1

A FOTONOVELA 

FROM THE FEDERAL 

TRADE COMMISSION

...from the moment she receives an alleged call 

from the government until she learns the truth.

Follow Sonia’s story...
The Federal Trade Commission is the nation’s 

consumer protection agency. Its mission is to protect 

consumers from fraudulent and deceptive practices.

This fotonovela is part of the FTC’s ongoing 

efforts to help the Latino community avoid scams 

and stop fraud. For more information, visit 

www.consumer.ftc.gov/fotonovela.

Report fraud by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP or at 

www.ftc.gov/complaint.

ABOUT THE FTC
1

Hello?

Hi, is this Sonia 

Mendoza?

Yes.

I don’t believe it. 

The government is 

giving me money?

Believe it, 

because it’s TRUE. 

*RING* 

I won $9,000? 

Wow that’s amazing!

This is Ed González Jones from 

the U.S. National Grants Agency. 

Great news! You won money from 

the federal government and I have 

your check for $9,000. 

All you have to do is 

send us a processing 

fee. Call me once 

you’ve done that and 

you’ll get your check 

in the mail.
2

Hurry up, we 

have to go!

Wait! I just got a call 

from the government. 

I won $9,000 dollars!

The guy said that to get my 

money all I have to do is pay a fee 

and then call him back.

What? The 

government doesn’t 

call offering money.

Oh! I’m so lucky... 

I won money just 

when I need it! Now 

I can pay for a trip 

to visit mom. 
3

THE NEXT DAY: AFTER WIRING THE MONEY, SONIA CALLS THE NUMBER ED GAVE HER.

I’m going to send it 

anyway. This could 

be me chance.

I wouldn’t send any money; 

he could be pretending to 

be from the government. It’s 

easy to be fooled.

National Grants Agency. 

Hi. I’m calling to 

claim my money.

Great, I see your information 

here. You’re getting $9,000. 

Isn’t that amazing? I need your 

driver’s license number. Did you 

already wire the processing fee?

Yes. And my driver license is...
4

SONIA WAITS FOR A CHECK THAT NEVER ARRIVES.

WHAT ARRIVES IS ANOTHER CALL...

I already sent a fee. 

I can’t pay more! 

Sonia, this is Ed from 

National Grants. You need 

to send us more money. 

We can’t send your check 

until you pay...
5

LATER THAT DAY...

But I already wired 

them money!

They keep calling 

and texting me from

National Grants.

I have to send more 

money to get my $9,000. 

See, now they’re harassing 

and threatening me!

Calm down. Don’t 

answer anything. Let’s 

think about this. 
6

Let’s see if this agency is 

even real. You look in the 

phone book and I’ll look 

online on my cell phone.

I can’t find anything about 

this agency that called 

you. No name, no address, 

no phone number. 

Me either.

This sounds like 

a scam.
7

The person who called you 

said you won money from 

the government, but the 

government doesn’t call 

you to give you money.

So let’s look at 

the facts. 

If someone you don’t know 

asked you to wire money, 

that’s like sending cash. You 

can’t trace it and you can’t 

get it back. 

He said you had to pay to 

get the money you won, 

but if you have to pay, it’s 

not a prize.
8

Ok, I think I just 

learned a lesson.

You know what? We should 

report this to the Federal 

Trade Commission. 

Someone told me you don’t 

have to give your name – 

just the details about what 

happened. Maybe we can 

help somebody else from 

losing some money.
Ok, let’s call them now.

Imposters use another person’s name and phone number to look like they are 

calling from the government. They try to trick you into sending them money. This 

is how you know a call, email, or text message is from an imposter:

The caller says they work for the government and you won money in a 

“grant”, lottery or contest. But the government doesn’t call you on the 

phone or send you an email or text to give you money. Ever. 

 

	You can confirmthatthis is a scam:Ask fortheir name and then,

hang up. Look up the number for that agency on the Internet or in the 

phone book. Call the agency, and speak to the person whose name the 

scammer used. 

The caller asks you to pay to get what you “won.” If anyone tells you to wire 

money or use a pre-paid card to send them money, it’s a scam. If you have to 

pay, it’s not a prize. 

 

	If you wiremoney to a stranger or use a pre-paid card to sendmoney to

someone you don’t know, itis like sending cash. You can’ttrace it and

you can’t get it back. It is gone, like the wind.

If you get a phone call, text message or email from the government, hang up the 

phone or delete the message. Then, report it to the FTC at www.ftc.gov/complaint 

or at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). You can report your experience in

Spanish and give asmuch or as little information as you want. Your complaint

helps law enforcement investigate people who do bad things. 

Sonia’s Reality Check

REPORT FRAUD

1-877-FTC-HELP

FTC.GOV/COMPLAINT
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Esta fotonovela es parte de nuestro continuo esfuerzo 

para elevar el nivel de concientización sobre las estafas 

dirigidas contra la comunidad latina. Este cuento provee 

consejos para evitar un problema al comprar un carro. 

Para solicitar copias gratuitas en español, 

visite www.ftc.gov/fotonovela.

August 2014

Sign up to get scam alerts and other news at 

www.ftc.gov/stay-connected.

See all of the FTC’s fotonovelas at 

www.consumer.ftc.gov/fotonovela.