Reviews

This profile includes reviews for Optimum Reading Service's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see Find Local Branches.

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  Optimum Reading Service

  24820 N 16th Ave Ste 110 Phoenix, AZ 85085-0643

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  Optimum Reading Service

  PO Box 110418 Lakewood Rch, FL 34211-0006

Review Details

• Review fromKt F

  Date: 06/01/2025

  1 star
  *********** suburb here we got a sob story too. Single dad, came from *******, trying to help inner city youth, no business card or website, needed commitment on the spot, well-rehearsed script to charm quickly, walking on foot, dressed in a suit and tie. He flashed a $100 bill probably to show that someone else gave money, with a sign-up sheet with 2 (probably fake) names. He did say it was a for-profit company and not a donation maybe to get in less trouble if caught. Or to make it seem more like a legitimate company?

• Review fromSimon B

  Date: 05/27/2025

  1 star
  First I'd like to think the person that knocked on my door was being genuine with all that they were stating. Here is where I have a big problem and the reason for my one star review. Upon further research I find it odd that the check is made out to Optimum reading service but the website is Optimun Reading Service. Subtle difference but looks as you go to the Website it has the magazines for personal use and not going to the special need facilities like the worker stated. Nothing on the receipt given to me showed the magazines would be directed to either the Battered Woman Services or ******************* which I requested.

• Review fromAmanda B

  Date: 12/31/2024

  1 star
  The scam is back and knocking door to door in ******. I collected as much info as possible from the two young ladies at my front stoop to report to local authorities, news, and the ****** local residents should beware. They claim to be ****** kids aging out of the system, doing sales for Optimum Reading Services to earn enough for housing. All online info about the supposed entity is related to charity fraud, essentially theft through deceptionimpersonating a charitable organization. To get the perpetrators account info, I made a small donation through a digital cash app and then cancelled through my bank immediately after. However, it seems many have fallen victim to this criminal scheme over many years and across many state lines.Beware the appeal to pathos! The perpetrators claim to be at risk, disadvantaged youths in need, at least the two in my neighborhood. *** now read of other sales personnel claiming to be reformed ******** doing charity work to get back into the workforce.This group is an illegitimate entity engaging in a fraud scheme clearly preying on disadvantaged youth to engage in their bad faith acts to defraud whoever they can. Multiple reports have been made to local authorities and news agencies for public notice and investigation, but from the sounds of itlittle to nothing has been done. Its also now been reported to ***, FTC, BBB, and a few others as financial theft through deception. Strange that this entity crosses so many state lines defrauding people for years and nothing has been done.If you fall victim, just remember that digital transactions are traceable and often can be cancelled while pending if you call your bank to report the deception. Notify the *** and local authorities. Eventually, with enough reports, some action should be warrantedMake your friends, family and neighbors aware to help protect them from being victimized, especially tender hearted individuals more vulnerable to these schemes than others!

• Review fromDavid G.

  Date: 06/27/2024

  4 stars
  **************, ***Professional level scam. Sweet talk about your nice home and that they are trying to spread good to underpriviledged kids, etc. your donation is supposed to provide 3 yrs of magazine subscription. They localize it by saying they've spoken to neighbors who've also given.Call your police asap and cancel any check/card that you give them.Pray they decide to change their income source to something legit!

• Review fromRachel B

  Date: 06/12/2024

  1 star
  SCAM! As many have listed below. This happened to me in ********** Delware at a ******** market. 2 well-dressed, seem***ly kind men approached me to talk about a 'program' they were involved in as previously convicted felons re-enter*** the work force. They never mentioned the optimum reading services. Instead, they talked about a 'Second Chance Initiative' where they were employed and received job train*** through sell*** these magazine packages that would be donated to charities (womens/mens prison, shelter, ****** care etc). They would receive a commission and 'point's' towards their job train*** program... to help them get on their feet and not revert to their old ways.... They stressed they'd only make a commission if the sale was made in person. Cash/Venmo/Paypal. For venmo, they skipped past the 'enter 4 digits to verify' option, which essentially means you can't dispute the charge later. The venmo was to *************************, with the ** @optimunA1 They really were so smooth talk***, kind, jok***, and pal-*** around with other community members. Even pointed out a police officer, say*** he'd donated and was the top $ they were try*** to get others to match or exceed. I asked for a website, and then just quickly snapped a pic of the forms they had on a clipboard. It was there that I saw the details about be*** linked to the Optimum Reading Services company and found all these horrible scam complaints. Fortunately I was able to have my bank cancel the charge (cost me $33), but at least they won't get the $216 that I thought I was generously donat*** for a good cause. So disgust***.

• Review fromEmily S

  Date: 04/26/2024

  1 star
  SCAM! SCAM! SCAM! Using Battered Women's Shelters and Children's Hospitals to sucker well-intentioned people to "donate".

• Review fromStephen W.

  Date: 04/06/2024

  1 star
  Fell for this at the height of the *** movement and was totally suckered into giving up several hundred dollars for some BS sad sack story about rebuilding life after prison. Obviously never received "magazines" I purchased. This is a criminal enterprise and I'm shocked no one has been arrested yet.

• Review fromTeresa M

  Date: 03/22/2024

  1 star
  My story is the same as the ones reported here. . I wrote a check and just cancelled it after reading about this company on this BBB site.

• Review fromJerry V

  Date: 10/20/2023

  1 star
  I was one of those suckers who listened to their sad/recovering life story. I did order the cheapest magazine subscription and wrote a check. After Googling this company and found it was fraudulent, I immediately canceled the check. Never again will I fall for this scam again.

• Review fromAmy C

  Date: 08/23/2023

  1 star
  THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE SCAM:((I have the same story as everyone else. I feel stupid. I thought I was helping someone who may have had a difficult time in life. ****** told me I could Venmo the money which he said added up to over $200. I told him I have multiple kids in college, which is true, and told him I couldnt afford it. But I gave him $40. Thank goodness that something in my head told me to write a check instead of ***** and luckily my bank has a 24 hour customer ********************** line. I stopped payment on the check, but I still feel stupid for falling for it:(