I was at my mother's house when I got a call at around 10:00 PM. I just there for a short visit, trying to fix her computer and very surprised that the man on the phone asked for me by name. He had a very thick Indian accent.
He then started to explain how my name was on a list of people eligible for a government grant. I was only half listening to him, waiting for a chance to tell him I wasn't interested. He got to the point where he asked what I needed a grant for and listed several categories: starting a new business, remodeling a home, going back to school, etc. I told them that none applied.
Then I mentioned I was writing a fiction book and asked if that counted, because I already knew that you could only get a grant for non-fiction writing, at least that's all I've found. He said yes and asked me how much I needed: $10,000, $15,000, more? I told him might we might as well go with $20,000. Nice big number.
Then he asked if I needed anything else, like a new computer. Sure, I told him, $6,000 ought to be enough. My ideal computer might be a little bit more, though. So he bumped it up, a $10,000 grant for a computer. Then he summarized every for me. Two grants totaling $25,000.
My math might not be too good, but I knew something was wrong. He told me they would send an interactive CD that would assist me in writing a proposal. I'd just have to pay a $265 dollar fee. I asked him for the name of his company. He danced around the question, but after a few more attempts, he told me.
Since I was sitting at the computer, I searched for US Grants Interactive on Google and came across this site. I asked for his company's information. He said his name was Shane Prescott and everything else he gave me matched up with what others have posted.
I asked if he could send me some more information so I could look it over and he said it was too expensive. Most customers find it more helpful to do it on the phone so their questions can be answered. He also wouldn't email me anything.
It went on and I was just toying at him at that point. He kept saying, I don't want you to throw your dreams away. He pitched it a lot more than 5 times, before I managed to get him off the phone.
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