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.
Victor of Miami FL (04/03/09) I am going through the same thing with these Gov. Grant scammers! I want to tell all of you, DO NOT GIVE UP! DISPUTE ALL THE CHARGES WITH YOUR CREDIT CARD COMPANIES AND YOUR BANK. DO NOT ACCEPT NO FOR AN ANSWER. It worked for me. Make sure you cancel your account and get a cancellation number. Change your credit card number if you have to. DO NOT LET THEM GET AWAY WITH YOUR MONEY. By the way, WHY IS THE GOVERNMENT LETTING THEM GET AWAY WITH THIS? OBAMA, WHATS UP? This is where the people need help. I dont care about banks or auto makers. I care about us not getting our money legally stolen.
Brenda of Glen St Mary, FL April 2, 2009
Brenda of Glen St Mary FL (04/02/09) This company advertises that they will help you get a grant. My son who recently started college needed help and with him being my only child, I had no experience as such. I went to the website. I had ordered a CD, and immediately canceled the order as the guidance counselor had called me that she could help me. I receieved an email stating that the membership was canceled. I still never received the CD, but they did take the money out for it. So far, I have had 2 debits taken out of my account - unauthorized - 3/28/2009 Network Share POS Debit GRANT/NEWSPN -29.95 3/2/2009 Network Share POS Debit MYFITNESS -29.95 2/13/2009 Network Share POS Debit HLD*GRANTHELPORDER -3.95 Both of these are from the same place.
I have tried calling and calling, and can never get a human, only a message that it is after business hours, regardless of when you call, or that the lines are busy and to try back at another time. The only way to stop these 29.95 coming out of my account is to close my account and open another one. I am sure you know when you have automatic debits coming out - how much of a pain it is to start all over. The money they are stealing is the money we have saved for my sons school. This may not be a lot of money, but to a single parent with a child in college, it is a fortune.
I googled this company, and I see now that this is a scam company. More parents need to be aware of this. As an FYI - When I attempted to go on their site today: 1. There is no email contact; 2. The toll free number is bogus and reverts to toll free information; 3. I discover that their business is located on some island called Nevis in the Caribbean.
They owe the money back to me for one. Second it is a horrible feeling of being scammed, not to mention, now having to go close my bank account and start all over again. Lesson well learned, but a costly one at my sons expense.
Richard of Charlotte, NC March 31, 2009
Richard of Charlotte NC (03/31/09) I ordered 1 brochure for a friend at this site. I didn't notice a 29.95 monthly charge after the 7 day free trial, advertised in big letters on the site. When I was billed in Oct.(I think) I called and cancellled. In Jan of 2009 monthly charges, jan,feb, and march, showed up under the vender of GOVTFUNDEDGRANTS showed up. We were away and I didn't notice.
I called Wachovia when it showed up in pending payments and they couldn't (or wouldn't) tell me the source until it posted. I called the company on 3/30 and cancelled the acct. This time I got a numbner, 609. When I went onto their site it seemed to me the whole operation is a total scam, because there is a legitimate site, governmentfundedgrants.com which they somehow attach themselves to. Nowhere does their email address show up. I pity the poor, desperate people who actually sent them money for their kits. Like our friend, they're unemployed, disabled, and desperate. Please help them.
Charles of Bedford, TX March 30, 2009
Charles of Bedford TX (03/30/09) On 3/4/09 I ordered a Grant Funding Research software for 1.98 and that amount was deducted from my account. On 3/16/09 I noticed that a pending deduction from my account in the amount of 69.95 from Grant Funding Research,for a monthly subscription, I called them and told them that I did not subscrbe to any subscription and I told them I was going to report them to the Attorney General if they did not return my money, which they did on 3/17/09.
On 3/26/09 I noticed a debit from my account for 29.95 from IWBCLUB, from Nevada. I do not no them or what they do. I called them and a lady who would not give me her name told me that they were a cash flo company. I told her that I had have never ordered anything from them and that I wanted my money back. I told her that I was going to report them to the Attorney General and then she told me my subscription would be cancelled and I would get my money back in three to five business days. How can these people be allowed to steal like this?
The actions of these people caused two overdrafts in my account.
Bonnie of Ozark, MO March 29, 2009
Bonnie of Ozark MO (03/29/09) I, too, became victim to Grant University. Ordered free CD plus 1.98 S&H and then charged 69.95 as well. Disputed, but they rebilled my account but would post no more charges. Figured hard lesson learned and paid it. Since, due to my negligence in not looking over the statement, IWB has consistently billed me 29.95 monthly since that encounter with Grant University. I don't know who IWB is. I never subscribed to this. I have called the numbers to no avail. This needs stopped. After seeing all the complaints with the same thing happening, why is this company still scamming? I am just speechless.
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