The Federal Trade Commission states that “money for nothing” grant offers usually are scams. Grant scammers generally follow a script. They congratulate you on your eligibility, then ask for your checking account information so they can “deposit your grant directly into your account,” or take money out to cover a one-time “processing fee.”

Important tips:

• Don’t give out your bank account information to anyone you don’t know: Scammers pressure people to divulge their bank account information so that they can steal the money in the account.
• Don’t pay any money for a “free” government grant: If you have to pay money to claim a “free” government grant, it isn’t really free.
• Phone numbers can deceive: Some con artists use Internet technology to disguise their area code in caller ID systems.
• Look-alikes aren’t the real thing: Just because the caller claims to represent the “Federal Grants Administration” doesn’t mean it is true. There is no such government agency.
• Take control of the calls you receive: If you want to reduce the number of telemarketing calls you receive, place your telephone number on the National Do Not Call Registry.