Grant Masters review: Unauthorized debit card charge 201

Somebody hacked into my pc over a month ago and the next thing I knew, I had a $79.00+ charge on my account for something called Blazing Words (which I had no idea about). I called their number and explained that my info had been hacked and requested and got a refund. About 2 wks later a $38.34 charge from MC-Grantmasters showed up on my account.

These crooks operate out of the Philipines and are, apparently, immune to US prosecution. I still plan to file a complaint with the FTC. There's also a link on the FTC site where you can file a complaint re: an entity operating outside of the US. (http://www.econsumer.gov/).

These crooks operate this scam on a grand scale, apparently. The real scam is, even if they refund your money eventually, they are drawing interest off of YOUR money for that period of time before you get it back. Multiply that interest by hundreds of thousands (or millions?)...and that's where they make their $$$. That, plus the fact that many people just don't bother to fight it.

This is nothing but deceptive trade practice. Report it!

I also requested the Google cd for 1.97 and called in a few days I found 2 charges from grant masters for 38.65 Well I Called Them And Told them that I had Cancelled My Account on 6-29 and they refunded me as they say but have not recieved it. And when I asked Them About the 2nd 38.65 charge they say that they did not charge me 2 times Bull! and they said that the first that was refunded was only 36.34 this is a bunch of bull.
I am a disabled Person And cannot afford this bull so I suggest that anyone readin g this do not purchase anything from either google or grant masters youll get ripped off!

They Are the biggest ripoff and I will get a lawyer cause the moneys of mine that they took are Social Security Disability funds witch are fedral funds.
Steve

I think we're all heading in the same direction - Google's solicitation for home business. Losing $1.97 is no big deal. Being scammed and having money taken from your ATM Debit/Credit account without your knowledge or consent is a very big deal. I, too, have been nailed by Grant Masters. They put in two charges for $38.34, plus international ATM transfer fees.

BEWARE - THESE GUYS ARE NOT WORKING ALONE. I've also been scammed by POWERSALE and ADWORD, both in the amount of $72.21. Make your voices heard. Report these thieves to your police department and the FBI's internet crime unit (www.IC3.gov).

Now, how do we kick some dirt at Google and get them to pay us back?

Both my husband and I were scammed too, we both ordered the Google Kit in May for 1.98 and never received either one. Little did we know, ever since May we have been charged over $450.00 from various fraudulent "so called companies"! My husband was laid off from his IT job in April and had been trying to seek employment and I just figured these were job search related charges...ha! Not! We were being scammed (shame on us!) We finally got together and started looking back over the last few months and have found 7 fraudulent charges on our bank statement. Our bank, Wells Fargo has opened a Fraudulent charges investigation and I believe they will reimburse us for the charges, however am not certain what the outcome on that will be, as we just filed the claims today. But both of us had to cancel our debit cards and will now have to go through the hassle of changing all our auto-pays, etc! Kind of a "one-two" punch for us as we were already victims of the economy with the lay off and now victims of fraud as well! Definitely money we couldn't afford. Here are the various charges we found...on both 5/12 and 6/12 DRI eAuction charged $69.90, on 5/22 Google Chest - $72.21, on 6/05 Grant Masters - $38.84, on 6/22 a $72.21 charge from OnlineMemberAreaSupport, on 6/29 PowerSale charged $38.84, then finally we were cued in today when we were charged 69.90 (again) from TW/IPAuction Salt Lake City 01. Matching charge amounts but the company name kept changing...very cleaver! I just wish we would have figured this out sooner, but hope you can learn from our mistake! Communicate with your spouse or family and make sure all charges on your account are valid, so something like this doesn't go on for several months like it did for us. I sure hope they find these people and put them away! Google should issue a CEASE and DESIST order, as this is giving them a bag name.

It all started from reading the story on the Google solicitation for home business. I got nothing for my original $1.97 so never had an opportunity to cancel. Now they are charging my card $38.34 and e-tax hotline charging my card $19.95, never dealt with either one of these companies. Phoned the numer for Grant Masters and got a message saying the office was not open and the e-tax hotline number, there was no answer. Credit card company will do nothing until I cancell with these companies but I can not get in touch with either one. I did send a e-mail to e-tax hotline but have not heard back and I will send one to Grant Masters and see what happens.

