Complaint Review: Advantage America

11-02-2005

For the past week or so I have been receiving phone calls from what I assumed was a telemarketer. Today I finally acknowledged that I was infact who they were asking to speek with. The woman spoke with a heavy accent and said her name was Urana Leo, and was calling from Advantage America. I wasn't really reluctant to listen, but did anyway. She proceeded to tell me of the company she represented and told me that I had been entitled to receive a government grant in the amount of $12,500.

This caught my attention, especially since I have been applying for grants online for a few months now, as I have just completed medical school and have outstanding student loans.

The woman asked me for my banking account information and I proceeded to tell her I didn't have one; which I do indeed have one, but I would not give my information so easily. The woman proceeded to tell me that if I had a family member who was willing to let me use their account to have this $12,500 deposited into, then that would work also. This sparked a red flag for me, I don't really know how government agencies work, but I do know that what she had just told me sounded desparate and "fishy." I told her that I was going to talk to a family member and she asked what time she could contact me to confirm my information. We set up a time and hung up.

I immediately got on the internet and found your web site, THANK YOU so much! I am very leery about giving my information anyway, but after reading what you have posted I am very grateful I wasn't so eager to jump on this offer. I also checked on the status of my applications that I put in for government grants and it was no surprise, I didn't apply through any company involved with Advantage America.

Thank you again,

Nina
Denver, Colorado
U.S.A.