I answered the phone today on a Saturday afternoon to a woman with a thick middle-eastern accent. She asked to speak to my husband, who was not home, and I asked to take a message. She was very pushy, yet she almost seemed frustrated because I was asking her to repeat herself so much. As hard as I tried, I could barely understand her. I almost let my guard down because I was feeling bad for possibly making her self-concious about her accent.
Finally, she asked me if I was his family member. She asked my name, which I told her (I figured she already knew my husband's name). She asked again when she could reach him, and I told her in an hour or so. She said since I was a family member, that I could accept this money for him. What money, I asked? She specifically said she was from the U.S. Federal Grant Department. I am sure about this, because I made her repeat herself several times! She said he had been chosen in our area to receive $12,500 in grant money. All I had to do was verify our bank info, and the money would be deposited on Monday into our bank acct. She said we had to hurry because this money was to be distributed within 48 hours. I know that grants can be picky and have lots of rules, but come on! So I asked lots and lots of questions. She told me her name was Sheryln Larson (or at least that is what it sounded like).
She seemed to be getting very frustrated with all my questions. I said, you can understand that it isn't very safe to give that info over the phone. I told her I would like to verify that she is indeed the U.S. Grant Dept. She asked if I would like to talk to her supervisor, and I said absolutely.in about 30 sec. A man answered who also had a thick middle-eastern accent. I'm thinking, you've got to be kidding. What is the likelihood? I was able to understand him somewhat better. He talked so quickly and then said I need your bank number. I told him the same I had told her, that it didn't seem safe. He said he assured me that this was no scam and that the United States government would never rip anyone off. I said, then why did my husband get this grant. He said that he had been such a good tax payer. I laughed and said that I just didn't realize the gov't was in the business of giving out $12,500. He started again telling me the whole deal.
He said on the day after the deposit, that $49.95 would be taken out of my acct. I asked why, and he said, for bank to bank charges of course. I also told him I wanted to verify who he was, and asked for a website. He put me on hold. Finally he gave me www.fastcashgrants.com which I promptly asked, why is it.com not. Gov if this is truly a gov't thing. He said the gov't chooses recipients, but this company gives the grant. I told him I would check the website, and he said he would call back in an hour. I told him that would be good so I could talk to my husband. He was very rude, and obviously not professional.
The website is actually an earn money over the internet business, which appears to have no affiliation. I figured out who they were when I googled the caller i.D. # and got this webconsumer complaints site website.
My warning would be that they both talked so fast, it could be easy to say the wrong thing. At one point I verified my address; however, I did not give the info, she already knew it. They both had an answer for everything I asked. Be careful and follow your instincts.
Jenni
Maryville, Missouri
U.S.A.
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