Grant-Related Scams

Immediately report the fraud to your bank and the FTC to see what, if any, recovery options are available, but be aware that full recovery is rare. Fraud.org is a project of the National Consumers League (NCL), a nonprofit advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. This webpage contains tips for avoiding scams related to so-called “government grants.” Learn more about protecting yourself against scammers and ID thieves and about other common types of scams. Finally, get more resources on identifying phishing, fraud, and other scams, and how to report suspicious activity to Fidelity.

Reporting Grant Scams

USGrants.org is an established government funding resource portal focused on providing legitimate information, resource, and help on government grants and federal funding. From year 2000 to date, USGrants.org has become one of the largest and legitimate go-to resources for information on government grants. The federal government has a page with information on how the government grant programs work and information on scams. You can also search for federal government grants on their site.

• These scammers had just lifted the photo directly from the website of the Department of Defense.
• The good news is that you can take steps to protect yourself and your money—primarily by staying vigilant against suspicious texts and other vehicles for fraud.
• In 2024, consumers reported losses of $12.5 billion to fraud, a 25% increase over the previous year.
• Using a well-known listing service or database, such as GrantWatch, is an excellent place to start.
• When it comes to text-based scams, not engaging can be your most powerful line of defense.

In addition, our linking to these sites are solely for the convenience of the user and do not constitute an endorsement of any products or services. While text-based fraud has been seeing an uptick, it certainly isn’t the only avenue fraudsters are employing and won’t be the last. Stay vigilant in your online and offline life, and remember that if a communication seems fishy, it probably is. Report fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement of federal funds involving SBA programs, operations, or personnel to the SBA OIG Hotline. Information collected through the Hotline helps keep the SBA OIG aware of risks and trends that affect the SBA’s programs.

Did They Notify You via Social Media?

His victimizers were people who he believed to be friends on the social media platform. Keep an eye on your friends and family members who may be less savvy on Facebook, Instagram and other social media. It isn’t just the elderly that can fall victim to these scams, but also desperate people hoping for such a windfall to answer their prayers. Young people are also susceptible to get-rich-quick schemes.

Report It

• Pitt recommends starting with the FBI’s complaint center, listed above.
• In a traditional brushing scam, online vendors send merchandise to an unsolicited recipient and then use the recipient’s information to post a positive review of the product.
• For more information see the Office of Inspector General’s page on protecting yourself from scams and fraud.
• You can also search for federal government grants on their site.

A charge of a few dollars may indicate that a crook is testing the card or account number. Watch out for crooks who are trying to capitalize on current events to pull off a swindle. Following a natural disaster, for example, be on high alert for scams. The team at GrantWatch has put together a checklist to follow to help when determining the legitimacy of a grant. By doing so you will generate awareness and help others not to trust the information on this website.

Fraud.org – Government Grants

They simply published their videos to lure more victims. While I was busy exploring and reporting the fraudulent page of Agent Thomas George, Fake Shirley was continuing to message me. She wanted to get my application on file by the end of the day. Before I could respond, Fake Shirley sends me the link to Agent Thomas George, the government agent she says will process my grant.

Unfortunately, grant dollars are susceptible to fraud, waste, and abuse. Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger’s advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. However, be suspicious if you’re asked to send money through nontraditional payment methods. “Check fraud has grant scam and fraud alerts increased significantly in the past couple of years,” says Benda.

Did They Ask You to Pay a Fee?

Is it a well-known, established foundation or business? Is it a government grant coming from a federal, state or local agency? If the funding source is not familiar, spend some time researching them to verify that the entity is reputable. You should find the company listed on the IRS website using the ‘search by organization name’ option. Once you locate their details, you should proceed to reach out to them and confirm that you are corresponding with the correct organization.

GrantStation Staff

Abu Dhabi Police continuously warn the public against opening suspicious electronic links, stressing that they may lead to fraud and theft of personal or financial data. Recipients of federal grants have been awarded funds to carry out the goals and objectives identified in the grant. These funds are subject to certain regulations, oversight, and audit. If you believe the text message may be legitimate, contact the company through an official channel and explain the communication you just received. Do not respond to the suspicious text message, click on any of its links, or call the phone number in the text.

So you set to work to get your application, filled with all your personal information, immediately filed. Applying for a real federal grant is nothing like the simple call from a scammer. The process is complex, detailed, and highly competitive. Students facing high tuition costs are vulnerable to scams promising “guaranteed” scholarships or financial aid.

Additionally, avoid those who guarantee you will receive the grant being sought. Just applying for a grant NEVER guarantees you will win the grant. Once submitted, your proposal still needs to undergo a review by the funding source, in what is often a highly competitive process. The government does not award grants based on a drawing or raffle; an individual or entity must first apply for the grant through a federal website, like Grants.gov.