A caller represented himself as a worker with "Nationwide Grant Company" (very similar to MyGovernmentResources.com) His accent seemed to indicate he was of Indian or Pakistani origin. He stated, by phone, that the U.S. Government had selected me and was awarding me (free of any charge and taxation) a Personal Grant for 12,500.00 dollars... To be deposited directly in my checking account on Jan 23rd.
This news very much surprised me although I had searched online and requested information on Start-up Business and Housing grants, recently. He seemed focused upon the process of giving me a needed THREE confirmation numbers. This man called back in several days to do so.
On that evening there were also an additional three callers on three separate phone calls with these (male and female) operators "leading" me through a series of live and recorded messages, having me record my name, address and checking account / routing and account number. (OK I'm an idiot) When I asked "what these were about?" they said (unrecorded) they were offers that I would NOT be charged for, or in one case one offer, that the Nationwide Grant Company had already paid for, as a way they co-promoted programs. (strange that the U.S. Government would do any type of promotion)
Moreover, I was told I could easily cancel out from anything I did not want and then gave me a an 877 Toll-free telephone number to do so... (after later calling this number three times, with no answers, we became very suspicious) So... Of course nothing was ever deposited for the next three days and so far, one unauthorized $309.00 charge has appeared (today), January 26th!!
In 20-20 hindsight we might have known better, but the manner of their efficiency and serious triple "confirmation" codes seemed like it might have been legitimate, or for the purpose of avoiding my fraudulent claim to them, or the US Government.
Question5_ip_address:
MyGovernmentResources.com
Question6_damage_systems: No. But some time was lost and false hopes generated
Question6_Remarks: They tried to be remove money from our checking account, (same amount was mentioned in their promotional phone confirmations) and according to our banker, it was by using an "un-traceable" vendor code (fortunately, overdrawing the account) for an amount of 309.00 Because of this delay, our banker was able to quickly close the account, so nothing but our "stop payment" fee was lost. We are at the poverty level of income, as I am a not in good health and my wife is a hairdresser at the small New Jersey hair salon.
Question7_Remarks: I am sending this to consumer complaintss; please forward this ASAP to the correct New Jersey Division of Telephone/Web Fraud, as I see no entry for that type of fraud.
Share Info With: Public and Law Enforcement Agencies, Consumer Advocate organizations
Question8_share_info: Infrastructure Orgs
Question9_remarks: Please call me as I am willing to swear out a statement to prosecute these thieves to protect other optimistic citizens like myself.
0 comments