So for the past week, National Government Grant Benefits has been trying to call me. When I first received the call, I could barely hear the other side, and told the guy to call me back later. They tried calling me back several times, on average, about 3 times per day, but I just ignore the calls. So today, I was having drinks with a friend at a local festival, and joking about this one telemarketer that wouldn't stop calling me, so he suggested that the next time I call, just to entertain them.
About an hour later, the call came in. Lorraine Peters, Agent #43416 was my hapless victim...: D She called, and confirmed who I am, and I asked who she was. She told me that she was from National Government Grant Benefits, and I kept asking her what was this organization because I have never heard of them before. She started speaking condescendingly to me, and told me that she was part of the government that I pay my taxes to, and that they were going to give me a $12,500 grant for being such a good citizen for paying my taxes on time. I was a bit confused and asking about it, but she was being very impatient with me, and told me that either me or my father or someone in my household are all entitled to some money, but I had to pay $29.95 to receive some package and will get a $100 check in the mail, blah blah blah... Huh? Why do I have to pay $29.95 if I am going to receive a check? Why don't you just give me a grant for $12,470? She said that it doesn't work that way, and that I needed to help out with the expenses blah blah blah, but I quickly shot back that 1) if she is giving me money, it doesn't make sense for me to pay money, and 2) I pay my taxes on time, have never skipped out on paying them, and my tax money should cover the costs. She didn't hear the last part, and just talked over me with some script. Ok, I'll play along with her little game then.
So what's the catch? She said there isn't any, and that she was going to have a supervisor come and talk to me to get my bank account information, etc., but before she transferred me, she gave me her info, and she confirmed my address with me.
How did you get my address? I was a bit pissed off that she knew my address. She pulled attitude back to me and told me very indignantly that it is the address that was provided. BULLSHIT!!! I haven't moved into this house yet, and I have never filed my taxes from this address. She kept trying to talk over me, but I just told her that I thought that she was scamming me, and hung up.
Since that point on, they have been trying to call me every hour for the next several hours, but now it seems to have stopped.
After reading the reports on this site, I am glad that I didn't fall for this, but I have been a little vigilant about all of these calls especially with all of the phishing, Nigerian, and other scams going on these days. I would suggest everyone to be a bit vigilant too.
Michael
Saratoga, California
U.S.A.
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