Government Grant Funding – Is it a Scam?

Growing concerns about money are not just for those who have big companies, with the threat of going bust. it’s people like you and me that are in a financial spiral, that seems to be just going down and down. Forget the stories about the big three for the moment. – money.cnn.com/2008/12/12/news/companies/auto_future/index.htm

There seems to be help on the horizon, for you and me! But wait… Is this help genuine? Is it free? There are website popping up everywhere, guaranteeing financial freedom, with the offering of helping you to claim money from the government. Be it for a business kick start, or to bail you out from a pending foreclosure on your home. – secure.americanfinancialresources.net/

You have to ask yourself a few questions before even applying for one of these so called grants on a website. Is it free money? Is the service free? Do I read the small print and understand it? Is it a scam? Once you have fully answered these questions, you will notice it all pointing in one direction. One that most definitely points to a massive scam! There have been literally hundreds of complaints about this particular service. With consumer watchdogs starting to clamp down on these so called companies that offer the ‘Free Government Money’ service. What we have to remember when dealing on the internet, if the words ‘Free’ and ‘Money’ are used in the same sentence as, “Can I have your bank details?” Then the likeliness of you being ripped off is extremely high. Especially if you have a genuine reason/claim to government money. You may see that the funds you have received, disappear quicker than you claimed them! – www.consumeraffairs.com/scam_alerts/grant.html

It seems that nowhere is safe from this scam to. from junk mail in your letterbox, website offers, to unsolicited telephone calls from agents that promise you money in the thousands. If it seems to good to be true. Then it is. The price you pay will, almost guaranteed be more than the small fee that a particular website is asking for. Also ask yourself a question… is it both good business practice and ethical to be asking people for $50 upfront, just for information? The answer is most definitely no! These companies offer you information for a nominal fee are now perceived by the mainstream as scams. This is my opinion also. Just why would a reputable company ask you for money upfront if you are already in financial difficulties? My answer to that would be, because they prey on easy targets. Such as people desperate for money and will do anything to get out of debt.

Most of these companies are offering you software tools, that allow you access to information about government grants. How to claim them, and where to claim them. You can find a lot of this information for free. If you spend some time searching it out yourself on search sites like google. There has also been some pressure on certain companies offering you the software for a fee. Resulting in them actually releasing programs as free downloads. Which is commendable on there part. But there is still the issue of fee’s charged for services. This you may not be able to escape, should you go down the path of applying for a grant through a company. They will charge you for administration, handling and time. This is seen as acceptable as good business practice, as long as the fee’s are kept affordable, and only at the end of a successful application. These companies should not allow you to go through the process of a claim, if they are aware you are not going to be successful. You can get some good information on free software programs and how to’s, especially in one publication presented today. – www.governmentgrantlist.org/reviews/

My opinion:

If you are going to apply for a government grant, please be aware of the pitfalls out there on the internet. You should avoid sites that offer up information and software for a fee. Research the companies you may wish to use. Find out as much information about your eligibility as you can for yourself, before you approach any company. You will quickly assess if you can or cannot apply for a grant. Please don’t let yourself be scammed. There are to many people out there looking to line there pockets without helping you. There are many victims of scams everyday. Many of these government grant scams, are just as common as the lotto scams, or Nigerian bank employee letter scams. It is in your interest to be vigilant, and not drop everything because you may be desperate. Things may be bad right now, you don’t want things to get worse by making a purchase from an unreliable source or scam website.

Hopefully with the right information to hand, and a sharp mind, you will soon find yourself back on the road to financial recovery. Please remember, not to rely only on the hope of a successful grant application only. If you are without a job, keep trying to gain employment. Avoid anything that could lead you into more debt, like loans. And always seek good debt advice… there are people out there that genuinely can, and will help you. – www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre38.shtm

Importantly, you must keep calm. If you panic, you will not be able to think straight. I know it is not easy. If you feel stressed to the point you cannot think, then you must talk to someone. Do not stay in the dark, do not risk your health. Remember you are not alone with what is going on. Millions are seeking help with debt, and are on there way to recovery. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel.

Sources: Federal Trade Commission, Government Grant List, CNN News and Money Network, Consumer Affairs (USA).