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Government Grant Scams |
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Below is a tiny sample of the hundreds and hundreds of complaints we receive about the many versions of this scam. It does no good to list all of the names used by these bunko artists because a.) they change all the time and b.) every single free-money government-grant offer is a scam. Period. Lubna of Wauwatosa, WI October 14, 2009 Offerred me a grant in the amount of 7,000 if I called this number. Had an Indian British accent. Claimed to be giving away 7,000 in US grant money to random citizens. Ginger of Perry, MI October 10, 2009 I signed up for SUCCESS GRANTS because in their ad it said it was reviewed by "NBC" and other news show. BIG MISTAKE! 1,95 turned into 288.05. I never recieved an e-mail to confirm or cancel. I never recieved my packet and I thought I checked my account and didn't see a charge so I just though it never got processed. WRONG. I have written numberous conplaints and made calls and get nother but that they will only refund 2 months. You can't find an address for them and they will not give it to you either. I do investigations so it's just a matter of time and I will have it and I am taking these people to court! PHIL of concord, CA October 6, 2009 On Aug. 27, 2009, I found a website 'mysearch4grantandfunding' on my computer on another unrelated website of a 'Free GRANT MONEY SOFTWARE' CD by just paying for the shipping. I signed up for the free CD with the use of my credit card to pay for the shipping fee. When I finished clicking off the site, I got an email saying, 'Thank you for your membership' which I immediately went on their website to cancel the membership. But it turned out this was not the mysearch. Luckily I canceled early enough to not get charged by this scam Membershipcare group, but I was not fortunate with Mysearch. scam group. I didn't find out that I was charged by the Mysearch until one day I was checking my credit card records and noticed some charges I was not aware of from the following group: DBW. I called the bank to find out who and what the charges were. The following charges showed up on my statement that I DID NOT SIGN UP for: 8/30/09 DBW*EBOOK-BUY HOMES 866-3153967 UT - charged: 3.73; 9/01/09 DBW*EBOOK-WORKFRMHOME 866-3153967 UT - charged: 3.77; 9/4/09 DBW*THE GRANT EXPRESS 866-3153967 UT - charged: 69.95 On 9/30/09 at 3:29pm, I called 866- and spoke with ALEX M., to try to get refund since I didn't sign up for the membership on the 69.95, but refused, saying that I signed up for the membership and there is a no refund policy. I then called back to make sure that I was canceled from the Grant membership with confirmed# S#E on Sept. 30, ALLEN M.. On 10/2/09, at 11:32am, I checked my credit card account and found now that there is another charge of 69.95 was made on 9/29/09. On 10/2/09 at 11:56am, I called 866-, and spoke with RAIN S. about why I was charged twice now for something that I didn't order. He just kept repeating that there is no refund, and that I did sign up and they have records to show it. Apparently they are using the sign up for the CD as also signing up for the Grant Search Membership program. I asked S. about my second charge in the same month, he apologized for the error (which I only found out when I checked my account) and gave me a refund confirmation# and said that I should notice a credit on my visa in about 10-15 days. I will be checking. But still no refund on the others! I checked on Google on prior Mygrants scam and found several entries including the BBB website had them as well as others. On 10/2/09, at 11:32am, I contacted my credit card bank to try to dispute the charge and they said that they need copy evidence of membership cancellation otherwise try to settle with the Grant company. charged: 69.95 The credit card company won't dispute or credit the charges back unless I had proof of membership cancellation. This has caused me mental anguish, and loss of money that I didn't authorize. I hope this scam group will be shut down, arrested, and charged with this scam and at the same time ordered to pay a heavy fine and make restitution to the people they ripped off! Kara of Arvada, CO October 5, 2009 I received a letter in September 2009 with no return address and a Canadian stamp on the outside. Inside were a letter, from Brightwood Grants Co. Baltimore, MD 21117 signed by Frank T., Finance Director, and a check for 2,979.83 made out to me, from HH MedStar Health, Inc PO Box Baltimore, MD 21236. The letter states that I have been awarded a 40,000.00 grant and that the check is for state and fed processing fees. The letter also stated that as soon as the state and federal processing fees and commission fee 3,000.00 was paid to them, I would receive a check in the amount of 34,020.17. I never requested a Grant. This is a scam. steven of mattydale, NY September 27, 2009 I received a call from a women that said I qualified for a government grant that will not have to be repaid and could be used for anything I desire. She wanted a credit card # that she would charge me 1.98 for shipping fees of a information booklet. Gay-Lynn of Houma, LA September 24, 2009 I was told to deposit the check into my bank account. (this part, sent up a red flag) Then I was to take 3,100.00 cash for taxes, to the local MONEY GRAM office. The tax money is to be sent to Rita Fleury - Atlanta Georgia 30315. afterward, Money Gram, would give me a conformation #, then I was to call the 1-514-585-2921 number and ask for James at Ext. 216 and give him the conformation #. Then according to James, the following day the grant would come by UPS. Please advise, I did apply for a grant, last year but never heard anything from that. danny of freeman, MO September 18, 2009 called stating that due to paying my taxes i was eligible for a government grant--then wanted my debit card# or bank account#--did not give it. H. of Fort Lauderdale, FL September 17, 2009 Was called by a William Smith,Who left a message on my phone stating that I had been selected to receive a Goverment grant for 25000 dollars. All I had to do is return his call as soon as possible. I returned the call only to get an answer machine for me to leave my information and he would return my call. Did not leave my info. I beleaved it to be a scam. Norah of Kissimmee, FL September 14, 2009 I received a call from Ashley stating that because I pay my taxes every year that I am entitled to 5000.00 back. They will charge a processing fee of 297.00 and deposit 4703.00 into my account. When I told her no I would not give out my account #, she stated that it was absolutely necessary. She then gave me the address & phone #. When I called the number from my cell it showed that it was a texas #. I did not have to give my account # she already had it and other info. She then transferred me to a veriffication officer named Malcolm. Malcolm pplayed a recording where I had to state my name & address then he would speak over the recording so that I would not hear was being said. The recording then gave out a tel # and again he spoke over the recording stating that it did not apply to me. He then gave me conf code # and when I asked him for the tel # that was said on the recording he gave me the 806 # I told him that was not the #, he then gave me 1800-. I called that # and it was a 1 800 talk #. They also stated that I would receive an application in the mail for me to sign & return. After I returned the letter they would deposit the money into my account. Twyla of Red Deer, AK August 28, 2009 gov-programs.org/faq Got a flyer for this in the mail. It looks like a front for the usual grant scams. I'm just hoping to raise awareness. This scam looks fairly new. Advertisement
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