Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

asterism OP wrote (edited )

Here is the scoop if anyone cares

The FCC is doing this program which acronym is ACP. Basically it gives internet discounts and device discounts to families receiving state assistance. The deal with devices is that the FCC will put 100 dollars towards a tablet given that you are paying between 10-50 dollars for it. So you can get this discount for devices costing 110-150 dollars.

Now the official way of doing it is you go to a website operated by the FCC and then apply for the program there then once accepted you notify the company you are getting the device from that you did that and then you get the device. The FCC has a list of approved companies so you just have to pick one of them. The other official way is to go to the website of one of those approved companies and some of them will have the same application on their website so then you can just do the whole thing there.

The application requires name, a copy of your state benefit card (be it MA or WIC or whatever), last 4 of social, and a copy of your driver's license.

Well instead of going through one of the company websites or doing it on the FCC site my wife is doing this shit through a facebook page. So she just gave a copy of her drivee's license to someone who runs a facebook page. Now the banner of the page has one of the legitimate companies on it (though the page name itself is generic) but anyone can copy an image. But its for a very small relatively unknown wireless company so it would be a weird pick if you were a fraudster.

It also appears they've done a number of in person events where they help people do the applications in person and then hand them tablets. Now one of these events they had a booth at was a National Night Out which would be a weird place for a scammer to have a booth frankly. All these events are done in an area that is heavy with a particular minority. Which I only mention because I think these peoples true intent is just to help out their particular minority and simultaneously make money (which my state has a lot of but its like a super small minority in the US). Because almost everyone interacting with the page and all the placees they go revolve around that minority.

Anyway they gave my wife a literal home address to go to to get her tablet. Which is weird. Looked up the property taxes. Two owners. one that used to own a now defunct secondhand goods store. And a woman who fancies herself a "singer/model/actress" and has a youtube page where she sings a bunch of traditional songs from her culture she also posts tons and tons of copaganda.

My thought is they actually are affiliated with the company and are salesman for it, So they are probably selling 110 dollar tablets. They cover the 10 dollars the person is supposed to be paying and then the government pats the 100 and then they get commision on the sale. So everyone they interact with gets a free tablet and they make money. Seem like a sweet gig really. But man if it doesn't seem shady.

3

lettuceLeafer wrote

In fairness I think some people are so foolish that they would try to sell fullz data even if it would be easy to get caught. It's a big industry selling identity data to save scammers time. I think most people would be too tech illiterate to do it. But idk mostly just talking to myself rather than giving u a warning.

Depending on how poor u r if u just have bad credit and no money in the bank account most scammers will just buy a new fullz for 20 bucks. So most likely I wouldn't worry about it. Tho in the other the most desperate aren't the ones who have the time or money to fix scammers causing identity theft problems.

Idk the way I see it not smart scammers who are obvious to notice won't get past identity theft prevention measures while the good ones will still my info on ways I wouldn't notice like a really realistic rental apication ect.

3

asterism OP wrote

Yeah I considered that they could just be the most incompetent scammers ever. Probably just going to run the credit reports in a few days to make sure everything is kosher.

1

asterism OP wrote (edited )

Social security number the abbreviated form is banned, probably keeps the scammers out

2