There's an old saying that ''nothing in life is free'', and a lot of people in the Bronx found that out the hard way as their excitement quickly turned into epic disappointment.

Word spread that a tax service facility named E & M Multi Service was going to be giving out prepaid debit cards with $1k on them if they simply gave their social security and state i.d cards. The money was supposedly part of a government surplus.

ABC 7 reporter Sarah Wallace headed down there to see if this was true and was met by angry security guards and even angrier people who had already received their debit cards.

After dealing with the uncooperative security for a while, she finally was able to ask the owner the big question....are they really giving away $1k?

"Ma'am I'm going to say one more time, I run an income tax business," the owner said, "Aim the camera at that sign."

"I know some people who were promised $1,000 on a card, are you offering that?" Wallace asked.

"I said no," the owner said.

"Did they help you with your tax refund?" Wallace asked a woman.

"No," she said.

The customer told Eyewitness News she'd already filed her taxes elsewhere.

"I gave them a copy of my benefit card, social security number," the woman said.

She says she got a card with no money on it.

The California bank that issues those cards told Eyewitness News there have been allegations of illegal activity involving debit cards sent to E&M and the bank has now recorded a message on its toll free number.

"If you are attempting to access your funds and you received your credit card from E and M Multi-Services. First California Bank has frozen your card because of suspicious activity related to tax refunds," the message stated. FULL

Check out the scene at the store in the video below!!