TNS’ Robocall Protection team has recently tracked a scam claiming to offer a subsidy to cover living expenses. A subsidy is money granted to individuals by the government to support their everyday costs, which they don’t have to pay back.
There is usually a reason that the offer of free cash seems too good to be true.
Here is a transcript from an attempt of this scam:
“Immediate action required. This is Bella from Health Lifeline. Contacting you with an urgent update. You may qualify for a $6400 health subsidy to cover your essential living costs. Please note this offer is time sensitive and the eligibility period ends today.”
The caller may claim to be from a legitimate sounding organization, such as “Health Lifeline” as mentioned above or “Vital Health Grants”, when it is not. They typically offer a $6400 grant, but that number could vary, and the aim of the call is to take you to a third-party website or call center to attempt gaining your personal information. A major red flag is the claim that the eligibility period ends “today”, putting pressure on their target victim.
In 2022, the US government passed the Inflation Reduction Act and one of the goals of this act is to lower healthcare prices for Americans. Scammers are claiming through this act there is free healthcare and the $6400 subsidy, but this simply does not exist. The calls often also claim the subsidy is to cover essential living costs, however the US government does not offer free money for personal needs. This website explains in which scenario the government does offer free money and personal grants. It is important to remember that all government grants require an application process and they do not send out cold calls to find applicants.
It is best practice to never engage with unknown numbers and report phone numbers being used by scammers to your carrier. If you believe you are the victim of a scam, you can report it to your local police, state Attorney General’s office and the FTC.
Call-blocking apps, including those powered by TNS Call Guardian®, are also a great resource for reporting and blocking unwanted robocalls. Stay vigilant, share information about scams with others and be sure to check out our monthly Scam of the Month page updates.
John Haraburda is Product Lead for TNS Call Guardian® with specific responsibility for TNS’ Communications Market solutions.
Call Guardian is a registered trademark of Transaction Network Services, Inc.
