CLEARLAKE — A Clearlake woman received a phone that caused her some concern. The man on the other end, she said, identified himself as a U.S. Treasury representative and offered her a grant in the amount of $7,000.
“The gentleman said he was from the U.S. Treasury Department and that they had 1,500 grants available,” Francis Senft said. “He said there were no risks, that they just had a surplus and were offering the grants to 1,500 senior residents.”
Senft said that the man identified himself as Richard Lee. She said Lee explained that the money would be sent as a certified check from the U.S. Treasury Department out of Washington, D.C. “He said it wasn”t a refund, it was strictly a grant, a gift,” she said.
Senft said that Lee provided her with a code number, which she was instructed to give to a supervisor who would finish processing the claim. She said the phone number she was instructed to call was (202)559-1834.
Senft said she called the number and provided the man whom she presumed to be the supervisor with the code she was given. “He congratulated me and said there were no risks and no fees involved,” she said. “The man was very nice and we chit-chatted and he asked what I would do with the money. Then he asked if I was over 65 and I said yes. Then he said that there would be a one-time processing fee of $99 and that”s when I hung up.”
According to Sandra Salstrom of the U.S. Treasury Department, the department is not currently engaged in any programs offering grants to seniors.
An online database is established at www.800notes.com to help phone service customers track unsolicited calls from unknown phone numbers. The goal of the Web site is to provide the public with a tool for compiling questionable phone numbers and sharing information about those numbers.
The Web site can be accessed free and used free of charge. The service covers the United States as well as Canada. Success of the Web site relies on input by members of the public who have received unwanted or questionable phone calls.
“At www.800notes.com people contribute phone numbers they come across with and share what they know about their owners. If the number belongs to a collection agency, you will most likely find its name, address and read how others handled the calls,” Julia Forte, Web site co-creator said. “If it”s a telemarketer, people share ways to opt-out. If the caller offers you a trip to Cancun, you can check out other people”s experiences with the company.”
The Web site also contains news and articles related to phone service issues such as tips to avoid getting scammed, what to do when your identity is stolen, how to handle harassing phone calls from debt collectors, information about do-not-call lists and more.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
