I got a call today from a Sandy Patterson. She said she was from the Government Grant Information Center and that I had been chosen to receive an 8000 dollar grant from the government to do anything I wanted. She asks me what I was going to do with it.
Well now, I knew this was a scam but I played along and told her I always wanted to go to the Grand Caymans and this would give me the money to do that. She seemed pleased I was so excited about the money. Then she explained to me that she needed some information. She ask me my name, I told her she should already have my name since I had been given this grant. And she did, she had my name and address and of course my phone number.
Then the battery went dead on the phone I was using and the call was cut off. No fear, she called me right back. I explained to her about the dead battery. She picked up where she left off and ask me for my bank name. I told her I wasn't going to give her any of my banking information because she could go in and take my money. She assured me she couldn't do that. She asks if I had ever completed a check over the phone. I told her I had and she said well you gave them your information why won't you give me your information. I told her when I did that I knew who I was dealing with and that I didn't know her and she might be a scam.
Good ole Sandy assured me she was not a scam and told me that under section 108 I was entitled to this money because I was a good tax payer and I had a good credit report. I ask for some information about her organization she said they were also under American Financial she gave me a mailing address in Utah, but said she could not give me a phone number because it was a secured government line. I ask her if I could check it out and get back to her. Sandy wanted to know how I was going to check it out. I told her I'd check the internet. She told me to go ahead. Then she said are you doing that now, which I was, I said yes and Sandy was gone.
Don't get ripped off by these jokers. Be smart, don't give out you financial information to companies you have not approached or you don't already have a relationship with. Don't be pressured, if a company is legit they will work with you. They will not make it sound like opportunities knocking and you might miss out if you don't jump in right now.
And one more thing, there are no free lunches. I know for a fact that government grants have to be applied for and they are not that easy to get. There is lots of paperwork on your part and all the T's' have to be crossed and the I's' have to be dotted just to be considered.
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