If they will stay on the line, you can actually have some fun with them. Ask probing questions about the "grant." tell them you haven't heard of the Grants Department. Thus is such an obvious scam...
Ask if there is a .gov web site you can go to and confirm the grant...
I WISH THE [***] WOULD LEAVE ME ALOAN I WOULD NEVER GIVE MY SOCIAL SECURITY NUM TOO ANY ONEIT SHOULD BE AGAINST THE LAW FOR SUCH SISTUATIONS LIKE THIS MUTHERS [***] GET A REAL JOB
I just received a phone call from the same guy a minute ago, with broken English saying that after taking the government census survey, I was just approved for a government grant of $10,000 for having no criminal record and paying my taxes on time and do not owe anything, and to use the money for home improvements. He also said that the phone conversation was being recorded. And he said that because i had my home phone number for more than 10 years, i am in good standing. He knew my last name, i bet through the yellow book, but could not confirm my first name, or address when i asked, and then he tried to get it out of me. The first time i asked what this call was regarding he said it was a government grant, second time after trying to get my name out of me, i asked again he said scholarship??? SCAM!
1. I do not own a home.
2. I have not done taxes that many times.
3. First time they called, i barely entered high school.
4. I was still in elementary school, more then 10 years ago.
5. Was never able to to fully confirm my whole name every time they called.
6. My name was not even on the Census Survey.
I tell them every time to take me off the list, and that i do not want their money, grant, scholarship, free trip to Vegas, or whatever it is, and to stop calling me. But then they just say we'll call back at a better time.
Tip: Never give any information to anyone over the phone that you do not trust with your life. No matter how little information, whether it be name(first or last), address, credit card information, accounts, phone numbers, and last but not least Social Security number. Anytime it's too good to be true, it is. Instead you confirming your identity with them, i have them confirm things about me, but even then unless you are 120% sure of where they are calling from and that it is real, don't say anything more than what you have to.
Ive received the same calls saying I can get 7,000 dollars at Western Union and they had my name and address which was weird. The guy insisted I call right after I hung up to a 202 621-0436 and I would receive the money in 20-30 minutes through Western Union. I called that number and a female answered and she said that the bank was closed so call back Monday. I am going to contact the Financial Aid department Monday and see. I thought it was weird that the call center who called all had people who I could barely understand. They had my full name and address. and phone number not sure how they got all this information. I know you can access anyones personal information online with a fee it is no privacy what so ever.