EMT Alert Card

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott sent the Consumer Blog this warning:

My office has received a report of consumers being contacted by a Phoenix-based company called "EMT Alert Inc." The caller says he is calling on behalf of and working with the City of San Antonio Fire Department. The caller says that the City of San Antonio is now requiring everyone to purchase an "EMT Alert Card," and that the $300 card would guarantee fire and ambulance service. Supposedly, the card lets emergency workers know what types of medical emergencies they should be aware of at the consumer's address. The caller then wants the consumer's bank account information "to process the card."

A person who needs emergency help can simply call 911. My office has confirmed that the City of San Antonio does not recognize, let alone require, an EMT Alert card. This is a scam. It is all the more brazen when you consider that the consumer would not realize it was a scam until he or she tried to use the card in an emergency. Since emergencies are rare, most buyers would never find out the card was worthless.

If you receive a call from EMT Alert, be forewarned that the caller may have your name and address. This doesn't mean anything. Do not give the caller any additional information about yourself, especially not financial information like your bank account number. Don't buy anything. Just hang up.

Greg Abbott
Attorney General of Texas

Comments

[Celeste Padilla]

To Whom It May Concern:

Re: EMT Alert, Inc. – Scam allegations

We represent EMT Alert, Inc. which operates the domain name EMTAlert.com. Recently the Attorney General’s office of Texas posted an alert on its website alleging that EMT Alert might be a scam. Our law firm has been cooperating with Mark Coffee, Esq. of the Texas Attorney General’s office regarding the allegation that EMT Alert might be a scam. We have provided the Texas Attorney General’s office with the Sales pitch that EMT Alert’s telemarketer’s use when contacting potential customers that have indicated an interest in this service.

The Texas Attorney advised that the Texas consumer that complained about EMT Alert alleged that an EMT Alert telemarketer claimed that the San Antonio Emergency Services providers (Ambulance and Paramedics) would not come to her house unless she purchased the EMT Alert card. My understanding from Mark Coffee is that this consumer is a senior citizen and was quite alarmed by this alleged statement and reported it to the Texas Attorney General’s office. The Texas Attorney General’s office then posted its bulleting that EMT Alert might be a scam on its website before it had done an investigation.

I have reviewed EMT Alert’s sales pitch and have reviewed its website and services which I believe provide a valuable service to consumers. In no way does the sales pitch state that you must purchase the EMT Alert card/service in order to have Emergency personal respond to your phone call. What the service does do is allow Emergency Doctors to quickly access important medical information and to contact your regular medical providers in the event that you are unconscious or don’t remember your medical history in order to respond to medical questions. EMT Alert is not a scam but provides a valuable service to the public.

Very truly yours,
WEISS & MOY, P.C.
Mark Weiss

WEISS & MOY, P.C.
Attorneys and Counselors
4204 N. Brown Avenue
Scottsdale, Arizona 85251-3914
(480) 994-8888
Fax (480) 947-2663

E-Mail Address: patents@weissiplaw.com
Web site: www.weissiplaw.com

EMT ALERT SCAM LEGAL DOCUMENT

[anonomys]

First off, Celeste Padilla is the Ops Manager for EMT Alert, she probably created the response to the TX Attorney General herself. I have tried to locate the companies web site that is mentioned above and have had no luck. I beleive that the sales pitch does not state that you are required to have the Alert Card for emergencey services but the company probably trains their employees to say its required.

[marian]

This is clearly a scam. They are repeatedly calling my elderly mother who lives in Washington DC, nothing to do with Phoenix or Texas. Why are they allowed to continue? I would happily work with anyone interested in putting these guys out of business. No law enforcement agency I have contacted gives a damn about little old ladies being talked out of $25,000 by such phone scams!

[CharlieS]

The attorney site is legit although they are patent and business set-up attorneys, for the greater part. Perhaps you're just unlucky. As far as calling somebody in D. C., the proposed service, look at their web site, is not restricted to a particular region. I'm not supporting anything but am critical of those who go off without a clue. Nuff said!

[James]

I have been trying to get in touch with these people for several months. My sister lives in Ohio and has been contacted by three companies of this type. Since she does not remember many things, she signs up every time they call and she gets nothing or next to nothing for her money. I call them all scams.