Holy Crow. I never even heard of these creeps and they debited by checking account 3 times. When I called the number on my statement they wanted me to provide personal information so they could "check on my account". Can you guess what I told them? No freaking way! I'm lucky. My daughter works for my bank. Gave her all the info and, viola, taken care of.

This has just happened to me! What the heck are they doing and what is this company? I have disputed the charges with my credit card. I feel raped!

Same thing happened to me! My bank, Bank of America, called this place on 6/23 with me on the line and they said they would credit the money, 77.82 and 2.33, back into my account within 7 days. Lo and behold, it is 7/8 and the money has not been credited. I called GrantMasters this morning and the person said they had already credited me, which is a bunch of ****. I was sitting there looking at my account on-line as we spoke. So, now she says she will "investigate it" - this place needs to be SHUT DOWN. I have also re-sent an email to Bank of America again regarding this so that they can once again get involved with these ###s (Grant Masters)

This company has taken 38.84 from my checking account. I wish they would put my hard earned money back! GRANT MASTERS $38.84

Total Scam! I also signed up for the work from home Google kit- and seeing the well known name "Google", figured it would be legit. Obviously I was wrong. After entering my information, I went through the website runaround and saw that this was not a straight forward thing. The next day I recieved a call from the people to get my address and additional information so they could send me the "kit"; I told the man on the phone that I changed my mind and I no longer wanted their kit and not to charge me for it. Of course he said okay. Here I am a month later on the phone with my bank cancelling my credit card and disputing about 8 charges. I have 3 "currency exchange fee" charges, 2 charges from Grant Masters for 38.84, 1 charge from Powersale for 72.21, and a charge for "search assistant support" - - - and also have higher finance charges now due to all of these unautharized transactions. Luckily the people at my bank are very understanding and they are taking care of all of this for me. But like all of you, even after cancelling was charged way more than I even should have been if I hadn't cancelled. I wish we could figure out a way to find these people and have them prosecuted for their actions. We are hard working people just trying to get a break and being taken advantage of by some greedy lazy ###. They deserve to have all their money taken from them and be thrown in jail!

My daughter thought she was renewing her magazine subscription and some how these loosers got her debit card number. She never accepted any trial membership, no ads nothing just renewing her magazine. She had four charges show up that she never authorized. We have cancelled the debit card and the bank has filed a fraud claim. These people need to get real jobs and stop taking advantage of the hard working people!

The same thing happened to me. How do I get my money back?

Jeff Nance
4800 Grand Ave
Davenport, Ia 52807

Hi I just got off of the phone with Bank of America because of the exact things above except I got nothing for my original $1.97 so never had an opportunity to cancel. Now they are charging my card for $72.21 for Blazing Words and $38.34 for Grant Masters which I did not sign up for.

The bank is aware of the situation and I suppose that is why they are pushing their temporary cards so hard now. Their advice was nothing is free on the internet so beware those solicitations. However, Like the guy above stated it all started from reading the story on the Google solicitation for home business.

Fortunately, I was able to get through on the line to these companies (which I believe are being serviced somewhere in India) and the bank will try to help retreive what I have lost and try to deal with them for any future charges.

So beware all...LG

It's funny you mentioned that. I had the exact amount taken from my account. They were supposed to refund my money within 10 days and I have yet to see any type of refund from grant masters! They are just a bunch of freakin liars! I"m going to give them a couple of more days to refund my money before I contact them again and file a police report. They are so ridiculous!

I have a problem I do little call to cancellé my subscription, I am not speaking English have it an address web tanks

I too experienced fraudulent activity from Grant Masters. They called me and left a voicemail but I never returned their call. I have no need for their purported products.

Suddenly a $24.87 charge appeared on my credit card June 24, 2009. I have no clue how they got my card number.

Someone needs to take immediate class-action legal action against Grant Masters!

