- Report: #171630
Complaint Review: GSI Grant Services - Nationwide
-
Author Confirmed
Why?
GSI Grant Services
Nationwide, U.S.A.
Phone:
866-939-9542
Web:
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GSI Grant Services Guarantee of a Gov't Grant for $5000+ to get my bank info RIPOFF nationwide
*Consumer Suggestion: You need to more than contact the bank
*Author of original report: Agreed -- more than just talk to the bank
*Author of original report: Agreed -- more than just talk to the bank
*Author of original report: Agreed -- more than just talk to the bank
*Author of original report: Agreed -- more than just talk to the bank
*Consumer Suggestion: CLOSE YOUR CHECKING ACCOUNT NOW!!!
*Author of original report: Checking Account being closed
*Author of original report: Anyone attempted to track this company or any success with legal actions???
I am providing this report for a close friend of mine who is unable to get online at the present time. She called me today and advised she had just been advised she won a government grant. When I asked her further, she advised she had remembered entering something back last summer and had received a phone here today.
A Samuel Daniels had called her and provided that she was to be the receiptant of a $5000+ government grant. He pursuaded her to provide her banking account information to process the $348 fee which they would take out at an agreed date. He also advised if the funds were not available at that time, then they would take it in installment payments ($174 twice).
I was nervous for her because you don't have processing fees to recieve grants. I called the 866# provided to her. I didn't know the company name so when a lady answered I started asking what company she worked with. Evidently, there are more than one name company they are operating under as she advised she was a third party customer service representative located in Barbados and quickly went into the "spill" why their offices were in Barbados for cost reasons.
I asked about Samuel Daniels and she identified the company as GSI Grant Services, Inc. She advised they provided grant filling assistance and would send out a book along with the form to file for grants. She acknowledged they were not associated with any specific US government agency, operated as a third party assistance company, but was persistent that filling out the form that they provided (which she read to me over the phone and appeared to be an application for Federal Assistance) should get my friend her grant.
She could not provide any satisfied customers nor was able to provide any incorporation information (like a fed ID #) to check them out. No website "as of yet". Advised they had been in business 5yrs. I was not able to speak with Samuel Daniels as they took no calls into the call center and was not able to speak with a supervisor as she did not take calls and only handled training, questions from them and keying of info.
It is very evident that these people have good training for asking your questions (she put me on hold a couple times to solidify her answers). She was doing a good job of convincing me that they were an assisting company with filing for grants even though they charged an exuberant fee to get the free forms and manual.
I spoke back with my friend and we did a three way call back for her to cancel. A different lady answered and when provided with the info and the cancel request, advised that her info wouldn't be in the computer until next Friday, 20th (her funds were supposed to be taken out on the 27th) and to call back then to cancel. My friend is taking no chances and has contacted her bank already.
Dan
Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
U.S.A.
A Samuel Daniels had called her and provided that she was to be the receiptant of a $5000+ government grant. He pursuaded her to provide her banking account information to process the $348 fee which they would take out at an agreed date. He also advised if the funds were not available at that time, then they would take it in installment payments ($174 twice).
I was nervous for her because you don't have processing fees to recieve grants. I called the 866# provided to her. I didn't know the company name so when a lady answered I started asking what company she worked with. Evidently, there are more than one name company they are operating under as she advised she was a third party customer service representative located in Barbados and quickly went into the "spill" why their offices were in Barbados for cost reasons.
I asked about Samuel Daniels and she identified the company as GSI Grant Services, Inc. She advised they provided grant filling assistance and would send out a book along with the form to file for grants. She acknowledged they were not associated with any specific US government agency, operated as a third party assistance company, but was persistent that filling out the form that they provided (which she read to me over the phone and appeared to be an application for Federal Assistance) should get my friend her grant.
She could not provide any satisfied customers nor was able to provide any incorporation information (like a fed ID #) to check them out. No website "as of yet". Advised they had been in business 5yrs. I was not able to speak with Samuel Daniels as they took no calls into the call center and was not able to speak with a supervisor as she did not take calls and only handled training, questions from them and keying of info.
It is very evident that these people have good training for asking your questions (she put me on hold a couple times to solidify her answers). She was doing a good job of convincing me that they were an assisting company with filing for grants even though they charged an exuberant fee to get the free forms and manual.
I spoke back with my friend and we did a three way call back for her to cancel. A different lady answered and when provided with the info and the cancel request, advised that her info wouldn't be in the computer until next Friday, 20th (her funds were supposed to be taken out on the 27th) and to call back then to cancel. My friend is taking no chances and has contacted her bank already.
Dan
Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
U.S.A.
8 Updates & Rebuttals
Daniel
Shenandoah Valley,Virginia,
U.S.A.
Anyone attempted to track this company or any success with legal actions???
#2Author of original report
Sat, January 14, 2006
I am curious if anyone has attempted and had any success with reporting this to police or federal authorities??? I briefly attempted today to try to check out the ownership of the 866#, unsuccessful so far. I am not sure about exactly how a toll free number could be routed off shore (especially financially for a scam company). I actually believe that this bogus company operates here in the states and only identifies themselves as being located in Barbados to keep people from trying to track them down. Though some of the people calling seem to have "broken English", the couple I spoke with had great grammar and no problem with the language.... I don't recall any type of accent to distinguish a part of the country. Reverse lookup on the web for the phone line provided nothing; however, supposed pay services claim to have info. I know the phone companies will not release the info without a request from a legal authority if the client is unlisted. I realize most of these situations are deadends, but there evidently is plenty of scammed people out there with the limited amount of complaints on here probably being a very small percentage. If we could locate the people, then possibly we could get the correct jurisdiction to file criminal charges and/or civil charges by individuals. If someone wants to play, give them a call like I did and relay you are calling for a friend. See if you can pin them down with something.... hey, it is on their nickel! lol Any ideas????
