they almost got me under a new number 773-598-8290

daily calls to my cell anyone know who this is.

i recieve a phone call from these muthaf*ckers 347-983-0705 stating i had $5730 waiting for me. his name is chris thompson and he had an accent and every time i told him what is the name of your company he says u.s government. he told me to pay $399 to get the money but i refuse. this is a reminder government money is free and they come in the mail by checks. you're not suppose to pay  any money.

The guys name was Lee Gibson and said I was elligable for $4,455.00 in grants from the Government Grant Dept. He wanted me to deposit $199.00 inot their account in order for me to get the grant money. I obviously refused! What a scam. When I questioned him as to the validity of this, he said, "Well, if you don't believe me then we have nothing more to take about," and hung up on me.

I received a call a few minutes ago from an unknown number.  The person claimed their name was Dennis Nelson.  He also stated that he was from the U. S. Federal Government and claimed that since I paid my taxes on time that I was getting a grant for $6500.  All I had to do was to go to a location near my house.  I would get a phone call from someone within 10 mins to tell me what location.  I was required to pay $200 but would get that immediately back once they verified who I was.  So I immediately went on the internet and put in the address of 233 North Michigan Avenue, Building 200, Chicago Ill, 60601.  This did not come up as a federal building. So I typed the phone number in the internet and saw there were many complaints.  I have called the number back and told them that I am aware this is a scam and to not call my number any more.  I am so glad that I was smart enough to not divulge any information to this man.

I do have to say, if they want people to believe them, wouldn't they use people with American accents?  or is that just me???  I also tried to call the number, it rang and then I got a busy signal.

I got the same call from Dennis Nelson (Indian accent).  When his supervisor called I questioned him about it and he got mad, swore at me, called me names and hung up.  Hopefully I don't get another call.

I got the same call as all of you. I get them all the time. I tried to report it to the Chicago Police and they said since I live in California there is nothing they can do. I told the police that I had the Chicago address and Chicago phone number they gave me and the police officer didn't seem to care one bit and hung up on me. SHAME ON YOU CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT I tried to give them the info. and they didn't want it. SHAME ON YOU CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT

In addition to what I said above, the guy told me his name was Eric Jones.  That's pretty plain for a guy with a east Indian accent from Australia.

Individual with an East Indian accent told me he calling was from Chicago.  I played along and heard all of the same B.S. as above.  I then asked him again where he was from and he said Michigan.  I called him out on this and he then said that he was actually calling from Michigan and that he was from Australia. REALLLLY???  I asked him what city and after bumbling a bit he said western Australia.  Then I asked what CITY and he said Brisbane, Queensland.  I then called him out on his extremely poor geographical skills and asked multiple questions about the company he was working for until he hung up.  

It was pretty fun, actually.

My Dad received the same phone call...  I did a reverse phone search and the phone number has an unidentified owner.  I also looked up the government offices at 233 Michigan Ave.  I am a financial advisor and entrepreneur and have used services to apply for grant money.  This is not that!

Watch out!!!  Ed

EFFING INDIAN B*****DS! This is a complete scam and everyone that receives this call should call the number given to you (773-382-0010) every minute for 2 days straight and curse them out so that they  never call AMERICA again!

Just received a call from "Sean White" (with a distinct Indian accent) assuring me I had been chosen for a $7,000 "taxpayers grant" because I was such a dedicated taxpayer!  He gave his agent # as 0972.  He represented himself as working for the US Government Grants Dept. (no such department in the government)  giving me an address in Chicago and phone number to verify (773-382-0010).  He indicated that he would transfer me to someone who would give me further information.  I told him I would call the above number and inquired as to whom I should speak with.  I was given the name  "Alex Smith".  Upon hanging up I called the number which rang twice and went to a busy signal (every time). There was no doubt in my mind this was a scam but I had let him babble about bringing an ID and $199.00 to a to be advised location.  Of course the $199.00 would be refunded immediately along with my $7,000.  I figure at some point he knew he didn't have bite!   I am a senior in North Carolina and have every intention of reporting this Monday morning.  We all need to do our part to stop this deception.  Things in our government and personal lives are bad enough without this CRAP

I also received a call from Stephen Hawkins...phone # 000123456. Said I was owed $4000.00. When I asked the second called for verification he wasnt trying to steal my $199.00, he hung up on me!

GRANTS ARE FREE - YOU DO NOT PAY FOR THEM or to GET INFORMATION

See below

Government Grant Scams
Although government grant scams have been around almost as long as the government itself, the majority of the sites being advertised today didn't exist before the November 2008 election.

The "free money" scam has been around almost as long as the human species.

It has more variations than a bulldog has wrinkles but you can count on one thing: the government (any government) does not simply give money away to individuals. Anyone who tells you differently has larceny in his heart.

If you give him your bank account number, he will soon have your funds in his pocket.

It does no good to list all of the names used by these bunko artists because a.) they change all the time and b.) every single free-money government-grant offer is a scam. Period.

