Government Grant Scams

Government Grants • Government Giving Away Money? Don't Count On It • Easy Money Scams On The Rise As Times Get Tough • Massachusetts Charges "Government Grant" Scammers • Government Grant Scam Steams On • Grant Scams Defraud Thousands • Grant Scam Still Active --- Complaints • Assorted Grants Complaints • Grantsourcedirect.org • Grantsmoney.com

The "free money" scam has been around almost as long as the human species. It has more variations than a bulldog has wrinkles but you can count on one thing: the government (any government) does not simply give money away to individuals. Anyone who tells you differently has larceny in his heart. If you give him your bank account number, he will soon have your funds in his pocket.

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.

R of Roswell, GA October 23, 2009

I was told I was elgible for a free Gov. grant. I'm worried about identity theft

sara of medford, NY October 21, 2009

I was called at home after dinner- and Steve Williams told me that i was randomly selected by the government to recievce 6800 from the government in the form of a grant, the money can be used for anything - debt, etc....and no need to repay ever. The Government randomly selects a few dozen people each year for grants and he just happened to get my file. I was told to go to a western union within 15-20 minutes to complete the transaction process and I would have my money tonite!

Excited & Foolishly I went, eager for that quick debt fix. When I got there I called Steve back and was instructed to fill out the green form - the send money form. I was asked to send 100 to Sanjay Suri in Delhi, India as verification that I was recieving my money. I was asked not to talk to the people at western union because they would charge me an extra 700-800 out of my money in fees or taxes. I was told all i had to lay out was the 8-10 fee from western union and the 100 would be credited back in only 15-20 minutes. I was begining to question all of this to good to be true situation by this point. I did actually fill out the form but thankfully the atm was not working. I was then transfered from Steve to a Richard Fox while leaving the store. Back at the car Richard asked me to go to "4 U Convienence" after I told him the teller wouldn't do a debit transaction.

I had someone with me in the car (THANKYOU Des) & after hearing them both over the speaker phone she suggested he was a salesman - pushing me to make the transaction tonite within the next 30 minutes actually and apparently didn't speak english so clearly. Both names seemed pretty uncharacteristic for the voices on the phone. It started to come together I was not getting any money... The phone number seemed ok after a quick check on the internet but further research on my part deems this a scam. Thankfully I didn't lay out any money money. I even told them I would overwithdraw to pay this 100 fee - THEY ARE HEARTLESS!!

The phone number did call my cell phone when I returned home(which i have not answered) - when i did not get to 4 U conveienence in the specified amount of time. There were phones ringing in the back round,& people talking when i was on the phone with them and I can't believe I left the house. I did not give them any information other than confirm my address - and my cell phone number. I did visit sites about grants but who knows how they got my info in the first place. When you live pay check to pay check and are supporting kids in NY you just don't need the added stress of this crap! How can we make it stop? How do they get punished for all the people that didn't stop to think and were scammed? Anything I can do to help - this isn't the first fraud/scam I've come across. This time I'ld like to follow through - I am very disconcerned with this whole situation. This is very Uncalled for.

Michael of New York, NY October 19, 2009

Grants for Me has been billing my credit card every month. I have asked them to cancel it over 4 months ago every month. They continue to do so. I never received anything. This is not fair I have to call every month to my crdit card company and this company. How can this happen?

Marcel of Los Angeles , CA October 17, 2009

Las Vegas Funding Group is a DBA which was file July 2009. Las Vegas Funding Group has an automated robo call that goes out to businesses asking them to press one if interested in receiving free grant money...if you press one you are connected to one of their Sales Reps also known as "Grant Specialists" and "Small Business Analyst" per our investigation..the sales rep will give you a pitch...you know the pitch they tell you for how many foundations you are qualified for...then they tell you need to pay 2800 for paper work that is necessary for you to obtain the grant...they do not have certified grant writers licensed to write grants nor they have Attorneys. what they do have is a girl sitting behind a desk with a book called Grant Writing for Dummies.

DO NOT FALL FOR THIS SCAM! You will never see a penny...of your promised grant. Las Vegas Funding Group' s license is issued to a corporation "Creative Medical Management" which manages medical offices and they also do billing...they have never writen a grant nor have the experience in writing grants.

The Sales rep will lie to you and tell you that they have been writing medical grants for 7 years...and they have expanded to small businesses that is why they got a New DBA...that is False! Do not be fooled! This company will not return phone calls once they get your money...ask them for a copy of the paper work...they will not provide it!!! They are too scared to show you a one page letter of intent...that they send out...that will not get you a grant! When they sell you on using them they tell you they have contacted the foundations and have reserved your money...that is also false!

They tell you you are guaranteed your grant by tax law...That is false!!! If this company has taken your money file complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. There are 15 complaints we need 5 more for the government to go in and grab all records! It is our understanding they are also mis-classifying employees...the Nevada Attorney General, IRS, and Labor Commissioner have been made aware of Las Vegas Funding Group...and are currently investigating! Grant writing companys are popping out every where in Las Vegas, NV. This company took my money and will take yours too! Know I am in debt .

Vicki of Glendale, AZ October 14, 2009

These jackasses (which have to be related to the whole Granthelp scam) have charged my credit card 39.95 plus a foreign transaction fee of 1.19 and an Intelius fee of 1.95. I made no such charges, ever, at any time. You bet I complained to Bank of America. Some organization is storing credit card numbers and making bogus charges.

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.

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