Grants.gov is committed to protecting our users’ information and serving people and organizations who apply for federal grant funding through our site.
Here are five things you need to know about Grants.gov to avoid being the victim of a scam:
Continue reading 5 Tips to Help Grants.gov Users Avoid Scams
When you receive an unprompted call or email that promises money in exchange for a fee or your personal information, do not give the scammer your money or information.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently published a helpful resource, and we wanted to share three facts that will help you avoid becoming a grant scam victim:
“You are eligible for FREE grants! Just fill out this quick application: First & Last Name, Home Address, Birthdate, Social Security Number (SSN), and Bank Account & Routing Numbers to receive the grant” — that is a grant scam.
You answer a phone call: “Hi, this is Greg McCaffrey from the Federal Bureau of Grant Awards. Based on your tax records, you qualify for a federal grant of $5,300. You just have to pay the service fee of $125 via wire transfer” — that is a grant scam.
Unfortunately, a lot of people attempt to scam us out of our hard-earned money, and they often use the guise of government grants. The specific tactics, questions, and circumstances scam artists use will continue to change, so we have to remain aware and cautious. How do we avoid being a victim of a scam?
Know this: the Federal Government will never call you and promise you a grant in exchange for any form of payment, whether it’s a gift card, a small monthly payment, or a one-time fee.
Look out for scam artists who call and pose as government employees – including people who claim to work for Grants.gov.
Some may even use a fake Facebook page in an attempt to convince you that they are legitimate. They are not legitimate; don’t give them your money.
Unfortunately, there are people out there who try to take advantage of those who are looking for government grants or benefits. At Grants.gov, we often receive questions about suspected grant fraud in blog comments, on Twitter @grantsdotgov, and at the Grants.gov support center.
Here are two of the most common types of questions you have asked:
“I received a call from your General Manager for Grants saying that I’m eligible for a grant, but I need to pay before it’s transferred. Is this real or a scam?”
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