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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. nargi of indianapolis, IN November 12, 2009 was told i would recieve 5000 if i paid 199 but the 199 would be refunded the next day when i recieved my 5000 check by a agent of the govt i was told to get cash for the 199 and take it to the nearest western union call the number they gave me and they would walk me thru the steps on how to send the money to verify my identiy Audrey of Charlotte, NC November 11, 2009 I was called on October 9th and told that the US government had extra money from donations that they were giving out to US citizens. She said that she needed my bank account number but I said no. I asked why they did not just mail the checks and she said that they have lost the checks and had to put a stop payment on the check. She said they could only then have our debit card number to transfer the money from their bank to my bank. Today I got a call from Donald who said they tried to transfer the money but my account will only allow 20,000 maximum transfer to my account so now they have sent the money by western union. Before I can get my money from them I had to send 300 and then I can put a stop on the transfer. They just needed the transfer code to open my account. I said I do not have that kind of money and I can do 150. He said to call when I get to the western union and he will stay with me to fill out the form to send the money. I did send 100 and gave him the transfer code. He then said to hold on so he can open the account. He had me on hold and never came back. I asked western union if I could get the money back but i was told that the money had been picked up. I kept calling and he did not answer his phone. I next called the phone number of the the first person who called me and no answer. I then got a call who said he was Kevin M and the problem is that this is a holiday so the banks are having a problem transfering the money. he said the transfer should be done in a few hours. I kept asking for a copy of the wire transfer for security and he said they do not do that, he said there were over 500 people getting this money and I am the only one complaining. I then asked for my money back. He said he was putting a stop on the 25,000 transfer and will mail me a check for 100. I called the bank which was closed and next I got a call from the bank phone number. The person said he was at the bank that was open in California and the transfer should happen shortly. I said ok. He asked for the transfer to be sent to India and all of the people I talked to had and Indonesian accent. Solange of Forest Hills, NY November 10, 2009 He called me at work to tell me I had been selected to receive 7,000 in government grants. He asked to confirm my address and gave me a grant approval number and a telephone to call (above) and confirm my grant. When I called, Gerry Collins answered and said that they would send me the grant via mail or to my back acct or to my credit card. They said that to conclude the process I had to send a money order of 99 dollars to them for charity to children in the third world countries. Observation: both men had indian accents. When I asked if it was a scam since I was not getting the 7,000 for free as they had been stating, they said it was not and that the only way I would get the grant money is if a went to a Western Union store and sent them 99. I proceeded to hang up.I tried calling again and there was an answering machine by a british female that said "the person you are trying to reach is not available". I sincerely hope something can be done to stop them from steeling from innocent people. Pamela of Webster, NY November 7, 2009 This person called me and said for 2.95 they would send me a package and a free CD. Have not received anything. Got online and found they were scam artists. I wrote to the Attorney General and they sent me a complaint form for Federal Grant Scam. The only charge i have as of now is 2.95. Larry of Mayo, FL October 24, 2009 Grants express has stolen over 400 from my bank acc. without my permission. I bought only a CD for one dollar. I am disabled and my daughter has just died. I am already under stress and I sure don't need this on top of everything else. 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. Advertisement
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