Hey, do you qualify for thousands of dollars in grant money?
Got ya! That is one of the latest scams according to the office of the Summit County Prosecutor, Sherri Bevan Walsh.
Have you received that call or email stating that you qualify for those thousands of dollars in grant money?
“With our economy in turmoil, con artists are using the words “stimulus grant money” as a means to coax their victims into falling for this scam,” said Bevan Walsh.
You are instructed that in order to obtain these funds, you are required to give your personal banking information for what they call an up-front $249 fee. You are told that after this fee is received, the grant money will be deposited into your account. The fee is withdrawn immediately, but grant funds are never received.
“An employee in my office received a call offering free grant money. Although the caller sounded professional, after being questioned extensively, she became flustered and hung up,” stated Bevan Walsh.
She warns all of us not to provide personal information to anyone. “You can apply for different grants, but the U.S. Government will not contact you offering free money,” she said.
Visit the Web site for a list of past alerts, www.co.summit.oh.us/prosecutor/srcitsafe.htm.
