U.S Department of Grants

Review: I received a phone call from someone claiming to be from the department of US grants and saying that I was picked to receive $7000 from the government to use for anything I could possibly want. I spoke to Rex first and he informed me that I would have to get the money through western union or money gram. When I went they indicated that I would have to go get a green dot paper card and put $290 on it to cover the charge for the bank to release the funds. I went and got the card and placed the money on the card and then had to scratch off the number and provide it to them so they could verify the money was paid. I provided them the number for the card to show I paid the $290 and then Rex told me that he would contact the bank to release the funds. I received a call back about 15 minutes later from Rex saying that they were not aware of the fact that Missouri requires a that any individual receiving money have to pay sales tax. They then wanted me to pay $647 in the taxes before they would release the money. I found it crazy that they worked for the government and didn't know that Missouri would have to pay sales tax on money. I told [redacted] that I wanted to speak with his supervisor and that is when I talked to [redacted] and he indicated that they did not know about the sales tax. I told him that I thought this was a scam and he said that he could assure me that it wasn't and provided me the address and phone number and that he would get me a refund of the $290 that I paid. He told me that I would have it within a week or two and that if I still haven't received it by then to call him back. I have been calling for the last several days as I have not received it and now the number when I call is someone else's supposedly.Desired Settlement: I just want to be refunded the $290 I had to pay supposedly for money I did not even receive. It is very disheartening that he told me that I would get it but still haven't. I just want the money back as I explained to him I just lost my job and stepped out on faith that I would get the money and then nothing. He or this US department of grants needs to do the right thing and pay me the money back.