Monday, July 18, 2011 - 2:35 PM

Credit Card Deals ..... Real ? Or Questionable Web Sites

I just noticed an offer about a CHASE FREEDOM credit card, with a $200 bonus for signing up. It only required the purchase of $500 in three months to qualify for the $200 cash back.

The offer is mentioned, and multiple links available, from sites like slickdeals, nerdwallet, dealdump, etc. Anyway, they take you to webs sites that may be suspect. They have CHASE in the name, but you cannot find the same info at www.chase.com

An example of a suspect site is:

https://applynowdc2.chase.com/FlexAppWeb/renderApp.do?SPID=DGWR&CELL=6H8X&AFFID=PPkX79_c.b0-nJfi9qricU5.G7mxXt9O1Q&pvid=163358FOF495946650

I cannot get CHASE to verify the site, but they do say they use 3rd party vendors on some offers. I have always been told that you NEVER apply online except through the company's main web site, else you may be giving out information from a spoofed web site to an unknow person.

What do you think? Deal or DUD? What about the inability to get the same information or offer directly from CHASE?

bobert16 posts since
Jan 16, 2010
Rep Points: 86

1. Monday, July 18, 2011 - 3:45 PM

What about the inability to get the same information or offer directly from CHASE?

Bobert,
I wax conspiratorial (cautious) when circumstances warrant, but a promotional flyer was mailed from Chase last week with the same qualifications. I can't believe they're unable to confirm (or deny) authenticity, although having vacated accounts last January for pragmatic reasons, that response would be consistent.

CraigPD92 posts since
Jun 12, 2010
Rep Points: 323

2. Tuesday, July 19, 2011 - 7:11 AM

Thanks for posting this deal.

It appears to be a legit site and legit offer. It's a similar application webpage to the link I provided in my Chase Sapphire Preferred Card bonus review.

Here's the SlickDeals thread

Two things that indicate to me it's legit:

1) top-level domain name in the URL is chase.com

Fake sites may try to make it look like they're from chase.com by having this in the directory name. For example:
http://xyz.cc/chase.com

2) It's a secured page (https), and with Firefox, you can get additional info on secure pages. It shows that you're connected to chase.com and it's verified by VeriSign.

KenBDG5,146 posts since
Nov 29, 2009
Rep Points: 117,028

3. Tuesday, July 19, 2011 - 9:59 AM

Thanks, KenBDG. Very helpful.

bobert16 posts since
Jan 16, 2010
Rep Points: 86