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Free money always comes at a cost. Many are now learning this the hard way, as scammers are increasingly trying to trick potential victims with offers of fraudulent government grants.
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Not only are the grants not real, but when unknowing consumers opt in, they are robbed of thousands of dollars. The increased activity and growing savvy of scammers has watchdogs issuing warnings to be on the lookout for such messages.
The latest activity comes at a time when inflation has wreaked havoc on many households, and scam artists are preying on vulnerable populations — particularly seniors — with messages that can be mistaken for a relative or friend offering helpful advice.
Generally, it will come in the form of a text or social media message mirroring the profile or phone number of someone the person actually knows. The message will inform the recipient that the government is offering grants of $50,000 or more to help with the economic pressures caused by COVID.
If the person responds, they’ll be…