BLAZINGWWORDS---------- BEWARE was hit for $72.21 BLAZINGWORDS $38.34 GRANT MASTERS and $19.95 SAVEACE they are all in this together beware and cancel your cards and report these frauds

On June 20, 2009 my credit card was charged $38.34 by Grant Masters . This is a company that neither my wife nor I know anything about. When I called the # listed on my credit card bill I got a person that claimed to be "customer service", she said that she was cancelling my "subscription". When I Attemted to verify the e-mail address she had given me to request a refund, I was unable to verify it. AVOID THESE PEOPLE AT ALL COSTS, and check your credit card bills ALWAYS.

mikelunchbox@earthlink.net

I agree this company is taking money out of people's credit card without any approval. I just called my credit card company and they told me they will connect me to them before they can dispute it, but the operator was unable to reach them by there number. Grant Master and Blazing Words are the fraudulent charges that appear on my card.

i got the exact same response when i called grant masters. they asked me for my identification # from my confirmation email, and i dont even recall getting one of those. The first associated couldnt find my account at all and gave me a different number. The second associate found my account but argued with me and said that i should check with my bank because they didnt charge me 38.34, and gave me directions to email my problem (yeah right), then finally the last associate i spoke to finally agreed to refund the money into my account. This took me about a week and a half to get my money back. I will definitely read ALL the fine print next time, lesson learned!

I was also charged on my debit card and I tld them from the start that I didnt want it ansd they told me to go to this website with my cancelation number #o629099862939. I did not want to get something from someone I did not understand english from!

i completely agree. Then when i called grant masters, since the same exact thing happened to me, it took them forever to 'find my account'. A horrible rip off since the people needing these grants, like myself dont have that kind of money to throw away!

Ok, so the next charge on my card is going to come from a company called MYREWARDER? I'll be watching for that one.
Yes my story starts with Google Ad Words and their connection with Blazing Words, A1 member and guess what, when I finally got to talk to someone at Blazing Words she cancelled everything no problem but that same day a charge for $38.34 from GRANT MASTERS was charged to my card.
All I can say is Thank God I have Chase Visa and they have reversed all charges except for $1.97 from Google Adwords which I didn't think to add. I didn't even know that my card came with this protection since I'm not charged for it.
Lesson learned, no more kits, trials or anything.

Yes, Oneangrymama you are right. I signed for the first ad, thinking that it will cost me just 1.97 for shipping, so why not try it. But cancelled it the next day. Within two weeks I've been charged 81.67 and now 45.40. I never received any email after the first confirmation of order, nor any product or services. I know I should have cancelled my credit card right away. This Ryan guy is now saying that his company is justified, because you have to cancel your order or you will continue to be charged, did anyone see that warning before you placed the order, I certainly missed it. Still everyone should read the fine print at the bottom before giving away your credit card. Dunno how many thousands of people this company has ripped off.

Disgustedincanada

Ive lost $333 to Grant Masters, Blazing Words, A1 member & myrewarder! I didnt even know! This had been happening for months now... when i finally realizied what was happening i closed my account. I havent got any of my money back. Its a mess, im angery and been calling at the stupid numbers and just getting a run around!

the same thing has happened to me but they took the 38.34 out twice in the same day.Ive never even heard of Grant Masters. Im freaking out and dont know what to do. If anyone finds out anything to do to get the money back Id like to know.

thanks will do

Same here They took out 34.68 and now its overdrawn I hope there is away i could sue them or press charges on them for doing so

Same thing happen to me, i checked my bank accoun tand realized this so called company "Grant Master" charged my account 2 times for $38.34 and international fees charged of $1.15. I called Grant Master and of course a voice mail say they are busy and put me on hold for ever. I have no clue who Grant Master is and what they do.

Hi,

I called my bank and reported when I first saw the charges too. At first it shows 37.94 or so, then they a foreign transaction charge that brings it up to $38.72. In my case they had the audacity to charge me TWICE. I 'd NEVER heard about them until they showed up on my account and I did not even sign up for a trial CD or any such thing. I think they may be hacking into some online systems and capturing the info, unless an unscrupulous service rep is selling them information.
Anyhow, my bank's fraud unit was alerted. Unfortunately they have to wait for the documentation from when the transaction posts, to move further. Meanwhile, they're tying up my money, and I 'm unemployed. Bad bad luck!

Also ripped off! I should've known better but thought it was worth a shot to look over the "Google cash kit" and make sure to cancel before the "30-day trial". Man did I underestimate the reach and extent of this scam. Blazing words charged my acount $72.21 not even 15 days after I filled out the form - while I stupidly waited for the kit that obviously does not exist. It's all a ploy to get your cc info so they can charge charge charge. I did get most of my money back - minus the shipping I paid for the non-existent kit but also experienced the same as others on here - my cc info is now being sold like hot cakes and I'm cancelling stuff left and right that I never authorized and never even heard of. Right after filling out the form I received an email "confirmation" but come to find out it wasn't even from the same company - it came from chat makes cash and they start charging your account within 7 days. So make sure you watch your bank account and call every single 800# that pops up on there because they are not all the same company. I've had to recover roughly $150 from 3 different companies so far and it hasn't even been 30 days since I filled out that stupid form. Cancelling my account ASAP!What a mess! So angry at myself...

same experience as everyone else- seems to be connected to scam from BLAZING WORDS and all Stems from the google solicitation.

