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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. ma of Winter Park, FL May 17, 2009 Advertise 1.99 for product (cancel anytime which I did right away) & took 94.86 three times from my bank account. Gale of Washington, NC May 13, 2009 I ordered a free CD for educational grants for 1.98 shipping charges. I never received the CD and got a 69.96 charge on my credit card for not canceling a service that I did not authorize or even know I was getting. I was told that this information came with the CD which I never received and that it was on their website. I tried to go to the website and it would not come up. I talked with a supervisor that I could not understand very well. She told me my service would be cancelled as of today (5-13-09) but they could not take off the 69.95 charge. I had already contacted my bank and told them this was something I had not ordered or authorized. The payment was pending. I also closed my credit card. This is definitely a scam. I had another charge of 30.00 on my credit card the same day that was not authorized by me and I feel sure done by this same group. The charge said ClubNV. I canceled my credit card because I could see that these charges were just beginning and would only get worse. I want this scam to stop. These people should be prosecuted. Shelly of Conway, SC May 13, 2009 On February 18, 2009 I ordered a grant writing cd off the internet for 3.95 shipping and handling. Before I even received the cd, I got an email stating that I had to cancel my membership within so many days or my account would be charged so I went a head and cancelled on 2/25/09 . Well I was checking my bank account online and I see where I was charged 74.95 on 3-2-09 and another 29.95 on 3-4-09. I called my bank then and told them that those two charges where unauthorized and that I wanted to block this company from taking anymore money, the lady at the bank gave me the 800 numbers to contact this party that was taking the money on 3-16-09 I called Ultimate Grant Secrets and they proceeded to tell me my money would be refunded in 48 hours, which it wasn't so I called again and the next person told me that it was 48 business hours, so I waited six days and still no money, so I called back and got another excuse how the computers where down and that they would be sending me a check it would take 10-12 days, I waited and still no money, I called them back on 3-27-09 and they told me that they were getting ready to refund the money on 4-2-09 they refunded the 29.95 but not the 74.95 I called back 4-6-09 and the person told me to give it a few more days because it was taking longer then they expected. I waited until 4-17-09 and called them back, so the gentlemen I talked to said he was going to resend the cancellation, low and behold it would be another 10-12 days well I still don't have the money and when I called last week the man said he would send an email to the company and now it's a week later and nothing. I called this afternoon and the lady informed me that they don't have to refund my money, but she would send another email. I told her I wanted to talk to someone in management and she said that I couldn't that they are a third party company that takes complaints. I told her that I was going to call everyday until I got my money. Every time you call this 866- you speak to yet another non speaking American, that you can hardly understand. This is a scam and they are ripping more people off everyday. Something has got to be done about this. I did not agree to any of these charges. Richard of 995 East 167th street Apt.3A, NY May 11, 2009 This account was closed on 2/23/2009. on 04/22/2009 My debit card was charged again this charge also created an overdraft on my account of 34.00. on top on the 74.95 I have call the 800 number 3 time and no refund at this time earl of miraloma, CA May 7, 2009 they,took out 99.90 out of my checking account they wasnt giving permission to. they were only was giving access to get only 1.95, i called n question why. they denied it. i have prof fome my bank statement they are a rip off co. n should be checked out. im probly not the only one they did it to. they shouldnt even advertise on the internet. i came accross them when i was looking for work, i received the cd. but they had no permission to access over 1.95. i told them they better refund back 99.90. as of tomorrow im making sure they will be block, u should investagate them, thank you Ellen of KNIGHTSTOWN, IN May 4, 2009 I filled in a survey and checked that I would be interested in a business grant. I was called and told that for 1.00 from my credit card I would be given access to free information for 14 days after which I would be charged a monthly fee if I didn't cancel. I gave them my card number and never got an email or any information and I just checked my bank account and I was charged 49.95 by Grant Secrects Discovered. I went to their site and there was no way to contact them from there so I called MainSource Bank to get the phone number of Grant Secrets Discovered. When I called a recording asked for my "mail box number". I hung on and nothing happened. I'm sure this is one of the SCAMS and I'm glad there is someone to report this too. I lost 49.95 unless there is some way to get my money back. I used a debit card so now I will have to get a new number to keep them from stealing that amount monthly. Katherine of Bonnyville, AB April 30, 2009 I subscribed to Grantsmoney.com for an "easy way" to get free money from the government (I've worked since I was 14...i thought why not get back some taxes I've paid in if I can?) I did and I got more then I bargained for!! I ended up incurring 91.00, 38.00 and other charges in relation to this company (still waiting on a statement from my credit card company to verify charges) and when I got the number to call and "cancel" my so called "subscription" (which I DID NOT sign up for, agree to or anything else) I was put on hold (the whole time i was saying aloud "Hurry up lady" and, ironically, she re-appeared on-line to say "Sorry m'am, Im just waiting for your file to appear...oh here it is") for 2 minutes then she told me that there was only a charge of 1.95 posted to my account from them and nothing more... Im not really sure who's to blame here; me for giving out my card number when I should know better or them for not keeping the number safe. Regardless, i cancelled the card (got a new one the same day) and now that horror is over. I am disappointed that my credit card company didn't have coverage for me with a clause protecting me from fruadulent charges. Guess I learned an expensive lesson. quentessa of clarksville, TN April 30, 2009 I applied online for a grant that would help me and my family with purchasing our first home. Received a phone call from Steven telling me that I had been approved for a housing grant for 100,000. Since I had been approved for the grant, I asked if there was any grant money available to help the pastor of my church. Pastor Frank is currently remodelling a building that will be used for a recreational center for kids. Steven told me that pastor James had been approved and since I pulled him into the program, the next time I apply for a grant that i would not have to pay the 385 fee. My husband and I were told that we would have to pay a fee of 385. That fee was to be made out to the grant writer, Kathya Aprico. The money was went to her by a cashier's check. The first cashier's check was made out to the wrong person and they quickly sen the check back by fed-ex. I corrected the name on the check and sent it back to them. This was done on March 16, 2009. I was told by Steven that he would call me in a few days and let me know about when to expect the grant proposal (14 page document)and where I would need to sign. The disclosure said that once uspg received the funds, the grant proposal would then be sent to me. I was told to get written estimates on how the money would be spent and send it to them. I did what they asked. Everytime I call, Steven is unavailable and has not returned any of my calls. I have sent an e-mail but no response from them. They told me it would take about 8 weeks from start to finish. It's been well over 8 weeks. I feel bad for Pastor James because I pulled him into this. I was only trying to help him get extra funds to finish the recreational center but instead I think I made it worse. How can anyone scam a church? Cynthia of Willits, CA April 27, 2009 We were charged additional fees from this company without approval. I have had to cancel my credit card and notify all credit report companies of fraud transaction. Juanita of Chula Vista, CA April 25, 2009 Unauthorized withdrawal of funds from my bank account. Lost 74.95 Advertisement
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