Phony Government Grant Scam Reported In Wyoming

The latest scam circulating in Wyoming features callers telling people they have been awarded a "government grant."

Sweetwater County Sheriff's Department spokesman Dick Blust says victims are told they have received a $7,000 or $9,000 government grant that will not have to be repaid. The intended victim is then given a phone number to "expedite the grant process." If the victim calls the phone number they are told to go to a Walmart or other retail store and buy a reloadable debit card and use it to pay a 'processing fee'' of between $250 and $500 dollars.

Once the "fee" is paid the victim never hears anything more about the supposed grant.

A variation on the scam features the caller asking for  the victim's bank account information, supposedly to transfer the grant into the account. The swindler instead drains the bank account.

Blust says the swindlers in this scam can be especially persistent and my call back several times. But he says if you keep hanging up on them they will eventually give up.

He also says this scam should serve as a reminder to never give out your personal bank account information unless you are absolutely certain the person or company you are dealing can be trusted.