Grant Scams

Government Grant scams are running rampant all over the United States. Thousands of people have tried to take advantage of so-called government grants, only to find out that they've fallen for a scammer. While the United States government DOES indeed sponsor grant programs and willingly gives monetary grants to deserving and qualified citizens, not every so-called government affiliated agency out there is actually connected to the government. Quite a number of these organizations are just out to get your personal information and turn a profit using it in one fashion or another, usually to your detriment. Be aware of this, and read the facts given below to help avoid these fraudulent groups.

If THEY contact you, it's likely a scam - the United States government DOES indeed sponsor thousands of legitimate grant programs. It is mandated by congress to make the offer of monetary grants available TO CITIZENS WHO APPLY FOT IT. It does NOT go out of it's way to contact people at random and give the money away. If you're contacted by someone claiming to be a government representative, avoid giving them any pertinent personal information, and ask probing questions to try and find a physical means of contacting them for verification. If they decline or dance around the topic, they're scammers.

If they say the Money's FREE, it's a scam - there's always a catch. Any agency that offers a grant for free with very few or even no conditions attached is likely a fake. The government is a responsible entity, and it does NOT frugally spend it's taxpayer's money. Be especially wary of agencies that make obtaining your credit card or bank account number as one of the primary considerations. Identity theft is only one amongst a list of many worries you'll have if you give your personal information to a scammer agency. Keep in mind that true government grant programs usually require that the applicants pass stringent qualification procedures. Nothing in life is free, and anyone saying otherwise is trying to take you for a ride.

When in doubt contact your local government representatives - ultimately, the best way to make sure that your grant application is the real thing and not just simply another scam, is to contact your local government offices. These offices WILL have their numbers listed in public directories, and will be in a position to verify the legitimacy of the group or agency you're dealing with.