NEH scam targets masters tracksters: No free lunch (or $50,000)

scamsFriday morning I got a Facebook message from a well-known masters track official. Now I think his account was hacked, and it wasn’t him contacting me. “I’m fine doing great and very happy and excited, because yesterday is the happiest day of my life,” said the message, later adding: “Didn’t you heard [sic] about the National Endowment for Humanities assistance program helping some selected names online?” I was told: “Five of my friend [sic] got a grant from them and I also got $50,000 from them, how comes [sic] you haven’t gotten yours yet?” I messaged a Facebook user, and was told: “CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOUR NAME IS STILL AVAILABLE ON OUR WINNER LIST WHICH WE CAN OFFER A GRANT…. ARE YOU READY TO CLAIM YOUR WINNING MONEY FROM US HERE….” That was the final tipoff. I looked up NEH scams and came across this official warning. The FB page I contacted has been deleted. But the scam continues. So change your FB password if you think someone is piggybacking your account.

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September 2, 2016

2 Responses

  1. Keitrh A McQuitter - September 3, 2016

    FB site is not protected I’m no longer on there and don’t use the site even though all my contact with all track athlete are on there I find the site to be a big risk to use

  2. Bill McIlwaine - September 4, 2016

    I too was contacted in the same manner. I was told that even though I am in Canada I was still eligible to receive funds. The phone number they use is a 515 area code which is in Iowa. Thanks for the warning to change FB Password

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