I got a call from a guy with an accent who claims he is from the US Government Grant Department and that I won a grant that amounted to $8,400 and that I could use it towards anything.
I asked him what particular grant did I win and how did I qualify. He said I won a December drawing from 1700 applicants and that I qualified because I didn't have a criminal record and that I paid my taxes on time(even though I never filed because I never held a job before) and that they were calling to verify my identity since all they had was my name and phone number. He then asked me for my name and address (he just said they had my name) and while doing this I googled up this supposed department and found red flags all over it.
He then asked me what form would I like to receive my money and I mention Visa or MasterCard and then he asked me for my MasterCard number. That solidified that this was a scam and I told him that I wanted the money in PayPal. He pushed for MasterCard so I gave him the info to a defunct college debit card that I had laying around.
He pulled up a fake confirmation number and said that if I didn't call his manager right away that I would lose my grant. I called his so called manager who goes by "Brandon War" according to the guy and got a message saying that he was busy and that his inbox was full. I would later on call the guy who started this and got a inbox full message as well.
I then reported the incident to the the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General through phone where the automated messaging pretty much said that they would never give grants in the way this guy tried, reaffirming that I was right.
After the reporting was done, I followed their advice to call and alert the bank of the card even though it was defunct. The bank confirmed that no activity has happened to the card and reaffirmed that the card was defunct and tied to no accounts.
From what I can gather from past reports, these scammers would gather card numbers and then charge them and the person would never received a dime. Do not give them any card info, unless like me you are using a dead card. They just want to steal money and with college students pressing hard for money, its easy to prey upon those needs.
Caller ID: Washington DC Number of the one who started this: 202-666-3552 Number of manager "Brandon War": 202-808-3678 Fake Confirmation Number: ZO938
Oh they do give away free money but you have to work at certain places. I know that if you are a federal reserve worker, they will pay for you to go to college. Too bad it doesn't transfer to worker kids >.>,
I received an anonymous call today 7/30, couldn't see his phone, I heard a lot of people talking to others, like a call canter. This people are professionals. hummm...The man that spoke he said that he was from Health and Human Services- Federal Government. He asked me for my name address and my date of birth. He said that I got a grant of $7500 and that came from Wash. DC He said that I can pick you the money today in the closest Walmart. Told me to call 202 657 6938. After that I register my phone on a National Do Not Call Registry...I registered all the cell phones and home phone number. It is scary the people out there looking for people to fall for these scams. I should it hang up the phone. Was stupid just to hear that.
If you have a PBX, you can SIP forward telemarketing calls there. It's just a recording of "Lenny" answering and the callers actually fall for it. Listen to a few of them, they are hilarious.
I have also been getting calls from these people for months now. They said I qualified because I had filled out for a US Grant. I never did that. They told me the only way to receive the Grant money $7000 was through Western Union, but I would have to go and put $300 at Western Union and show ID to prove that I was in fact the person they were sending it to. I told them ok I'll do it and they said when I get my $7000 I would also get back my $300 that I had to put down. Knowing it HAD to be a SCAM I never actually did it.
The phone number I keep getting calls from is Washington D.C. 202-697-9891
Getting someone's info is as easy as a relative having one of their bills get put into collections, once it hits collections their info is sold out to many other collection agencies for years and since that info includes one SSN, they can look up the names and numbers of work, family, and so on.
Just received a call today. They are calling from "Washington DC" and the same offer. I asked for a phone number to call back and verify and was given 202-697-9891. Got the same line about paying taxes on time, etc. Irony is that I just received an underpayer notice from IRS because I made a mistake on my return, so I know this is a scam. Beware.
i got phone from whashington dc today , that I was selected to receiv a $ 7000 grant, they ask me to go to western union pay $ 269 before they release they money to me and I don,t have to pay the government the maney back. I said okay let me check this out with us grant department . the number they call me today is 202-657-4727 ex 205 ask for stacy morgan , and she said congratulation to be selected by us gov to receiv $ 7000 .
I just had a go around like this.......a woman called me claiming she was with the U.S. Government grant department and that I was to be awarded 7,000$ because I payed my taxes on time, now I am a young woman who hasn't paid taxes for a while cause I've been in school. So I asked this woman Angela Jones what she needed from me and she told me she wasn't allowed to ask for my social or bank account numbers and that all she needed was a 212$ deposit to be sent to this us government grant department address which when I proved to be who I was they would reimburse me the 212$ and give me the grant. I have had many grants in the past for school and have never had to have a grant so I asked her why with every other grant I have received I have not had to pay a deposit ,I told her I knew this was a scam and she started yelling and cursing at me and I hung up! Please be aware of these numbers as well: 2025999478 4253205013 6617480240 Thank you!
