - This Visa card is issued by Enfuce UK Ltd pursuant to licence by VISA Europe Limited. Enfuce UK Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, with the Firm Reference Number 993783.

[Visa EUR] - This Visa card is issued by Enfuce pursuant to licence by VISA Europe Limited. Enfuce License Services Ltd (registered no. [protected]) is licensed by the Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority as an Electronic Money Institution.