In one e-book, The Truth Behind Government Grants Exposed, the author (whoever he or it might be) admits that grants are not easy to get. The e-book goes so far as to say, "Now, I know what you must be thinking, but don't be discouraged because understanding that you do not qualify for the majority of Federal and Private Grants is the first step to actually getting a grant."

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2009/03/grant_scam_ads.html
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/scam_alerts/grant.html
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2009/03/ftc_stimulus_scam.html

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION WEBSITE      
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt134.shtm

?Free Government Grants?: Don?t Take Them For Grant-ed
?Because you pay your income taxes on time, you have been awarded a free $12,500 government grant! To get your grant, simply give us your checking account information, and we will direct-deposit the grant into your bank account!?
Sometimes, it?s an ad that claims you will qualify to receive a ?free grant? to pay for education costs, home repairs, home business expenses, or unpaid bills. Other times, it?s a phone call supposedly from a ?government? agency or some other organization with an official sounding name. In either case, the claim is the same: your application for a grant is guaranteed to be accepted, and you?ll never have to pay the money back.
But the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation?s consumer protection agency, says that ?money for nothing? grant offers usually are scams, whether you see them in your local paper or a national magazine, or hear about them on the phone.
Some scam artists advertise ?free grants? in the classifieds, inviting readers to call a toll-free number for more information. Others are more bold: they call you out of the blue. They lie about where they?re calling from, or they claim legitimacy using an official-sounding name like the ?Federal Grants Administration.? They may ask you some basic questions to determine if you ?qualify? to receive a grant. FTC attorneys say calls and come-ons for free money invariably are rip offs.
Grant scammers generally follow a script: they congratulate you on your eligibility, then ask for your checking account information so they can ?deposit your grant directly into your account,? or cover a one-time ?processing fee.? The caller may even reassure you that you can get a refund if you?re not satisfied. In fact, you?ll never see the grant they promise; they will disappear with your money.
The FTC says following a few basic rules can keep consumers from losing money to these ?government grant? scams:
    Don?t give out your bank account information to anyone you don?t know. Scammers pressure people to divulge their bank account information so that they can steal the money in the account. Always keep your bank account information confidential. Don?t share it unless you are familiar with the company and know why the information is necessary.
    Don?t pay any money for a ?free? government grant. If you have to pay money to claim a ?free? government grant, it isn?t really free. A real government agency won?t ask you to pay a processing fee for a grant that you have already been awarded ? or to pay for a list of grant-making institutions. The names of agencies and foundations that award grants are available for free at any public library or on the Internet. The only official access point for all federal grant-making agencies is www.grants.gov.
    Look-alikes aren?t the real thing. Just because the caller says he?s from the ?Federal Grants Administration? doesn?t mean that he is. There is no such government agency. Take a moment to check the blue pages in your telephone directory to bear out your hunch ? or not.
    Phone numbers can deceive. Some con artists use Internet technology to disguise their area code in caller ID systems. Although it may look like they?re calling from Washington, DC, they could be calling from anywhere in the world.
    Take control of the calls you receive. If you want to reduce the number of telemarketing calls you receive, place your telephone number on the National Do Not Call Registry. To register online, visit www.donotcall.gov. To register by phone, call 1-888-382-1222 (TTY: 1-866-290-4236) from the phone number you wish to register.
    File a complaint with the FTC. If you think you may have been a victim of a government grant scam, file a complaint with the FTC online at www.ftc.gov, or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
September 2006


Feds: Scammers Falsely "Guaranteed" Government Grants
Court halts operators' deceptive pitches for grant writing book and services