Hi, I live in NJ and I am a professional career woman with two kids. I got a phone call from called US Federal Grant Dept yesterday and today. I missed their call yesterday and called them back but, no answer either the phone got disconnected. Today, with same phone: 212-121-2121 and answered. He asked my name and he was calling from US Fed. Grant Dept. and you have been select to grant $7,000. My first reaction was.. "Yuh??" "What $7,000?" Where you calling from??? Where this money is coming from? He told "Mam, do you undersand what is a US Federal Grant Dept? I hesistated to say 'yeah' He repeated.."Mam, you've been selected for $7,000" "Are you interest?" I was thinking why and who could give me $7,000 with no reason.... I asked him " can you send me an email about this?" Then, he hung up on me... I went back to my office and googled it. OMG... they are very bad people trying to stell my money... Thank God that I doubted myself and searched for this. I am sharing this to all of you guys out there to watch out and don't release any personal information no matter what!!!
The same thing just happened to me. I was told all the same information and as I called the second number, I found this sight. They had so much information and I just hope this doesn't lead to anything else. I told them that I found this site warning of scammers and that I was going to report them. The number I called was 202-436-9932. These people are make me sick!
I GOT A CALL SAYIN I GOT A GRANT OF 7,000 DOLLARS, AND ASK FOR ME TO SEND $279 DOLLAR THEY WOULD SEND IT BACK WITH THE 7,000 DOLLARS .. SO IM CHECKIN IT OUT WITH THE BETTER BUSNIESS..
I just receive a phone call from a rep that stated that I won 9200.00. And the same situation that they just have my name and phone number and wanted my bank account number and I refused he then asked me if I can go to a western union to collect my money.. But he need me to have 249.00 and my i.d. And when I give western union the money. I need to call the number 202.580.8203 and after that they will send me the 9200.00. He stated that his name is Shawn smith and he had a foriegn accent. This is a fraud... Don't fall for it.
A man with a very heavy accent called me saying I had applied for a US Govt. Grant of $5,000. I didn't believe him so I told him to call me back the next day. He actually did call me two days later to explain the process again. He gave me the address of the US Govt. grant building in DC, also gave me a fake website with nothing on it www.gov-grants.us, and also the name of his supervisor George Frank. He also ask for my accounts or credit cards or western union, but that I had to call this number 206-905-1512 as soon as possible to talk to accounting to a Jennifer Ross at 206.905.1512. First call was from a number 616-980-2164 Second call was from number 416-364-1111 In both calls it was the same guy asking. Scariest thing was that he actually called me back.
Other than send a strongly worded letter? Nothing. Its better to just report the number to the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General and be on guard.
I just had my own encounter with these mindless, script reading, out sourced, scammers. I had a phone call from a 202 area code 3 different times in the past week or so. I picked up the call each time thinking it was a friend of mine at school in D.C. Calling from some land line. I would say hello and since I didn't get a prompt response I hung up. Today however, I said hello and waited just a tad longer and then to my surprise I was speaking to Kevin or Robert or whatever ridiculous American name this Middle Eastern/ Southern Asian telephone theif was using stating our own US Government. Now given that I had a caller ID number and the amazing diversity of this country I held back my skeptisim as this gentlemen proceeded to inform me of a $7000 grant I had been chosen which of course had no interest or ever needed to be repaid and gave me the choice of cash, check, or added electronically to one of a couple cards of my choosing. The reason I was so lucky was because I fit the demogrphic of a person who has paid taxes on time and who has no criminal record and a few other things that had set me above the rest. This was amazing to me because I haven't paid any taxes in over 6 years (shhh, and I'm sorry) and I in fact do have a criminal record (nothing crazy, couple misdemeanors, it was a big misunderstanding) But me being the hardened criminal that I am, did not correct him. He informs me that this money is mine to do with as I please as long as it is not used for evil basically. He also knew the postal code from where I am and found me a location to retrieve the funds without me ever giving any information and with the area code of my cell phone belonging to a state on the other side of the country. A part of me (the part that is barely check to check at the moment) begins to entertain the thought that finally some sun through the clouds is shining on me to give me the assistance I needed to get back in black. I accept and he gives me a number to call, right away, right after we hang up , instantly, and if its busy call back in 5 minutes. That number was another DC number, 202-697-9659, and to give my conformation code of GG1019 to the next New Dheli nightmare to access my account. Going along for the ride still, I make the call. On the other end, which is now devoid of the loud background chatter from the first representatives line, is the boss man Mike "Macmood" Parker. Sorry for my satirical tone but I'm just still angry. But Mike Parker. I actually paused and replied, "Really, that's interesting" subtlety. Now the big closer Mike is going for the kill. Trying to talk quickly to downplay certain requirements and make it all seem on the level. All I know is that I have 7 grand coming to me, cash, and it will be ready to pick up today. I'd say a little fast for government work no? Now comes the good old bait and switch. In order to have those 70 Benjamin's in my back pocket right now, I just have to put up $350. Just go to western union, call him at this number again and he'll guide me from there. Now it's my turn. I want to see just how unscrupulous they can be. I sigh and I