Scammers have several tactics they use, email, online ads and now the rise of social media scams have targeted businesses into government grant scams.
If you own a small business, they’re trying to contact you too because lately scams have been going through Facebook messages directed to small business owners.
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People have reported receiving messages on Facebook telling them that they’re eligible for ― or that they’ve won ― a business grant. If you get a message like this, do not respond. This is a scam. The government won’t contact you on social media to offer you money.
Some people responded to the messages because they thought they were from a “friend.” Know this: scammers can spoof social media messages to make them look like they’re coming from a friend. Some fake messages directed people to send a text to “confirm” their “business grant.” Don’t do it. The scammer is only trying to get your cell phone number to keep trying to get your money.
Before you respond to a message on social media about a small business grant, stop and consider:
- The government won’t contact you through social media to offer you money.
- Real government grants don’t require that you pay first. Stay away from any deal that makes you pay to get your “business grant.”
- If someone tells you they need your passwords to give you a “business grant,” they’re just trying to hack into your accounts to steal your money or impersonate you and scam others.
- If the only way to communicate with the person offering you a “business grant” is through social media or text, that is a red flag for a scam.
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Original article published on www.consumer.ftc.gov. Photo courtesy of www.louise.house.gov.
