Scam Artists

[SlickSlider]

I remember about a year or two ago there were advertisements on late night TV showing a babbling idiot in a suit of question marks jumping around announcing that there are government grants in the amount of 5,000 or more just waiting to be claimed, and that you can get a 5,000 government grant because you are entitled to it, blah, blah, blah. I told several people at the time that it was not to be believed, that it was a scam because the government did not simply hand out grants to people just because they state that they have use for it. It was a scam, I told everyone, and when the company started sending me emails advertising their access to grants for a small fee, I emailed them back condemming them for preying on the gullible and unknowing. They never emailed me again.

A few days ago I was rushing about at work, wrapping up for the day so I could go home, when my cell phone rang. I answered it and it was some fella from the Government Grant Center giving me a sales pitch about the government grant I am entitled to of at least 5,000. Being busy I wasn't fully listening and asked him to call me back later. He said he couldn't, and that by not talking to him I was throwing away at least a guaranteed $5,000, and wasn't it worth 5,000 to give him a few minutes of my time? Well, I didn't recall the nonesense described in the first paragraph just yet, but I knew it was a sales pitch of some type not to be believed. On the other hand I've passed up too many chances in the past by not looking further into them, so I gave him my attention, though I literally told him to make it quick because I was busy, which he did not like but I didn't care.

So anyway, here's the deal, as long as I'd paid taxes within the last 3 years and was over 18 and worked full time and had a valid credit card and the whole 9 yards, I was entitled to a minimum 5,000 to use for college or buying my first home, or opening a business, or yada yada yada. Yeah right, whatever. He swore up and down that it would not cost me anything but a $250 processing fee, and that I would get a guaranteed minimum of a 5,000 dollars in government grant money. So I said, pretending to be interested but still playing with him, "Guaranteed by whom?" So he said that the company guaranteed it, and he gave his word that the guarantee was valid. Yeeaaahhhh, as if! All for a one time processing fee of $250, and not a penny more, guaranteed; and the 5,000 minimum was guaranteed. Then I asked him why his office phone number hadn't shown up on my cell phone's caller ID and he replied that they don't give out the phone number. So I said, Okay, give me your full company name and the address. Of course, they didn't give out their address either. Like that was a surprise. So I said, how do I know the grant money is guaranteed? And he said, we guarantee it, and I give you my own guarantee. So I said, And I take that as the word of God from someone I don't know, over the phone? Haven't you seen the film Boiler Room? And he assured me that if the company was not legit that they would not have been in business as long as they had been. He then referred to the commercials of the man in the question mark suit dancing around, as proof of the company's validity (well duh, if it's advertised on late night TV, then it has to be legit, right Gomer?), and I said, LOL, "You mean that idiot in the clown suit dancing around like an imbecile? You're proud of that?"

Okay, so he guaranteed me again that it would only cost me a one time fee of $250, and that I would not be billed until the 12th of January (the conversation had been on the 8th or 9th.). Okay, so maybe I would see what those clowns had to say in printed letterheads that he said they would send me, no harm in at least that, right? Yeaaaaah, not! Okay, so where are we, guaranteed 5,000 dollars in government grant money, guaranteed over the phone by a salesman rallying behind a fool in a riddler suit, all for a one time payment of $250. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't falling for this bullshit, but I was listening to him for kicks and giggles. So then he said, he was transferring me to the next level in the process in which I would give him my checking account number to hold so that they can direct debit me for my convenience on the 12th. I said, if I'm not being billed until the 12th, why do you need it now? I'll send you a check on the 12th. He said that they had to have the number in advance. So I told him it wasn't going to happen. They send me a bill with their company address and phone number, and I send them a check. I wasn't some shmuck about to tell them my account number so they can clean me out. He guaranteed their validity again and I said "See ya!"

And that was the end of that. Damn scam artists. What is sad is that they sometimes get a hold of the elderly and the gullible who fall for their scams and lose everything in the process. It's a sad shame the depths that so many will slither to scam and steal from the unwary. They say a fool and his money are soon parted. Maybe so, but I despise the deceivers.

[dgmodel]

yeah i dont know what all that says, but ive always been a firm believer that if you got scammed you deserved it.. buyer beware...

[crowina]

tell him if you wanted that you would enlist in the military.

......and was over 18..... I was entitled to a minimum 5,000 to use for college or buying my first home, or opening a business, or yada yada yada. Yeah right, whatever.

[jtk4]

wait that guy in the green suit lies

[opticrush]

i used to work for a place that used to do these scams. thing is, they'll tell u dat u dont have to spen more than 250 dollars and will make u use a credit card to decrease the number of chargebacks. and even if u pay these guys 250 dollars, they will tell u that u will be getting a package sent out to u, and they will deiberately ship out to u late, so when u do get it, u cant cancel it. after u get ur package ull call them up and ask them how to get the 5000 dollars of grant money, theyll reply telling u that u only bought the package ( the papers to register for grant money, etc.) and then they will pitch u again on how u can hire someone to get u that grant money. the people that actually buy this package for 250 dollars eventually becomes leads for another company. Its all bullshit and it has probably been reported at www.ripoffreport.com . Companies like these are structured by Setters and CLosers. THe person who first pitched u the idea probly told u something like "OK great, So I'll make an appointment with our Senior Director so you can talk to him about more important issues with him." the Setter will also avoid answering any questions and when asked something, will respond by saying, "THis is something im not entitled to answer, because im only ______, and the Senior DIrector will be glad to answer any questions. Make Sure u Write them all Down.(Bullshit)"

I used to be a setter for a company like this and its nothing but scams.

[shortkat5]

two things my dad used to tell me - if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is and you rarely get something for nothing

[therunner]

Mail in rebates - another scam.