Complaint Review: AMERICAN FEDERAL GOVERMENT INFORMATION CENTER

I recieved a call this morning March 29,2005 and a guy name Neo was calling to offer me a $5,000.00 grant guranteed by the goverment and all they would need from me is to pay the tax of $249.00 to recieve the the money. I was a little shakey about this offer but I am in need of money to start my business. So I ask him a series of questions repeating and writng down anything that was said so Neo asured me that the day of the transactions would be as followed, My bank will call me to vertify that $249.00 would be withdrawn from my savings account not checking and a automatic deposit of $5,000.00 would be place in my account that same day so I gave him the ok and my information to my savings account. I knew I should not have given him my information but I wanted to see what would happen.

So Neo then place me on hold where he called a third party Chris that took my information again and he then called an automatic teller where I had to say all of my information again. Now at the end of the recording she offer me long disance which I said no too, and said that the $249.00 would be taken from my account. At that time I ask Neo who was still on the phone, why did the recorded message did not mention anything about the deposit of $5,000 and I was then disconnected from the call so now I'm freaking out because I don't know what is going to happen so I call the two numbers that were given to me from the recorded message. The 1-800-796-2499 was not woking properly then I called 1-866-454-4564 and the phone just rung for about a minute and automatically hangup so I just kept on calling their was no answer so I decide to get on the internet and find all I could about this company and I could not find anything not even in the phone book so I went to the Better Business website and did a search under the address in New Nork nothing so I tried it nationwide and two addresses came up one is for 106-21A97 street Ozone PARK, New York 11417 but this zipcode is for Jamica New York and one for Columbus, Ohio 43215 but no address so now I decided to call the 1-866-454-4564 number again and someone answer so then I told him about the call and he then explained to me that the information was given to me wrong, The $249. fee is for processing only and I would receive papers by mail for what I needed that grant for, I then told him that is was fraudulent and I want to to cancel I also ask him about the zipcode and he gave me a new one which is 11419. Then he gave me a cancellation number for my own referance.

I am still not happy with this situation so tomorrow which will be March 30th I will be going to my bank to stop all tranactions just in case. I am just hoping that it is not to late. I never ever did anything like this before and I will never do something like this again . This should be made pubic and I'm glad I stumbled onto your this website Thankyou.

Crystal
CLEVELAND, Ohio
U.S.A.

EDitor's Suggestions on how to get your money back!

HERE IS WHAT RIP-OFF REPORT SUGGESTS YOU DO:

Go to your bank within 60 days of the charge, or as soon as you know about the charge, don't delay, and tell them that there has been fraudulent activity within your account. Explain that you wish to file a dispute, and demand that they assist you in accordance with Federal Regulation E.

According to the majority of victims interviewed by Rip-off Report, those who immediately called their banks to dispute the charges did not get very far. Many victims got the following responses from their banks: we could not do anything for you or you waited too long; it has been more than 60 days.

If the bank is says that you have waited too long, explain to them how you called their 800 number as soon as the charges were found, and were told by the bank that nothing could be done. Remind the bank that they failed to assist you properly at the 800 #, and instead, provided you with an inadequate explanation of your right to dispute. Tell the bank that it's their fault time has expired, and since they gave you the wrong info to begin with, they will just have to deal with it, take the loss and reverse the charges.

Tell them the truth; this was unauthorized and your account was NOT to be charged! Keep emphasizing how you never authorized anything! Direct them to the hundreds of victims reports that were filed on Rip-off Report.com. And if you're at the bank, walk them over to their computer and make them go to this site! If you are on the phone with them, tell them you will wait while they access this site! Either way, be persistent!

DO NOT TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER!

Let them know nicely, that you were advised to Report them (the Bank) and this situation to the Banking Commission in your state. Since each state has a different name for the agency/controller over banks, find that name before you call or get to the bank so you can throw it in their face. The more knowledgeable you appear to be, the further you will get.

And just continue to demand the Federal Regulation E form! The bank CAN, MUST and WILL reverse the charge! But, you must be persistent; ask to speak to the supervisor or the area manager for all the branches in the state.

Let the bank personnel know you are meeting with the media later in the day, that you would much rather they do the right thing (as most other banks have) by looking at the complaints and immediately reversing the charge(s) to your account; no matter how long ago it was. Be sure to call the Media if necessary so you are telling the truth.

If you have to, be loud (but nice) in front of other customers. If you are just calling by phone, the above tactics should still work. The bank can easily fax or mail to you the Federal Regulation E dispute form.

CHARGES TO YOUR CREDIT CARD

If the charge was to your credit card (not debit card, check card, or checking account), contact the credit card company as soon as possible to request a dispute form. Consumers usually have a little longer to dispute fraudulent credit card charges (up to 6 months), but it is better to act right away. In this type of situation, credit card disputes are usually successful since fraudulent companies often won't contest the disputed charge. In rare cases, credit card companies will review disputes, but refuse to reverse the charges. If this occurs, complain to a manager and let them know you will be filing a report here.

Remember Don't let them get away with it! Make sure they make the Rip-off Report .. The more Reports filed on a Company or individual, the more likely it is that the authorities, media and attorneys will want to take action.

And good luck Let us know how you do!

ED Magedson Founder, Rip-off Report.com & Author of www.ripoffrevenge.com
EDitor@ripoffreport.com
badbusinessbureau.com
www.ripoffreport.com

Don't let them get away with it.
Make sure they make the Rip-off Report!

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...the victims' advocate

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...by consumers, for consumers

CLICK HERE to read about Credit Card Scams... find out how to get your money back. *Rip-off Report Investigation provides valuable information.