Watch out for any unsolicited call claiming a government grant and demanding money up front. Scammers often use official‑sounding names, pressure you to pay fees via Western Union, MoneyGram, or prepaid cards, and ask for personal banking details. Hang up, block the number, and report it to the FTC or your local consumer protection agency. Never share account numbers or send cash before verifying the agency through official channels. If you’ve already given information, monitor your accounts for unauthorized activity and consider a fraud alert. Stay skeptical, verify independently, and protect your personal data.
A woman claiming to represent the US Treasury called from the number 2026072068, stating I was selected for a $7000 grant due to timely tax payments, and requested personal and financial information
I fell victim to a similar scam, losing $740 after receiving a call from 2926575268, claiming I had been granted a grant, which I had applied for earlier, and was instructed to send the money to India.
I saw a movie with a similair scam, indian guy offering alot of money, trying to get bank account informations, claimed to be from Washington D.C. but didnt sound like it
Regrettably, I fell victim to a scam, as people with poor communication skills convinced me to disclose personal information, under the false pretense of receiving a $7000 lifetime benefit grant from the Red Cross, in exchange for sending $122, which I now realize was a deceitful tactic.
I recieved a call from a guy claimin to be Steve Winters, he had a thick Iranian accent, told me i was selected for a $7,000 grant, but it was a scam, i gave him my prepaid debit card info but then i called my GreenDot cc and told them to block any charges.
Losses incurred from this call amounted to $680, my entire disability check, after falling prey to their scam, which claimed I owed taxes on $7000, with the transfer happening swiftly through Western Union
Someone call me from a similar number 202-470-0948, they ask me what i would do with the money, its a scam
Those scamers almost got me, damn it, they tryed to scam me out of 99 bucks for some charity
The scammers continue to call, offering a federal grant, as happened with a call from 202-697-9033, where I was given a grant approval number and told I'd been awarded $7000; I provided a prepaid debit card number with no funds to see how far they'd go, and it's clear they are scammers who should not be given any real financial information.
I was contacted by someone claiming to represent a federal grant program, asking for my account or credit card information, but the call seemed suspicious, and I ended the conversation.
Mark Wilson and Jacqueline Smith claim to have my personal info, requesting $100, but seem suspicious, and I'm unsure how to protect my account information.
All of these numbers are obvioulsy scams, and the worst part is that i called them back a few times that night, and they answered the phone, first it was a girl, then a guy twice, and they claimed to be from the U.S Treasuary
I experienced a similar issue with a caller from Delhi, India, who contacted me at the number 202-621-0582 and claimed that I had a problem.
Following the call, I wondered if anyone else had experienced financial losses as a result of this number.
I was also contacked with the same scam, played along till the pitch, then told them I didnt have the 100.00 they asked for, they told me to call back when I got it, like thats ever gonna happn
The person on the phone said I was chosen for a Government Grant of $7,000.00, and knew my name and adress, but when I asked him to give me his number, he seemed persistant on getting some kind of account number from me, definately a scam artist
According to the Federal Trade Commission, adhering to a few fundamental guidelines can protect consumers from falling prey to scams involving false government grants
If someone says you won money, but they need you to pay $100 first, thats just a scam, dont fall for it, they're just trying to get your money
The voice on the phone sounded eerily familiar, reminiscent of either Rex Lee or Mark Wilson, with the same accent and tone.
Jaqulin Smith was the name of my caller, and I naively provided my account and routing numbers, but fortunately, I contacted my bank and rectified the situation.
My experience mirrors those previously mentioned, involving a caller named Edward Watson, who claimed to be from the Federal Grant Department in Washington DC, providing a code and requesting a callback to Mark Wilson
A warning to others: this scam begins with a call promising a grant of thousands of dollars, followed by a request for banking information to wire funds, and ultimately, a request to send money to India; fortunately, the attempt was thwarted, and the account was closed
I got a call, and they told me to call 202-470-0949 and give them a grant approval number, they said i would recieve $7,000, but i dont think its legit.
A scam attempt was made by someone from this number, 202-470-0949, who provided misleading information.
A call was received claiming that the government was granting me $7,000, but requested personal information and a payment of $100, which raised suspicions of a scam.
Thus far, has anyone who provided personal account information to them experienced problems? If so, what occureed?
This person, supposedly Mark Wislon, asked for $99 in exchange for my $7000 from the goverment, also claimed the Federal Reserve Bank of New York would contact me with money transfer informations, unfortunatly i fell for it and lost $100... what a disapointment!
I received a call claiming I was eligible for a $7,000 grant and was asked how I would use it, but when I called back to the provided number, I was asked for a $99 fee to process the grant, which I did not pay and hung up instead.
Verification from the government grants office confirmed that this is indeed a scam. It is crucial not to send any money or provide personal or account information to these individuals.
A dinner invitation was made before things took a turn.