McFarland Consulting Government Grant false representation ripoff Champlain New York

Well, they almost got me. Thanks, ripoffreport.

I got this neat card from McFarland Consulting telling me that I "have been identified as a possible qualifier for a government grant of at least $5,000." The card also touts a 30 minute program approval (this really only takes five minutes) and they also brag about a "free application."

When you call, the application is free. They ask a few innocuous questions (like, "Do you have a bank account?" and "Are you a U.S. citizen?" and "Did you pay your taxes last year?")

And wow! I qualified!

So they gave me another phone number to call. And guess what? When I called that number, they asked me if I had any questions. I asked a few questions and they told me I was ready to go. Now, all I had to do was call back with my bank account number so they could withdraw $289 for the paper work and application packet to be mailed to me. I was told to call back when the money was in my account.

But don't fear, I was told, if I don't get any grant money, my $289 is fully refundable. The minimum grant was $5,000.

Here's the catch: You don't even receive the paperwork until you've paid the $289, and they won't tell you what the real guarantee is about, just that if I don't get any grant money, I get my $289 returned.

Yeah, sure.

d**k
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
U.S.A.