By James Limbach
ConsumerAffairs.com
July 24, 2009

A federal judge has stopped an operation from falsely claiming that it could help consumers secure a "$25,000 Grant" -- guaranteed -- from the U.S. government.
The case is part of a Federal Trade Commission crackdown on scammers trying to capitalize on the economic downturn by targeting people facing financial hardship.
In the complaint the FTC, jointly with the attorneys general of Kansas, Minnesota, and North Carolina, charged that Grant Writers Institute, LLC and its related entities (together, GWI) falsely told consumers that they were eligible for grants as part of the recently announced economic stimulus package .
According to the complaint, the false and deceptive claims by GWI violate federal law, state consumer protection laws, and the FTC's Telemarketing Sales Rule. The complaint seeks a court order permanently stopping the defendants' illegal conduct and forcing them to return money to consumers injured by the scheme.
"Stamping out grant fraud and other types of schemes that take advantage of consumers in dire financial shape continues to be one of the Federal Trade Commission's highest priorities," said David Vladeck, Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection. "There is no such thing as a guaranteed grant. But to consumers in financial trouble, the chance for extra income -- guaranteed or otherwise -- can unfortunately be a huge draw."
The FTC says since at least 2007, GWI has mass mailed postcards to consumers across the country falsely claiming that the consumers "are Guaranteed a $25,000 Grant from the U.S. Government." Consumers who call the number are pitched a $59 book titled "Professional Grant Writer 'The Definitive Guide to Grant Writing Success.'"
The company's telemarketers falsely claim that the book will explain how to get government grants  -- including the "guaranteed" $25,000 grant. GWI and its North Carolina-based telemarketers, also named as defendants in the complaint, then call consumers who have bought the book, trying to get them to pay hundreds of dollars or more for grant research, writing, or coaching services, falsely claiming a 70 percent success rate in securing grant funding.
In reality, few, if any consumers ever receive any grant money.
The Commission contends that in addition to falsely claiming consumers were "guaranteed" to receive grants, GWI used the current government stimulus package to make its pitch. For example, when consumers called the number on the mass-mailed postcard, they heard a recording that said, "If you've been reading the papers you know that recently our government released $700 billion into the private sector. What you probably don't know is that there is another $300 billion that must be given away this year to people just like you."
The recording continues, "And if you're one of the lucky few who knows how to find and apply for these grants, you will receive a check for $25,000 or more, and we guarantee it . . . If you don't get a check for $25,000 or more, you pay nothing."
The following were named as defendants:
? Affiliate Strategies, Inc.;
? Landmark Publishing Group, LLC (d/b/a G.F. Institute and Grant Funding Institute);
? Grant Writers Institute, LLC;
? Answer Customers, LLC;
? Apex Holdings International, LLC;
? Brett Blackman, individually and as an officer, manager, and/or member of Affiliate Strategies, Inc., Landmark Publishing Group, LLC, Grant Writers Institute, LLC, Answer Customers, LLC, and Apex Holdings International, LLC;
? Jordan Sevy, individually and as a manager of Landmark Publishing Group, LLC;
? James Rulison, individually and as president of Answer Customers, LLC, all located in Kansas.
The complaint also names the following North Carolina entities as defendants:
? Real Estate Buyers Financial Network LLC (d/b/a Grant Writers Research Network);
? Martin Nossov, individually and as a manager and member of Real Estate Buyers Financial Network LLC; and
? Alicia Nossov, individually and as a manager and member of Real Estate Buyers Financial Network LLC.



Read more: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2009/07 ... l#ixzz0NENGCoRV


    Government Grant Scam Hits Ohio
Tried and true scheme is making the rounds again



    By Mark Huffman
ConsumerAffairs.Com
July 26, 2010

The "government grant scam" is one of the oldest tricks in the
schemer's book. But that doesn't mean it isn't still very effective.
The scam, in which victims are promised "free" money from the government, has shown up recently in Ohio.
"Since early June, my office has received more than a dozen reports of Ohioans who were targeted by scammers posing as grant officers," Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray said. "Many of the calls appear to originate in the 202 area code. This creates an illusion of legitimacy because 202 is a Washington D.C. area code."
The reported scams are reaching consumers through phone calls, e-mails and letters sent through the U.S. Postal Service. All use the term "grant" and most require the recipient to pay a percentage upfront before acquiring the "free" money.
"Scammers are targeting Ohioans who are in a weakened position. It's an approach that preys upon the desperation and hope of struggling individuals, and it is reprehensible," Cordray said.

Cordray offers the following tips to avoid the "grant" scams:
? Be wary of mailings that appear to be from federal, state or other governmental agencies. Don't assume that a letter or postcard is actually from the government just because it uses words such as "federal," "stimulus package" or "grant." Even if the sender's name sounds official or legitimate, the originator might be phony.
? To determine if a letter, e-mail message or service is really from the government, contact the government agency in question from a number you know to be correct. For example, log onto the agency's actual Web site, such as www.irs.gov, and use a phone number or e-mail address suggested on the site.
? NEVER send money to a stranger through a wire transfer service. Don't trust requests for advance fees or upfront payment.
Because of the recent bank bailout activity by the Federal Reserve, many scammers claim that new laws also provide little-publicized funds for individuals. No such laws exist.
Some scam ads feature a picture of President Obama, or say that Obama is providing federal money to individuals for certain uses. That's not true. Much paperwork is required to receive any government grant.

I received the same call with one agent saying that I qualified for a $7000 refund and another (his supervisor Morris Thomas) saying that I qualified for $10,000. Same BS about the Federal Grant Department.
The FBI should be notified.

Just got the same call, neither men I spoke to could speak english, at least clearly.  I called them out on it and both became irritated saying that it was true and I just needed to call back to confirm.

I also received a call - on my cell phone which is a registered do not call line - stating I had qualified for a $5000.00 grant due to excess tax monies.  The call back number to a Lee Gibson (agent 4966) shows on my cell as 000-012-3456.  They wanted me to make a deposit of $199.00 into an Federal Acct.  Said it could all be confirmed by the US Treasury as that is where the funds were coming from.  Dont know the nationality but was EXTREMELY difficult to understand.  I contacted my bank to make them aware of this.

I received the same phone same phonefrom the same #  he also sounded from india . He stated he was morris thomas

I also received this same call. The caller sounded like he was from India origin and used the name of Stephen Hawkin's which I found comical.

I have received this call stating that I have qualified for a us grant in the amount of 7500 just for filing my taxes on time. They expect the person to go to a local address that will be given from a second call and to bring a photo id and deposit $199 into an account that is to be refunded once application is processed. There is no such grant anywhere on the government web pages and since when would you have to deposit funds to receive government funds.