Daniel
Shenandoah Valley,Virginia,
U.S.A.
Checking Account being closed
#3Author of original report
Sat, January 14, 2006
Thanks again Dave and Daniel, We are definitely on the same page... my friend called and advised that the bank manager advised her also to close out the account and open a new one, which is exactly what she is doing. I totally agree with the aspect that they have (had) her bank account info and nothing would prevent them from running drafts at their leisure without any recourse from the individual. From my own previous experience with a legit bank transfer that I had difficulty stopping with the company, the only way to FULLY Guarantee no additional charges to the account is to Close it.
Daniel
Los Alamitos,California,
U.S.A.
CLOSE YOUR CHECKING ACCOUNT NOW!!!
#4Consumer Suggestion
Sat, January 14, 2006
THIS IS A GUARENTEED SCAM. IF THEY SAY THEY WILL CANCEL THE CHARGE, THEY ARE LYING. IF YOU PUT A STOP ON THE CHECK, THEY STILL HAVE YOUR ROUTING NUMBER AND ACCOUNT NUMBER AND WILL CHARGE YOUR ACCOUNT MORE THAN ONCE. THEY HAVE BEEN KNOW TO CHANGE THE NUMBERS ON CHECKS. CLOSE YOUR ACCOUNT WITH YOUR BANK AND OPEN A NEW ONE.
Daniel
Weyers Cave,Virginia,
U.S.A.
Agreed -- more than just talk to the bank
#5Author of original report
Fri, January 13, 2006
Thanks Dave, I agree that just contacting the bank doesn't accomplish the full scope of what could happen. She was in touch with her bank manager within an hour of the occurrence. Actually, her bank is a small local bank and manager had advised they could do a stop payment. I did advise her when she stopped by the bank to make sure with the bank manager that there was no possibility of any bank drafts being done (she has none now) or accepted. We did talk about her closing the account but she wanted to talk with the bank manager in person which was about two hours after it happened. I will follow up with her some more over the weekend. I totally agree that the best way to handle it would (and probably will be) to close the account and move on. These people are definitely slick with what they are doing and have great answers for the questions. My friend is normally extremely cautious with this type of thing, yet they were able to convince her. Thanks again and yep, your comment is exactly right!!
Daniel
Weyers Cave,Virginia,
U.S.A.
Agreed -- more than just talk to the bank
#6Author of original report
Fri, January 13, 2006
Thanks Dave, I agree that just contacting the bank doesn't accomplish the full scope of what could happen. She was in touch with her bank manager within an hour of the occurrence. Actually, her bank is a small local bank and manager had advised they could do a stop payment. I did advise her when she stopped by the bank to make sure with the bank manager that there was no possibility of any bank drafts being done (she has none now) or accepted. We did talk about her closing the account but she wanted to talk with the bank manager in person which was about two hours after it happened. I will follow up with her some more over the weekend. I totally agree that the best way to handle it would (and probably will be) to close the account and move on. These people are definitely slick with what they are doing and have great answers for the questions. My friend is normally extremely cautious with this type of thing, yet they were able to convince her. Thanks again and yep, your comment is exactly right!!
Daniel
Weyers Cave,Virginia,
U.S.A.
Agreed -- more than just talk to the bank
#7Author of original report
Fri, January 13, 2006
Thanks Dave, I agree that just contacting the bank doesn't accomplish the full scope of what could happen. She was in touch with her bank manager within an hour of the occurrence. Actually, her bank is a small local bank and manager had advised they could do a stop payment. I did advise her when she stopped by the bank to make sure with the bank manager that there was no possibility of any bank drafts being done (she has none now) or accepted. We did talk about her closing the account but she wanted to talk with the bank manager in person which was about two hours after it happened. I will follow up with her some more over the weekend. I totally agree that the best way to handle it would (and probably will be) to close the account and move on. These people are definitely slick with what they are doing and have great answers for the questions. My friend is normally extremely cautious with this type of thing, yet they were able to convince her. Thanks again and yep, your comment is exactly right!!
Daniel
Weyers Cave,Virginia,
U.S.A.
Agreed -- more than just talk to the bank
#8Author of original report
Fri, January 13, 2006
Thanks Dave, I agree that just contacting the bank doesn't accomplish the full scope of what could happen. She was in touch with her bank manager within an hour of the occurrence. Actually, her bank is a small local bank and manager had advised they could do a stop payment. I did advise her when she stopped by the bank to make sure with the bank manager that there was no possibility of any bank drafts being done (she has none now) or accepted. We did talk about her closing the account but she wanted to talk with the bank manager in person which was about two hours after it happened. I will follow up with her some more over the weekend. I totally agree that the best way to handle it would (and probably will be) to close the account and move on. These people are definitely slick with what they are doing and have great answers for the questions. My friend is normally extremely cautious with this type of thing, yet they were able to convince her. Thanks again and yep, your comment is exactly right!!
Dave
Jacksonville,Florida,
U.S.A.
You need to more than contact the bank
#9Consumer Suggestion
Fri, January 13, 2006
You have to CLOSE HER ACCOUNT immediately and open a new one. They will not cancel! They will take the money anyway, and it won't be on the 27th, it will be a lot sooner, if they haven't done so already. The bank cannot block them, your account must be CLOSED.
