
Brenna of Naperville, IL on April 21, 2012
Satisfaction Rating1/5
Grant Scams Posing as US Treasury - I have been getting phone calls on my cell phone from an unknown number for the last several months. The caller never leaves a message, and anytime I had answered the phone, there seemed to be no one on the line. That is until today when I answered and spoke to a man with an Indian accent, who told me his name was "Robaj" or some variation. He told me I was selected for a $7,000 grant from the department of US Grants and Treasury (don't think that actually exists) for being a good citizen and paying my taxes. He asked for my information, beginning with my address, which I told him he should already have, since he knew my name, phone number, and that I'd paid my bills and taxes on time.
I have gotten scam emails before and was curios to hear this man's explanation for why he was calling me, so I asked him very specific questions about the selection process, the origin of the money he promised, the name of the head of this department, and his physical location. He never answered a single question, but continued to talk in circles, reverting back to the original script he began with. From there, things got a little heated; I mentioned that I believed him to be participating in a scam and that I would not give him any of my personal information until he could verify his legitimacy.
I told him I planned on reporting his call and notifying necessary employees, to which he responded, "Go ahead and bring the police to Washington DC, Lynnwood to get me fired so I can see your **." That is when I let him know that I doubted very much I would find him anywhere in DC, and that I suspected it might be easier to find him in India. He had already given the name of a "Senior Account Manager", Patrick **, his phone number and a confirmation number to "receive my funds". I called the number he gave me: **, and spoke to another man with an Indian accent, though less pronounced, who claimed to be this Patrick ** person.
I told him of my unsettling experience with his so-called employee, and instead of apologizing, commiserating, or explaining the program further, he simply asked for my confirmation code. When I pushed him on the issue, letting him know I was skeptical, he asked for the confirmation code again, and when I let him know I would not give him any information until he could explain himself and his "department", he hung up on me. How is it that these people can be posing as government officials, questioning my patriotism because I don't jump head over heels to give them my identity, and suffer no consequences?