received 2 calls today from this number and the person has a very thick accent, and very rude, identified as from the US government grant department, definite scam.
this person called me three different times before i finally answered to tell them to stop. He claimed he was from the government and was calling regarding credit issues. I told him to remove my phone number from his list and that the government doesn't call people. I told him it was a scan and again to remove my number from his list immediately. He then called me a b**ch, and a mother f***er and a few other things and hung up on me. Craziest phone call I've ever had.
I received at least 10 calls today from 206-209-1664 and 877-696-6777. The same foreign accent from the calls . Hardly to understand what he was talking about. He asked for my bank account or credit card number to deposit $9000 grant from the Government.
I received a call from this number saying they were with the grant issuance department of the United States government. Something about I would receive or I have been chosen to receive a $9000 grant that didn't have to be repaid. I told the guy I had not filled out any grant application and was very suspicious that the government would actually be calling to give me money. He said you are a good citizen and you pay your taxes and you deserve a $9000 grant with that repayment. I hung up
There is an old and on going scam to steal your money and ID.
You get a call or a letter claiming the government is giving away grant money and you qualify!!!! <---It is a scam!
You are instructed to call a number or visit a website, where you will be asked for credit card info, bank account info, and personal ID info.
They will claim to handle the grant claim for a small fee, or that you must pay taxes on the grant in advance.
You may be instructed to visit a local Walmart, Walgreen, or some store that sells pre-paid credit cards or money cards (common types are called Green-Dot, MoneyPak, and such) or they may say you need to wire transfer cash via Western Union, MoneyGram, or such. The reason they ask you to use these type of money services is because once the transfer is complete, there is no way for you to recover the money you sent.
The only legitimate avenue for government grants is through www.grants.gov which is the official US government web site for grants.
From their FAQ concerning fraud:
http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support/general-support/grant-fraud.html
Please note the following:
No government grant-making agency will make phone calls; send email or letters to solicit money or personal banking information from a potential grant recipient.
There are no processing fees for federal grants.
Federal grants are not issued for personal use, but are intended for institutions and non-profits to carry out projects with a public purpose.
Know who you're dealing with on the web. Scam artists will often post a website with a name similar to a legitimate site.
If you have provided personal banking information to anyone claiming to be associated with a Federal grant agency, call your bank immediately to prevent unauthorized access to your account.
If you receive a call, mail, email, FAX, or any other form of communication soliciting you for a grant, STOP.
It is a scam.
Report it to the FTC:
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0113-government-grant-scams
File a complaint with the FTC. If you think you may have been a victim of a government grant scam, file a complaint with the FTC online https://ftccomplaintassistant.gov/ , or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.