say is there anyway for me to verify that this is actually what is being described to be. Mr. Parker ever ready with his book of retorts and rebuttals fires back with his credentials. Stated that they are located in the HHH building at 1200 Independence Ave SW, Washington D.C. 20201 and that his employee #APL. Very official. I lay it on think to see if he has a heart in his chest. I said to him, "Im sorry for my skepticism. This grant couldn't have come at a better time. I have the $350 but it is pretty close to all that I have right now. If this doesn't go through, things would go very bad for me in a hurry and will most likely be homeless by the end of the month." And what does he come back with? That the initial "security deposit" is only for the purpose of verifying my identity and will be refunded with the payment of the grant. To finish it up I thank him and I verify my information with him before getting ready to sprint out the door to recieve my tax free one time subsidy. But Mike, "I have just one question. Am I going to need a valid form of ID to pick up this money? Currently the DMV has my Drivers license. I never received a photo ID from them due to an unusable photo I was told, even though I paid for one. I do have a passport but it expired about 6 to 7 months ago. I've dealt with western union before and they usually do not bend on VALID photo ID." I hear him stammering a bit so I continue, "Since I'm just going to be calling you back from there, can I use this conformation number you've given me as my verification or can we just take the security deposit amount out of the grant total and settle it that way." I know he's still on the line but he is saying nothing. So I finish with, "What's the matter, is the answer to this one not in your book?" and a few more long silent seconds later he hung up.
I just can't believe that nothing can be done about this. It is theft plain and simple through confidence and coercion. They prey of the poor and the elderly. Those who need help so bad that they would believe anything if it meant they would get some much needed assitance or those old enough to still believe they can blindly trust without thinking someone would go to such lengths just to rob them via telephone. At least be a man, save me the embarrassment, and rob me at gunpoint. Lets see what commision you can pull that way.
All it takes is one person to fall for this scam and its a payday for them. If these guys are living in one of these southeastern asian countries, then their cost of living a is lower, so what little they do scam probably goes a long way.
I'm posting this because it appears to be the same as a number of other complaints.
Woman with heavy accent called to let me know that I had been randomly selected by the U.S. Government to receive $7,000 Tax Free.
She said she was from the U.S. Government Department of Grants
She said her name was "Esther Williams" located at 2000 Government Ave. Washington Confirmation No ES025
Wanted to verify information. First address she said I was at ______, TX (I am in New England)
I have reported this to our Attorney General, but in looking up to see if there was any info on this I came across this site. It certainly does appear to be a scam. I'm glad I did not divulge any information - I just stayed on line to try and get as much specific info as I could.
I just got off the phone with these people they will call me back later I insisted that they give me a phone number to verify that they are who they say they are and they would not give me the number unless I gave them a credit card number or account number but of course I am not stupid I have found since being unemployed I have had more people try to scram me than before. Today is the second time they called the first time they offered me 8,400 and I gave them a credit card that was inactive and then they gave me an access code and phone number to call back then they tell me that they want 200 back after I get the money. Today I they offered me 10,200 the first person I talked to was Christopher lee then he got the manager on the phone and his name was Simon khan I argued with them for 20 min.trying to get the phone number the one that came in on my caller id was 2 of them (1.) 202-697-7222 (2.) 233-862-9677. The first number just rings and the second number doesn't work at all these guys are good they say that they are just trying to give you money you want it or not if not they move on to someone else.
I received the same call you did just today. I was told i qualify for $8000 on grans from the US federal Grants Department in New York, the lady is spoke with id Nichole Tyler (awful accent), she asked me to go to a Western Union and she will guide me to make a $210 fee to the US Federal Reserve Bank. It sounded very suspicious so i google information about it and i found this posting, OMG i couldn't believe it, please don't believe this people. How can i report this??
The Federal Reserve Bank doesn't take fees from people as it deals with bank and other financial entities and it surely doesn't deal in Western Union. The only grants you are gonna get in connection to the fed reserve is the one that people getting from working there, and its %100 free money wise.
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I have also been getting calls from these people for months now. They said I qualified because I had filled out for a US Grant. I never did that. They told me the only way to receive the Grant money $7000 was through Western Union, but I would have to go and put $300 at Western Union and show ID to prove that I was in fact the person they were sending it to. I told them ok I'll do it and they said when I get my $7000 I would also get back my $300 that I had to put down. Knowing it HAD to be a SCAM I never actually did it.
But me being the hardened criminal that I am, did not correct him. He informs me that this money is mine to do with as I please as long as it is not used for evil basically. He also knew the postal code from where I am and found me a location to retrieve the funds without me ever giving any information and with the area code of my cell phone belonging to a state on the other side of the country.