What is the fair wage subsidy card?
There’s a program online called the “fair wage subsidy card” that says it helps low-wage earners with bills like gas, food, and rent. But be careful! People are using fake videos of celebrities on Facebook and TikTok to promote it. They want you to click a link, answer questions, and then call a number. These could be scams! Let’s know the detail about the topic Fair Wage Subsidy Card Real or Fake?
How the Fair Wage Subsidy Card Scam Works
The scam usually starts with a social media post or a video that looks like a live broadcast. The post or the video features a famous person, such as Oprah Winfrey, endorsing the fair wage subsidy card and urging people to apply for it online.
The post or the video also provides a link to a website that looks official and legitimate. The website asks people to enter their name, address, phone number, email, and bank account details to receive the card. It also asks them to pay a small fee for shipping and handling.
Once people enter their information and pay the fee, they never receive the card. Instead, they receive a message that says something like “Sorry, we are out of stock. Please wait for the next batch.” or “Your application has been rejected. Please try again later.” The scammers then use the information and the money they collected to commit identity theft and fraud.
Why is the fair wage subsidy card a scam?
The fair wage subsidy card is a scam for several reasons:
There is no such thing as a fair wage subsidy card. The U.S. government has not approved any such program or legislation. The Inflation Reduction Act, which the scam refers to, is a real law that was passed in 2022. It has nothing to do with giving out subsidies to low-income workers.
The link that the scam posts provide is not a government website. It is a fake site that uses the domain name “secretsavingsusa.com”. The site asks for personal and financial information, such as income, tax status, birth date, and bank account details. This is a phishing attempt to steal your identity and money.
The phone number that the scam posts provide is not a government hotline. It is a fake number that connects you to an unidentified agent who tries to sell you a health insurance policy. The agent may also ask for more personal and financial information, or pressure you to pay a fee to get your card.
The videos that the scam posts use are not real endorsements. They are edited clips of celebrities that are taken out of context and manipulated to make it seem like they are promoting the card. For example, the video of Oprah Winfrey is a fragment of an interview that she did in 2019. In that video she was talking about something else entirely.
How can you avoid the fair wage subsidy card scam?
The best way to avoid the fair wage subsidy card scam is to ignore it. Do not click on any links, do not enter any information, and do not pay any fees. If you see a post or a video that promotes the card, report it as spam or false information. If you receive a message or a call that asks you to apply for the card, hang up or delete it.
If you have already fallen for the scam, contact your bank and your credit card company immediately and inform them of the situation. You may also want to change your passwords and monitor your accounts for any suspicious activity. You can also report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the local authorities.
Conclusion
The fair wage subsidy card is a scam that tries to lure people into giving away their personal information and money. The card does not exist, the endorsement is fake, the website is fraudulent, and the offer is too good to be true. The best way to avoid the scam is to ignore it and report it.