I got a "number unavailable" call about 1:00 pm today 10-23-05 that models so many complaints on this site. My call was from an Alisha Carlos #1043 who was clearly middle-eastern in her heavy, hard to understand accent. I immediately thought she was a telemarketer & after her intro told her polietly I was not interested. She became very adimit and nearly rude asking me, "Do I not understand what a grant is?" & "Could I not use $12,000 dollars that the government has allocated for me?" I told her I had no need of $12K (a total lie... But anything to get them off the phone). She said she only needed to verify some basic information. It should only take about 2 minutes and I would receive my package identification# that would guarantee me my $12K.
I gave her my name & verified my address (street, city state & zip... Right... Verified, because she already had it). Then she asked the "no-no" question, my bank name. At this point I wanted more info about who I was talking to. She said she was calling on behalf of the Federal Government. I asked which division & she simply repeated herself. I told her that I was looking for the name of the company who writes her checks and she said, "Advantage America Grant Benefits." I started for the computer. During the pause she asks again my banks name which I gave at this point. As I was bringing up Google she asks my accoount number. I told her I was unsure where my checkbook was & she said she could wait. Although the check book was in site I was trying to locate some online info. I found this site and was trying to give her some faulty bank info but forgot to mess up my account number (although I did get the routing number messed up for them). At this point she says she will get her supervisor on to with a recording to verify! I am rattling the keyboard as quickly as I can now.
"Supervisor" Jeffeery Smith Ext 0993, answerers in what seemed at first to be a Scottish accent but as things became more heated he slipped into a middle-eastern accent as well. He informed me that he wanted to make sure I understood everything that Alisha had stated, to which I honestly answered, "No! It was nearly impossible to understand what she was saying." I asked if he could, "Please summarize what she said for me." All the while I am reading a few reports on this site. He said do you understand & I said, "I guess." He began with the automated recording questionaire. I answered everything & when I gave the bogus numbers for account & routing he interjected and repeated my bogus numbers which I affirmed he had written them correctly. When we got to the "Do you agrree to the one time processing fee of $49.95" I said, "No." Jeffery came on again & said you already said you understood the fee & this is the same $49.95 you were informed of." I said, "Correct, but I will not authorize you to deduct any amount from my bank account." Jeffery says something like you have already agreed to it with Alisha and I said I know but I'm reading on Ripp-off.com that this is a scam. His reply?..."Do you believe everything you read?" I told him, "No, but I didn't beleive that the government wanted to give me a $12K grant either." He went back over the basics and pushed again by saying, "Sir, sir you cannot be so stupid to turn down this grant of tax & interest free money to use where you will?" to which I replied, "Sir, sir if you cannot give me the number of the company and time to research this you cannot expect me to pay you." He went into the 48 hour grace period & I said that didn't matter if I had no number to contact him by & cancel. He reluctantly gave me the 1-800-866-503-7345 number. I said I would call him back if I saw reason to beleive him.
Now what remains to be seen is if I gave them to much info. I called my bank & explained what had happened & that I did not give them permission. They said they would document it & to watch for the charge. If it appeared; to call in & refute it. They would send me the form and credit the amount back & do an investigation (including calling these con artists). They also suggested at that point to change accounts. This is where I am at so far.
I know this was lengthy but I wanted a report that had all the details (I had to read 3 to make sure I was dealing with the same company). Also written for my back-up if they do try anything. I am not poor, disabled or applying for grants and am middle aged so I think they are preying on anybody & everybody. I do feel for all of you that lost money to these jerks and am sorry. I filed a report with the FTC (Federal Trade Commision) & will pursue a police report if I continue to get these calls or they do attack my bank account. Good luck and let's imoprision these con-artists taking adavantage of Americans!
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