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.
Ryan of Portland, OR February 20, 2009
Ryan of Portland OR (02/20/09) I looked up grants online (Google), and came across mygrantsite. This site offered a CD or DVD for less than 3, and I actually didn't even finish ordering it. On the second to last page, it said click here to complete order, and I changed my mind and left the site. The charge appeared on my bank account online anyway, but I figured I'd wait for the CD and go from there. Today, just 5 days later, I saw another charge for nearly 40 for membership.
I am in the process of losing over 40, and am waiting to see if I actually get the CD. I am also trying to get the membership charge reversed, because I haven't even had a chance to try out the program.
Judy of New Castle, DE February 19, 2009
Judy of New Castle DE (02/19/09) I cancelled this account within my bank, tried to call no number, no address even on solication. I should know better. No address, no telephone nubers...skip the entire thing. Do not even go any further. Charging my account. The bank wants me to contact, tried and still nothing. Looks like I am going to have to get a new acct with bank.
Lydia of Ft. Collins, CO February 19, 2009
Lydia of Ft. Collins CO (02/19/09) I ordered a free grant program CD on line. and authorized 1.98 for s/h they debited my account 2.04. A female agent called me within 10 min. of my order and offered me a membership package I refused her offer. My bank has a 71.98 pending on my card from this company. I called the above telephone number which is in the Philippins to cancel whatever they are charging to my card. Had I not called my bank to check they may have gotten away with the unauthorized charges. I informed my bank of my actions and that I am filing a complaint with BBB and Consumer Affairs. A
If this money is debited from my account it will cause my other charges pending to fall in the negative. I am on social security and I won't have another check until March
D of Granite City, IL February 18, 2009
D of Granite City IL (02/18/09) I found the ad for Grant Funding Search through www.women_grants.com which was advertised on MYSpace. I agreed to pay the 1.98 shipping fee to receive the FREE packet of information. I never received the free packet but I did receive a 69.95 charge on my account. I called the 800# on my billing statement 3 times a day for 3 days. Each time the recording says you are calling outside of their business hours which are 5am-8pm. Their recording suggests that you email your correspondence so you can keep a copy for yourself. I emailed the company and did not hear from anyone for 2 days.
I emailed again demanding an answer and received a generic email cancelling my membership. I emailed back demanding my refund and have never heard from them since. I then received a charge on my card from IWB Club for 29.95. When I contacted them, I spoke with Rachel Barroca who told me they would refund my money promptly the same day. That did not happen either. I then received an email from Rachel cancelling my membership.
I never authorized this company to use my card. When I spoke with Rachel, she told me that her company purchased my information and debit card number from another company but never told me who. It didn't take much to figure that one out. I have filed complaints through the BBB for both of these companies. Unfortunately, neither of these companies are accredited through the BBB and all of their complaints are unresolved because the companies never respond. I am considering contacting the State Attorney's office to find resolution.
I am out 100 and never received the FREE information that was promised to me to begin with. How can companies charge you for a membership when you don't have the information to USE said membership?
Amber of Montrose, CO October 10, 2008
I got a phone call on my house phone and they asked for me by name then they started to tell me that I was going to recieve a goverment grant of 3,000 dollars, I asked them why they were giving it to me and they said it was because I had paid my taxes on time and that I had recieved other goverment grants for my schooling. To me it sounded lagit I mean how would they know about my taxes and my grants for college?
Then they told me that in order to receive my grant I had to send 100.00 western union to them then they would transfer the grant back to western union. They said it was because the goverment won't pay transferring fees or taxes so that part is up to me they gave me a phone number in which I could contact them and told me her name was Angel, I also had talked to a male but could not understand him he had a very foreign accent.
Then like a fool I went to western union and paid a hundred dollars I called the woman back and she answered goverment grants department this Angel, I told her that I had paid the money she said to hold on so they could verify and told me everything went through fine. Then she told me she would call me back in 30 minutes so she could transfer my funds, a half an hour later she called me and gave me a controll number for western union so I went to the store and gave them the number they told me it was fake and that it wasn't in there data base.
So I called the number back and got an answering amchine and then left my information and they called me back she said that they were wrong and to have them check again so I did. there was nothing and when I called back noone ever answered again.
Then last week I got a new phone call from some guy named Jack S. and he told me that the reason my grant never went through was because they found some bad debit on my name so that I needed to talk to a credit consolidator and say that I was interseted in getting my credit fixed which I truely am but then he asked me how much debit that I think that I have and I told him and he says wow you are close but a little off he tells me 5,500 then gives e information to tell the consolidator and I told him those credit cards aren't mine. he told me just to go along with it and talk to this guy and so he will give them a good reccommendation that I am a person looking to fix my debit.
So I talk to this guy just to see if it is legit well the guy who I talked to was about debit relief anyway so then Jack called me back and said that everything went great and he gave me a number to call and gave me a website which is all very legit which I called to find out which is the number to Us BANK of Washington D.C. and gave me federalfundingprogram as the website which is legit to then he told me that this time my check will be arriving to in 5-7 business days and gave me a check number and told me that they will be asking for it when they bring my check
it hasn't been 5-7 day yet but when I called the business back they said they didn't have a Jack S. and sent me to another office then that person told me to call another person becasue he wasn't in there department either so three more calls were made and no one knew or ever heard of Jack S. I lost a hundred dollars
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