Scam Type
Government Agency Imposter Scam
Business Name Used
Ronald Damian Robert
Date Reported
May 29, 2022
Victim Postal Code
21215
Total Dollars Lost
$1,000.00
Scam Description
This person going by @Fluid_Fact_2885 messaged me on Reddit saying that they’ve received $8,500 from an SBA Grant for Covid-19 relief. I asked for more information and they gave me a link to a Facebook account promoting the SBA Grant. I clicked the link and messaged the person, asking about specific criteria and the application process. A person named Ronald Damian Robert told me to fill out a form and select the purpose for receiving the winnings. After doing that, they told me I was eligible for winning $15,000 and said that I had to immediately pay $1,000 to verify my information in the database. They urged me to use Bitcoin, a form of cryptocurrency, but I ended up using CashApp to make the payment. After paying them the $1,000, they told me to locate my nearest Bitcoin ATM to pay a $550 Customs Parcel Clearance fee. I was skeptical about it and messaged the Reddit account to see if they experienced the same thing. They reassured me, saying that the grant agent will guide me through the process. I requested they give me proof that they received a check for the grant and they showed me a screenshot of a check that had a completely different amount and company name. Still, they urged me to pay the fee and kept telling me that once I do, I’ll receive the money successfully. After doing some research, I realized that the whole thing was a scam and took immediate action against the Reddit and Facebook account. I also reported their CashApp account and filed a report with the Federal Trade Commission.