I am insensed that this company has the nerve to misrepresent themselves. I received a package in the mail yesterday and discovered that it was another bottle of this Resveratrol Ultra I was puzzled because I only agreed to a sample bottle for only the shipping and handling charges. This made me check my checking account and then I discovered that I have been charged 87.13 twice. I called and talked to a service rep. who tries to tell me that it states the charges on the web site, which it dosen't then I pulled up this site and find that there are many other who have experienced the same decitful action. I have returned the product sent to me and demand my money be returned. I will follow up in two days and have learned a great lesson do not order anything on line.

Yes I got ripped off by one of these companies too and I think Ryan is delusional. All the info is free on the internet and paying someone $30 a month for something thats free is pretty stupid. And yes I do think they pass on your card info to other companies too. If anything says FREE TRIAL don't believe it its all a scam that goes for Acai berry Colon cleanse and all those drugs and any MAKE MONEY AT HOME scams too. Just another way for people to steal from those of us that really work. And yes most of these places use INDIA for customer service where they pretend their name is Mike and read from scripts. The "home office" is probably some guys basement

I jsut received a charge this morning from "Grant Masters" and I'd never even heard of this company before, much less authorized them to charge my account. The only connection I can come up with was I stupidly ordered one of those "Work for Google" CDs from "Blazing Words" earlier this month, and was ripped off then too. I KNEW I should have ordered a new debit card, but Blazing Words did return my money, so I thought it was ok.

I'm going to count this up to a lesson well learned, since these crooks are probably covering their tracks very well. I'll order a new card, but then I'll file a "charge back" with my bank.

Has anyone checked into the possibility that this company is an affiliate of a larger company. I too have been charged fees but I noticed that the name of the company was different for each charge. I called months ago and cancelled this rediculous and misleading subscription. I didn't get a refund, of course, because of the fine print. But I no longer received any further charges for months. Now, I've recieved another charge! UNAUTHORIZED! One thing I noticed though, the name of the company and the phone number was different than the those of the previous. I think this is how they continue to steal our money. We sign up to something that costs less than $2, then our imformation is given to the different affiliates of one company so that if we cancel one subscription with one affiliate, the others can still charge our accounts because, afterall, we've given the "larger" corporation authorization when we gave them our 2 bucks! Of course, this is all just speculation but it makes a heck of a lot of sense and there are many ways to "legally" cheat innocent people. Let me know if anyone else knows anything please.

Just like coug09, I paid 99cents USD for the "Free" trial to learn how to make money with Google Adwords. I never recieved the package and never got an email confirmation. Yet today, one month later, I have been charged $38.34! I called the number on the charge and spoke to someone in India. How can they charge me for something I didnt even know I had. Not soo helpful. I totally agree that this is a SCAM...Im telling my bank to blacklist them.

I also got the "Free" trial to learn how to make money with Google Adwords and CANCELLED THE SAME DAY when I realized that the service was not at all what they advertise. I emailed the company, asking to cancel the service. I got a response back, saying that they had canceled everything AND THAT I WOULD NOT BE CHARGED FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES. I canceled to ensure that I would not continue to be charged... yet today, one month later, I have been charged $38.34! I called the number on the charge in my bank account. They had me call another number. I spoke to the people in India whom they outsource their customer service to, these people knew absolutely nothing about the company. SCAM! SCAM! SCAM!

Ryan R, I suggest that you find a job with a more ethical company.

I got the "Free" trial -- $1.97 shipping fee -- and cancelled the same day, 05/22, and now I see a charge on 06/23, of $38.34! I have called my bank (Chase/WAMU) and cancelled, reversed, and disputed this charge which they have been good enough to do (some banks are not this compliant) and black-listed this company name. Beware off these types of offers -- once they get your card number they play dumb, say your accepted or even cancelled! and keep on charging. Remember that most banks have to receive your complaint in under 30 days or they will be less apt to help you.

Thanks for the idea I will call the bank and refuse the charge. The same thing happened to me.
Cecy