I had the pleasure of talking to several people from the US Grant Department out of Illinois over the past 2 weeks. I can assume English wasn't their primary language, which isn't the issue in this case. The most recent number was 282-726-2524. Anyways, I decided to play with them today. The gentleman stated he was from the US Grant Department and I was approved for $7000. They gave me an approval number and a call back number and options on how I was to receive my grant monies.

So I called this number 202-905-0360 Washington DC, which I then spoke with a lady that repeated my address and such. She then verified how much grant monies I was to be getting and how I would be receiving it. I stopped her to ask her if there was anything to pay up front. Of course I know the answer to this, yes it was to be a $200 deposit which will be donated to some made up charity.

I am laughing to myself at this point, cause I know where this is heading. Been there, done that. I thanked the lady for her time, and let her know I was reporting this scam. I disconnected the call there after. I don't blame the agents for this, they are like everyone else...trying to get by with any job available.

As they all say, if it's too good to be true, it probably is. I just wanted to see how far this would go so I could report this. I hope this helps anyone out there about to give their hard earned money away. If you have to give money up front for money, it's probably a scam. They will milk you for as long as they can. Good luck to all.

Click Here to read other Ripoff Reports on US Grant Department - Washington DC

7 Updates & Rebuttals

Starla Curtis

sherman,
Texas,

NOT A REBUTTAL

#2General Comment

Mon, July 07, 2014

same thing happened to me today 2026977222 he asked me for bank or prepaid i said no way he said ty its your choice and hung up lol wow jerk is trying to rob me and is rude.. im poor yet support 6 people and help who i can so goes to show the dont care who they hurt!!!!

Claudette

New York,
New York,

NOT A REBUTTAL -- Ongoing Grants Scam

#3REBUTTAL Owner of company

Thu, May 01, 2014

Today, May 1, 2014 I got the call -- $10,000 grant, free and clear. Randomly chosen. Yea, right.

I have to admit he had me for a minute... I'm launching a new business, I'm am a woman and Afro-American, so for a minute I thought "Hey the government knows about me and is sending me money for working capital. Cool!". The euphoria lasted about 10 seconds.

Had a hard time understanding Eric. He had to tell me his name 3 or 4 times and even spelling it took 3 requests. (Eric, ID#A05012014). He was calling from the Grants Dept. in Washington DC. When quizzed further (What?! What?! Who are you?! You're calling from where?!) he said he was from the U.S. Federal Grants Dept. Caller ID: 202-697-7222.

He said he couldn't be reached at the number he was calling from but would give me time to verify the legitimacy of the grant and call me back in 20 minutes. Of course, he didn't. He knew I'd be on to him.

tamubeti

Bryan,
Texas,

Same

#4General Comment

Wed, April 23, 2014

I too got a call just now from the ph num 202-556-5522 saying i am selected for $7000 grant money which i am supposed to use wisely. she had an accent and like other people said here there was a lot of noise in the background. I knew what was going on but played off just to see how far they would go. she asked me if i want the money in cash or bank account, i knew giving my bank account is not a good idea so i said cash and then she asked me to jot down the confirmation num and her acc manager phone num which is 202-738-4185. she repeated this num like thousand time and told me to call him as soon as i hang up with her,since he is online and can answer any of my question..It is sad how these people get away with all these scams. please be careful people do not give your bank account num.

NMSU_Aggie

Las Cruces,
New Mexico,

Same Thing Happened to me.

#5Consumer Comment

Tue, October 08, 2013

I just got a call from these people at 202-697-7222 saying they are from the US Grants Department. He asked how I'm doing and then hung up. I googled the phone number, found this site and called the Secret service field office in my state and reported that I recieved this call. The secret service agent sated that he is going to investigate this and see what comes up. I will post a follow up if I get any more information.

Angie25

miami,
Florida,

Washinton Grantz department Scam

#6General Comment

Fri, August 09, 2013

I have also experience same scam today too I got a call from Washinton DC 202-697-7222 and they offered me 7,000 and the lady told me this was a once in a life time experience and that I need to use this money wisely and I actually felt for it, after i gave her my account number and routing number she told me to write down this code and to give it to the representative for this number 202-470-2617, after I called them several times they never picked up and I decided to look washintdon Grantz in google, and i found this site, I automatically called my bank to cancel and suspend my account, but somebody really needs to end this scam before more and more people lose their hard earned money.

Shahid

Washington,

Not a Rebuttal, CONFIRMATION SCAM ONGOING

#7Consumer Comment

Sun, July 07, 2013

I have also experience same scam today. I got several calls from 202-559-7648. Finally when I picked up, the guy (named Steve Owen, I am sure this will not be his real name) told me that I was selected to $9,000 randomly. Jackpot!!!! Right???

I was very happy for few seconds. Then instantly I realized how come someone will get $9,000 easy money randomly. Not possible at all :(:(. From that moment, I got suspicious.

I asked him lot of questions like why am I chosen, how come you choose in spite of not applying any grant, how come they work on weekends Saturday etc. He tried to answer all of them, but I was not convinced. Any way I want to see where it goes. He provided me a confirmation number #RC636 and a call back number: 202-697-9868. He also mentioned that Nancy Cooper (I am sure this is also not real name) will pick up once I call this number to pay me $9,000.

He told me that he is a federal employee of US Grant department and working from Washington DC. When I asked his ID# or employee#, he said he cannot provide it but Nancy Cooper will provide once I call her.

When I called 202-697-9868, no one picked up even calling several times. They might have figured out I am not easy target. When I search with US Grant department, I saw this complaint filed on August 08, 2011. How come they are still out there doing that scam?

I also searched where to report this scam with US government. I found one number# 1-800-518-4726 (US government fraud checking task force number). When I called this number, a lady picked up and asked me to call on Monday.

How can we make sure it never happens?

GreenGardenerGal

Nevada,
United States of America

Not a Rebuttal, CONFIRMATION SCAM ONGOING

#8Consumer Comment

Fri, November 16, 2012

11/15/2012 At 2:35 PM I got a call from a Georgia # 770-926-5021

I was told that he was calling on behalf of the US Treasury Department, and I had been selected by the government to receive a one-time grant of $7,000. Then he tried to verify my address, and I had never lived there. (Here is where it gets good!) So I asked him how do I know you are legit.

(This entire time you could hear the call volume from all the voices in the Boiler Room in the background.)

So he told me to call his supervisor, her name is Lily Brown. Her number is 1-202-905-0360. He told me he was forwarding my call to her, and to give her the File # AK591 and tell her that I was referred by Edwin Parker. When I called her number is rang and rang, then went to a fast busy. I saw her number was in the District of Columbia, so I did a google search to find out who the number belonged to, and I found it here on a report from 8/2011.

I recorded the call so I have proof of the scam. Obviously they are doing well from the sound of the boiler room. It is not right to be preying on the desperate in this time if the other gentleman saying they asked him for $200 is right. Sounded to good to be true, it was.