Who: The FTC tracks government grant and imposter scams.
When to use: Use when someone claimed you won a grant but asked for money first.
What to prepare:
- How they contacted you
- What they promised
- Amount they asked for
FTC ReportFraud~5 min
Category: Impersonation
Government grant scam
How it often plays out
You get a call or message saying you qualify for a federal grant and need to pay a "processing fee" or "tax" to receive it. Real government grants do not require you to pay upfront fees to receive money. Grants are applied for through official programs; no legitimate agency will call or message out of the blue to say you have been "approved" and only need to pay a fee to get the funds. Anyone who does that is a scammer.
How to spot it
Common red flags: pressure to act immediately, requests for payment by gift card or wire, offers that seem too good to be true, or unsolicited requests for your personal or financial details.
Do's and don'ts
Do
- Save the phone number, email, or message.
- Apply for grants only through official programs (Grants.gov, etc.).
- Report to the FTC and IC3 if you lost money.
Don't
- Pay any "fee" or give bank account details to receive a grant.
- Believe unsolicited calls or messages that you have been "approved" for a grant.
- Send money to "release" or "process" grant funds.
Summary & what to do
Scammers claim you have been approved for a government grant and ask for a fee or your bank details to "release" the funds. Real grants do not work that way.
What to do right now
- Do not pay any "fee" or give bank account details. No real grant requires upfront payment to receive funds.
- Save the phone number, email, or message. Grants are applied for through official programs, not unsolicited calls.
- Report to the FTC.
Where to report
Who: The FBI's IC3 handles internet-related grant fraud.
When to use: Use when the scam was online and you lost money.
What to prepare:
- Emails or website
- Amount lost
Go to IC3~10 min
Build your knowledge: Recommended reading — books & free websites on financial literacy and fraud awareness