Advantage America ripoff, fraudulent billing Winter Park Florida

On 11/10/05 @ 1130am I received a call from a company called Advantage America stating I was eligible to receive grant money ( $12,500) after filling out paperwork etc. with the government which I would receive within the next 3 days.

I received an ID # for the grant etc.etc, just like the stories from the persons in Maryland and Florida.However, I would have to pay $49.95 for processing and legal documentation, coming out of my bank acct. I incidentally also had to give them my bank routing# and bank account #, so the grant could be deposited there.

I know, I know ! How naive and stupid could I have been in retrospect...

Well, I did have a bad feeling and went online immediately and sure enough found the "rip-off report" about this company. I tried to contact the co. directly and cancel the whole transaction right then and there. I was told it would be too difficult to find the particular representative I spoke to (a Mr. Mike Travis)because there are over 2000 employees etc., besides I wasn't in their system yet and would have to call back in 24-48 hours.

I'm sure by that time the money will have been deducted and I'll never see a dime of it again. I did contact my bank, but short of closing the account ( another beaurocratic nightmare)there's not much that can be done since it takes about 3 days to put a HOLD on a transaction.

Marion
Moorpark, California
U.S.A.