Strategy to obtain US Amex

[Tiki]

How necessary is US residential IP VPN for apps and accessing online banking? Plan to do Amex GT soon for Hilton Honors or Green Charge then others down the track

Might also be planning a trip soon via LAX, is it worth booking appointments in branches without an ITIN yet just for account opening and chance of secured CC?

Just have HSBC Premier account + Premier MC atm

I haven't been using a US vpn for applications although i have to use one to access Experian and Credit Karma.

 

[Franko Costa]

I haven't been using a US vpn for applications although i have to use one to access Experian and Credit Karma.

Only use it to get better amex SUBs

 

[DAC1]

How necessary is US residential IP VPN for apps and accessing online banking? Plan to do Amex GT soon for Hilton Honors or Green Charge then others down the track

Might also be planning a trip soon via LAX, is it worth booking appointments in branches without an ITIN yet just for account opening and chance of secured CC?

Just have HSBC Premier account + Premier MC atm

Agreed with sudoer - practically not needed.

In relation to getting access to appointments in branches, I would make appointments to secure one or two additional checking accounts with BOA, Wells Fargo, PNC, Citi etc. While the rumour is that HSBC has shelved selling off its entire Australian retail business, it is useful to have access to multiple US checking accounts.

I wouldn’t bother with secured cards. Your credit record builds up via GT. I got my credit score with all three bureaus 7 months after my first GT.

The only thing a secured card does is burns up another credit card slot which you don’t want if you want to graduate to Chase/BOA cards (they have strict requirements regarding how many cards you’ve opened in the last 12/24 months - you’ll see references to things like 5/24 around here, you can find more searching).

 

[Tiki]

I got a strange text from Citi. Is it legit? The new card was apparently mailed 24 Dec in the USA. I got an email that my card is on its way. No way it has already arrived at Torrance. Is it safe to reply 1? I don’t want to trigger Citi fraud.

Came from short text 95686 to Tello.

Free Msg Citi: Please confirm you recently opened a Citi Advantage Platinum Select Card. Reply 1=Yes 2=No or call 8334311981. This card may be restricted until we hear from you. Reply STOP to Opt-Out

 

[blacksultan]

I got a strange text from Citi. Is it legit? The new card was apparently mailed 24 Dec in the USA. I got an email that my card is on its way. No way it has already arrived at Torrance. Is it safe to reply 1? I don’t want to trigger Citi fraud.

Came from short text 95686 to Tello.

Free Msg Citi: Please confirm you recently opened a Citi Advantage Platinum Select Card. Reply 1=Yes 2=No or call 8334311981. This card may be restricted until we hear from you. Reply STOP to Opt-Out

You can research this online.

 

[Tiki]

Chat GPT seems to think it's ok. I am just nervous given Citi's reputation for being overly fraud cautious.

Why this looks real (in your case)​

• You actually just opened a Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select card
• The message came from short code 95686, which Citibank does use in the U.S. for fraud and account verification texts
• The wording matches Citi’s standard new-account / fraud-prevention verification process
• You can’t access Citi Online yet, which is normal until the card arrives

Citi often sends a simple “reply Yes/No” text shortly after a new credit card application to:

• Confirm the application was really made by you
• Prevent identity theft
• Decide whether to fully activate or temporarily restrict the account

This is especially common for airline co-branded cards like the AAdvantage cards.

About the phone number​

The number 833-431-1981 is used by Citi for card verification/fraud-related calls. When paired with:

• a known Citi short code, and
• a real recent application,

it strongly points to a legitimate Citi message.