Be on the look out for a scam where people impersonate United Way staff. Recently two United Ways, one in Pennsylvania and another in Alabama, reported similar occurrences where individuals were duped by scammers claiming to be associated with United Way. While the scams were not identical, they did include many similarities:
- The scammers either masqueraded as the victim’s Facebook friend, or they claimed the victim’s Facebook friends as references;
- They offered the victims cash grants, claiming they are eligible under “Federal trust funds” or some other official-sounding program;
- To receive the grant, the victim had to complete an application that included driver’s license details, bank account information, mother’s maiden name, credit card information, and social media login credentials. (Click here for a recent exchange between a scammer and a victim.)
No United Way would contact individuals with a grant offer. It is highly unusual for any charity to do this. If individuals get an offer like this, they should contact their local United Way immediately before providing any information. In the Wichita metro area, call United Way of the Plains at 316-267-1321.
