What are “Free Grants”?
“Free grants” are advertisements or offers that promise government money upon application. Usually, they guarantee that your application will be accepted. They may also claim that the money does not have to be repaid. These grants are usually offered for: • Home businesses • Education • Home repairs • Unpaid bills The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has warned that these “grants” are scams. The “free grant” is not free, your acceptance is not guaranteed, and the “free grant” may not even be available to you. How Does a Typical Scam Look Like? Many “free grants” will appear in classified ads. If you happen to run across such an ad and call its toll-free number, you may be asked a series of questions to determine your “eligibility.” These questions may not be used for anything at all but to give you a sense of the company’s legitimacy. The telephone representative may then ask you to pay a “processing fee.” The representative may tell you that your grant is guaranteed and that a refund is
