Just got the same call with the same instructions. Knew right away it was bull. I couldn't understand the lady and I was turned off by that. So I couldn't pay attention because all I could hear was scam, scan,scan. I did a search and all you guys popped up. Thank God for the internet. All anyone has to do is search. Don't know why these people are still trying this. But the old warning says, "there's one born every minute".
Received an anonymous call today; was informed I was to receive $9,200.00 grant from the federal government. All I had to do was call 202-470-5952 and give the code MC502 and answer some questions. I asked why can't you just send me the check and the call was disconnected. Needless to say, I did not call this number.
ALSO IMPERSONATING THE US GOV'T / SEVERAL GOV'T OFFICES AND PERSONS....BEWARE !!!
- they are also impersonating DEA officials / IRS / FAKE LAW FIRMS etc.... with threats to arrest you unless you immediately send money via wire transfer / western union to some offshore country !!!!! obvious scam !!!
some are landlines...many are cell phones...some are spoofed and linked to offshore foreign call centers / countries !!!!
we've traced back most of these numbers to offshore foreign call centers mostly in INDIA / THAILAND / AFRICA / JAMAICA ETC....
here's a few other numbers posted from the same area code offering a wide variety of scams / fake emails and scams after posting something on craigslist ( old scam ) ...... collecting for non existant " payday loans "....free money / scam giveaways / calling on behalf of a humane society..... $1,000's in free gov't money......... etc etc.....stories change out all the time......and the usual nonsense!!!
** mysteriously call to claim they have several thousand of dollars to send you / give ....just provide your bank account and credit card right away etc etc.........scam scam
several of these are the usual long ongoing scams such as : you have won a free walmart / bestbuy gift card....or you have won a free ipad etc......all long ongoing scams............
some OTHER numbers scammers are using : a small list of hundreds of numbers they use ) !