When a call claims you’ve been randomly picked for a huge government grant but demands a prepaid card or cash up‑front, it’s almost always a trap. The script you heard—asking for $200 for a Walgreens card, then promising thousands via Western Union—matches classic advance‑fee scams. Hang up, block the number, and never share personal or banking info. If you’re unsure, verify directly through official agency websites or phone directories, not the number they gave you. Report the incident to the FTC and your phone carrier to help curb future attempts. Stay skeptical and keep your finances locked down.
The caller requested that I purchase a card from Walgreens for $200, promising a return of $9,200 via Western Union
After being contacted by them and making a $600 payment, they requested an additional $999, prompting me to postpone further action until I could investigate, discovering one of the provided numbers is listed in the New York Federal Reserve ban.
from the start I knew this was a scam, just a gut feeling I guess
I was contacted by someone claiming to be from a federal grant agency, who told me I needed to verify my account informations and purchase a card to transfer $200, which I later discovered was a scam and reported to the relevent authorities, beware of this scam.
A woman claiming to be from the US Treasurer's Office called, stating I'd been awarded a $9,000 grant, but I knew it was a scam from experience and didn't bother calling back.
Prior to calling the 202 number, I had read about potential scams, and when I told them I wouldn't pay for a prepaid card, they hung up, only to admit to scamming when I called back
It appears that the individual associated with this number has no affiliation with the government and is likely engaging in deceptive activities. Caution is advised.
A women, claiming to be from the US goverment, contacted me and stated i was selected to recieve a $5000 grant, but it seems suspisous, especialy when she asked for my zip code and instrukted me to call 202-618-9050.
During a recent phone conversation, a woman claimed a loan of $9,000 was available and requested a callback to 202-618-9050.
A woman offered me $9000 over the phone, but I'm concerned about how she obtained my personal information
The caller attempted to trick me into calling back a fake number, claiming it was from the federal government, but this is a clear scam.
I suspected this call was a scam, and it appears my assumption was correct.
It's unfortunate that some individuals lack the ability to read, contributing to a lack of knowledge.
A simple review of the information would provide the answer, which apparently, you have not taken the time to do.
I want to no if this number is a fraud, cant be shure.
A woman called, claiming I was randomly selected, and asked me to purchase a $200 card from a specific store at Walgreens.
It's a scam when someone claims the government randomly selects people to give money to, and demands payment in return.
The caller, claiming to be from the United States Government, stated I was selected to receive a large sum of money, requiring the purchase and activation of a prepaid card, which seems fraudulent.