Victim Location 98208
Type of a scam Government Grant
The scammer used an old high school friends Facebook profile picture to pose as my friend and to ask if I knew anything about a Small Business Administration grant program. When I said I hadn’t heard of such a thing, I was told by the person who took over my friend’s profile (hacker) to text 669-221-3685. When I did so, the scammer asked for my name, address, DOB, age, married/single, amt earned per week or month, hearing or deaf, and do i own or rent. I sent them the info. After a few moments, they said I qualified for $25000 through “2019 small business administration development grant program.” The scammer tried to get me to send them $500 as a “Bill and Clearance Fee” in order to get $25,000 I supposedly qualified for. When I told them I couldn’t afford $500 they lowered it to $200 and said I could pay the remaining $300 once the 25k$ check cleared. I would receive my check Monday *May 6th 2019* at 10am. In order to pay the $200 they asked me to go out and get two $100 Google play gift cards, scratch off the numbers and send them a large photo of both the cards to “process as payment”. I have refused to do so. They continue to try to get me to pay them $200 assuring me that I will get a $25,000 check (along with paperwork to take to the bank to receive payment) via check I would receive at 10am on Monday May 6, 2019.