This company had been trying to reach me for about a week. I finally answered the phone, even though the Caller ID said "Unknown Name" and the number showed up as "1750." Already I should have been suspicious, but I must have been in a gullible mood.
The lady who answered had a thick Indian accent, but said that her name was "Jennifer Jones." If I hadn't been suspicious before, I should have been now. What gave me a little confidence in this company's legitimacy was that she gave me her company's full name and mailing address, but I realize now that it is probably fake.
Jennifer told me a long story about how the government gives away grant money for people to use for education, home improvement, starting a business or other worthy purposes. She said that as long as I was a US citizen, over 18 years of age and had paid taxes in I was eligible to receive a grant of $12,500 dollars.
Then, she said that the grant would be directly transfered into my bank account. She asked for the name of my bank and then had me verify that the routing number was correct.
She then asked for my checking account number. When I said that I wasn't comfortable giving my checking account number over the phone, she assured me that she was a government employee and gave me her "government employee ID number, " 43024302TC. She also assured me that this would be a one-way transfer and that they could not take money out of my account without my authorization.
Then in a lapse of judgement that should not have lasted even this long, I gave her my checking account number. She said that she was going to transfer me to the floor manager to complete the process.
Next, I talked to a man with an equally thick Indian accent and an equally common American name—I don't remember what his name was, though. He then began to explain to me that they would send me the legal documents for the grant application process in three business days, with a processing fee of $49.95 to be charged in 2 business days.
Also with the packet, I would get another packet containing legal documents that would allow me to receive these $12,500 grants every year for the rest of my life. If I did not chose to cancel the lifetime membership within 14 business days of receiving the packet, I would be charged $299.95.
I also had the option to receive free long distance calling for a one-time fee of $19.95 and then $49.95/month thereafter. I told him I didn't want the long distance stuff or the lifetime membership and he said that he wouldn't send me the long-distance stuff, but he still would have to send me the lifetime membership stuff, but that I could cancel by calling the 1-800 number provided in the packet.
Next, he transfered me to a computer system which had me state my full name, mailing address and checking account number. It repeated the terms of the agree me and had me state "Yes" if I understood and authorized each one. One for the initial grant, one for the lifetime membership and one for the long-distance service. I said Yes to the first 2 and No to the last one.
Then the computer system gave me a grant ID number and I was put on hold. Then, something happened and the computer system hung up on me. The man called me back right away and confirmed that I had taken down my grant ID number correctly. He then quickly repeated what was going to happen in the next several business days before we hung up.
It was only then that I had the presence of mind to look up this company on the internet. Of course what I found was not good. Supposedly you never receive anything.
I immediately regretted giving out my personal information to what should have been such an obvious scam. I tried to contact my credit union, but since it is Saturday, they had closed early. I sent them an email instead, hoping to stop any charges from that company before they went through.
I will post back about what happens.
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