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.
Bess of League City TX (03/24/09) I, like so many others, requested information about government grants and in order to get this information they needed my credit card number for shipping and handling of 2.78. As a result, my number was farmed out to ID Theft, Legal Net and Grant Connect, charging me with additional charges on my credit card each month. By the time I got my statement and realized what was going on and called them, they had charged me with another month.
My account was charged for 78.58 and additional charges have been added for March. I didn't realize what was going on until I got my Feb. credit card statement. I 71 years old, still am able to work and lost my job in November, and was hoping to find some assistance. Just got more grief.
Danielle of East Haven, CT March 23, 2009
Danielle of East Haven CT (03/23/09) I ordered a cd for 1.99 and this company begun withdrawing money from my bank account without my consent or authorization. I never saw any information they said that I authorized. I ordered a grant cd for 1.99 and then began seeing charges on my account. I called the company thinking it was an error. Two days later calling it picks up and hangs up the phone after being on hold. The email they send out states written notice within seven days will be the only way to cancel these charges.
How can you submit a written notice first of all that you didn't know about and secondly, if I did know seven days is completely unreasonable to expect to have a company receive and process a written letter IT IS A SCAM I received an email response on March 19th with a cancellation confirmation but the company continues to take money out of my bank account and states they can not give any money back per their policy of seven days. I told them I was not informed of this policy and they said it was my problem.
The result is a major loss of money that I can not get back according to the email even though it was stolen from my account by this company. In researching online this company has a laundry list of people whom have been scammed. I wish I researched it more but given the fact I am struggling in this economy I thought the CD would help me but now things are so much worse and I am out almost two hundred dollars.
Curtis of Hollister, CA March 22, 2009
Curtis of Hollister CA (03/22/09) I purchased a cd for 1.95 from a link on FACEBOOK. The one time charge of 1.95 was to deliver me a cd with info on govt grants. The bank statement was 2.97 to MYGRANTDOLLARS on 2/9/09
on my next statement I was charges 59.08 to MYGRANTDOLLARS 2/17/09 and again on 3/12/09 to GOV GRANTS FOR ME. I DID NOT AUTHORIZE THESE PAYMENTS AND THE TOLL FREE NUMBERS DONT WORK
Jacqueline of New Kensington, PA March 21, 2009
Jacqueline of New Kensington PA (03/21/09) I applied for a government grant to pay off some bills. I never received any grant money, it was a scam, money from my checking account was takenw ithout my permission
Sandra of Tumwater, WA March 20, 2009
Sandra of Tumwater WA (03/20/09) Applied for grant info and was charged 58.61 and this is a scam.
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