I just received a call from the same number talking about me getting a 7,000 grant that I didn't have to pay back, and that I should visit a western number. Then she asked for my bank account number. She could barely speak English. Then we called the number she gave us and it was a man and he said the same thing. I repeatedly asked him where he got my information and he didn't have an adequate answer. And asked me to give me my accnt # and go to a western union. Well I played a prank I told them, I was a police officer and this call was being recorded. Click they hung up , and every time I called back I got a busy signal. They need to be reported. Because someone probably got scammed by them.
Hi
i get a call from this number saying that i called fron the US federal grant, and is was telling me that i have selected for $ 7 000 grant and he need my bank account to process the transfert. I gace him my number and the later after our conversation i serach online the governement grant website and called them.
They tell me my name is not listed which is correct because i never apply for loan.
The same guy called me again saying they need $200 to process my fees. I refuse to send him my money.
I'm scared that they can still my personnel information. I called my bank to tell them the sutiaton and had my password changed.
thanks
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION WEBSITE
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt134.shtm
‘Free Government Grants’: Don’t Take Them For Grant-ed
“Because you pay your income taxes on time, you have been awarded a free $12,500 government grant! To get your grant, simply give us your checking account information, and we will direct-deposit the grant into your bank account!”
Sometimes, it’s an ad that claims you will qualify to receive a “free grant” to pay for education costs, home repairs, home business expenses, or unpaid bills. Other times, it’s a phone call supposedly from a “government” agency or some other organization with an official sounding name. In either case, the claim is the same: your application for a grant is guaranteed to be accepted, and you’ll never have to pay the money back.
Don’t give out your bank account information to anyone you don’t know.
Scammers pressure people to divulge their bank account information so that they can steal the money in the account. Always keep your bank account information confidential. Don’t share it unless you are familiar with the company and know why the information is necessary.
Don’t pay any money for a “free” government grant.
If you have to pay money to claim a “free” government grant, it isn’t really free. A real government agency won’t ask you to pay a processing fee for a grant that you have already been awarded — or to pay for a list of grant-making institutions. The names of agencies and foundations that award grants are available for free at any public library or on the Internet. The only official access point for all federal grant-making agencies is www.grants.gov.
Look-alikes aren’t the real thing.
Just because the caller says he’s from the “Federal Grants Administration” doesn’t mean that he is. There is no such government agency. Take a moment to check the blue pages in your telephone directory to bear out your hunch — or not.
Phone numbers can deceive.
Some con artists use Internet technology to disguise their area code in caller ID systems. Although it may look like they’re calling from Washington, DC, they could be calling from anywhere in the world.
WOW - my sister-in-law gave me this website to check the above mentioned phone number and this is what I find out. However, the caller didn't ask for my account number just kept referring me to contact a local Western Union as soon as I could, safely. There, I was to call her back and get the remaining details to have the money transered to me at the Western Union. I kept asking for her to just mail me the check and if there were any fees due withdraw them from the $7,000.00, as though I would miss $260.00 out of $7,000.00.
The posted SCAM information addresses the different ways this scam works.
1, is asking for bank account is JUST ONE WAY to scam you - it so they can steal the money in your account and not put any money in it.
2. Never PAY for Grant - the processing fee or charity contribution claim is the FEE they are not supposed to charge. They did try to get you to PAY for your grant via Western Union and then falsely claimed that once they received that fee - they would wire the money to you - of course once you wire the money to them you will never see the GRANT
it does not state that the scammers WILL USE both illegal tactics to steal your money
They had been calling my phone for about 3 days and I finally decided to answer the strange number. The foreign guy on the phone told me that I had qualified for a $7,000 grant and that he need my information . All I gave him was my name -- which I think was a mistake . He asked how I wanted the money and the whole time I felt uneasy about the conversation because the "government" isn't just going to GIVE AWAY $7,000 worth of grant money . So I just told him that I would pick it up at the nearest Western Union . He too had told me that I had to pay a $250 processing fee which would go to a charity or something just to get the money . I thought to myself why would I pay money to so called receive free money ?! I was never going to give him any of my banking account information , though him and whoever else it is that is trying to scam me would have been very upset with the fact that I have no money in my bank account! I'm still trying to figure out how they got my cell phone number . They told me that Verizon had gave them my number and I called customer service and the lady I spoke to said that they don't give or post numbers because it is against their policy . These people have nothing better to do . Next time I will be more careful and I'll pray that my identity isn't stolen !