I received a telephone call from someone with an Indian - or Pakistani-like accent identifying himself from the US Grant Department. He claimed that my good tax - and bill-paying history (plus lack of any bankruptcy filings) led the Federal Government to award me a $5135 grant.
He gave me a 3-digit, 4-number "claim code" (WGS1015) and a (360) 284-4884 number to call in order to get the rest of my instructions on how to claim my money. He did claim to be in DC. He couldn't answer my admittedly skeptical and pointed questions, so he forwarded me to his supervisor, another male with an Indian - or Pakistani-like accent. He couldn't answer my questions either. So I was forwarded onto a lady in the "Financial Services" department.
She had a fainter Indian - or Pakistani-like accent, and when I pressed, she said she was in Seattle, WA. She told me I had to go to Western Union and deposit $235, using the claim code. She said the $235 was refundable, and I would get a grant membership number. When I questioned her, she also said I'd get the grant money. When I questioned why the Federal Gov't was doing this, she told me the same thing as the first guy. She also said it was basically a good marketing gesture by the Gov't to encourage others to be financially responsible. I asked how long the Federal Gov't had been doing this. She said a long time, but she'd only been with the company for a couple of years. When I asked what company she worked for, she got irritated and told me that if I have more questions, I should call the 360 number.
A quick Google search showed up how much of a scam this is, confirming my own strong suspicions.
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