The Better Business Bureau is putting a variation of a Government Grant scam on their scam tracker.
Stephanie Garland, a spokeswoman for the BBB says an elderly woman came to the Bureau after she was scammed out of $3,500.
Garland says the woman was contacted by someone on Facebook, pretending to be her cousin through Facebook Messenger.
The woman says she was told she won a government grant of $300,000 but first she had to pay $4,000.
The “cousin” told her he had already paid $500 so she’d only have to dish out the $3,500.
Garland says the woman didn’t take time to check or verify anything before going out and spending the money.
Garland says falling for the scam is hard on the woman, who lives on Social Security and still have many bills she has to pay.
Garland says that these scams can happen to anyone, regardless of age.
A couple tips Garland told KTTS News, is you should be aware of any red flags, such as asking for gift cards or cash, and if the person reaching out to your claims to be your significant other, friend, cousin, etc., contact them through a number you know, not just whatever method of contact they’re messaging you on.
