The Department of Health and Human Services warns of a social services block grant scam targeting Nebraskans.
The scam involves a scammer calling a person claiming that they won a Social Services Block Grant award but must pay a transaction fee to receive the award.
In some cases, victims reported having paid out amounts totaling $1000 in credit card payments or more.
Common characteristics of this scam include:
- Notices of awards being won may come to the targeted individual via e-mail accounts that have @yahoo.com, @gmail.com, @aol.com or other commercial addresses.
- The name on the e-mail account may entail an official-sounding title such as AgentJaneDoe@gmail.com.
- Notices may come via a social media message app such as Facebook Messenger — either via text or call.
- A complementary notice appears to come from a social media friend to confirm receipt of their winnings or in some cases, refer the targeted individual to another source to begin to claim their winnings.
- Individuals are asked to purchase credit card gift cards to pay for the alleged SSBG winnings or grant transaction fees.
The DHHS encourages Nebraskans that have been targeted or know someone who has been targeted to contact the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Grants Fraud Hotline at 1-800-447-8477.
