Got a Call From "Grants for You"

Juice Box

Diamond Member
Nov 7, 2003
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So i get this call from someone from "Grants for you" saying I am one of 100 ppl chosen in IL to win a $5000 grant from the government..... it was a lady with some wierd accent talking to me, and I found it very fishy... She knew my name, address, and phone number, all of which I confirmend, but when she was like. do you have a checking account, i was like, ummm let me talk to my parents, and she said she'd call back in an hour. WIerd thing is, she called my cell phone number, not my home.. and the caller ID displayed "123". I hope she calls back, I wanna tell her off :)
 

Juice Box

Diamond Member
Nov 7, 2003
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lol, if it WAS from the government, Id first expect a letter... then a call from someone legit
 

Juice Box

Diamond Member
Nov 7, 2003
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I decided to send an email to the governments fraud hotline email thing...figured I try to do my part in the fight against fraud!
 

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
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Originally posted by: digitalsnare
lol, if it WAS from the government, Id first expect a letter... then a call from someone legit
Sadly, my work nearly lost a grant last summer. They decided to email the acceptance and never send a real letter. It was quite unusual, but some agencies are doing it now. Our building was distroyed by an SUV driving through the window (killed the server). We nearly lost a $100,000 by not responding in time but by luck someone just on a whim decided to call in and check.

What I'm wondering about is did you actually apply for a grant? You don't just get them out of thin air. They will ask your bank account after you accept, but that will be through the mail and it needs a signature from your bank (speaking for NSF and NIH grants here, others may be slightly different).
 

Juice Box

Diamond Member
Nov 7, 2003
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no, I didnt apply for anything... I was "Randomly chosen... only one of 100 ppl that win this grant..."
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,542
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Originally posted by: digitalsnare
no, I didnt apply for anything... I was "Randomly chosen... only one of 100 ppl that win this grant..."

You don't "win" grants. You are awarded them. They don't just randomly chose people to award grants to.

If they call back tell them you have the FBI tracing the call.
 

badmouse

Platinum Member
Dec 3, 2003
2,862
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Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: digitalsnare
no, I didnt apply for anything... I was "Randomly chosen... only one of 100 ppl that win this grant..."

You don't "win" grants. You are awarded them. They don't just randomly chose people to award grants to.

If they call back tell them you have the FBI tracing the call.
My daughter randomly "won" a scholarship grant, her high school guidance counselor nominated her for it. She graduated HS in 2001, just got it now. Nice surprise. Not 5000, but every little bit helps.

 

jadinolf

Lifer
Oct 12, 1999
20,952
3
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Originally posted by: digitalsnare
So i get this call from someone from "Grants for you" saying I am one of 100 ppl chosen in IL to win a $5000 grant from the government..... it was a lady with some wierd accent talking to me, and I found it very fishy... She knew my name, address, and phone number, all of which I confirmend, but when she was like. do you have a checking account, i was like, ummm let me talk to my parents, and she said she'd call back in an hour. WIerd thing is, she called my cell phone number, not my home.. and the caller ID displayed "123". I hope she calls back, I wanna tell her off :)

Sounds legit to me. Do whatever she wants and congrats. :roll:
 

Juice Box

Diamond Member
Nov 7, 2003
9,615
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Originally posted by: badmouse
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: digitalsnare
no, I didnt apply for anything... I was "Randomly chosen... only one of 100 ppl that win this grant..."

You don't "win" grants. You are awarded them. They don't just randomly chose people to award grants to.

If they call back tell them you have the FBI tracing the call.
My daughter randomly "won" a scholarship grant, her high school guidance counselor nominated her for it. She graduated HS in 2001, just got it now. Nice surprise. Not 5000, but every little bit helps.

Yeah... I dont think this is something like that... I mean, my family isint really in need of money for college and that, so i dont even think id qualify for any grants... she called back and refused to give me a number I could call her back on, so I said no thanks, to which she replied "whats that? call you back tomorrow??" and i just hung up
 

Perknose

Forum Director & Omnipotent Overlord
Forum Director
Oct 9, 1999
46,685
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Originally posted by: badmouse
My daughter randomly "won" a scholarship grant, her high school guidance counselor nominated her for it. She graduated HS in 2001, just got it now. Nice surprise. Not 5000, but every little bit helps.
That's not "random". She was specifically nominated.

 

URAHOMO

Banned
Jan 19, 2005
3
0
0
What a noble cause. im glad its people like you who created the whistleblower award you jerk!!
I decided to send an email to the governments fraud hotline email thing...figured I try to do my part in the fight against fraud!
yes the noble war on fraud!!

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Good bye.

AnandTech Moderator