There is a registered number 179-721 printed on the envelope. They want $25 sent to them to receive the grant. I did not apply for a grant, but hope it is for real, as I really could use some financial help. I do know there are many scam artists out there who take advantage of people in need. When I called the BBB, they had a listing of this company with a different P.O. Box and no working phone number. I could not find any information on this company with this address. Has anyone had any positive or negative dealings with this company?
Personal Finance - 3 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
This is almost certainly a scam. This website seems to think the same. But I don't know if this website is legit.
2 :
If you need financial help drop me a line. You don't have to send me $25.00 You need to apply for a Grant to get one. Just like you need to buy a Lottery Ticket to win. I suggest you to see the films "Matchstick Men" and "Criminal"
3 :
DEFINITELY A SCAM. It is hard to find grants to start a business or for personal purposes. Government is simply not handing out money to anyone because it feels like it. Unlike the myths that some perpetuate, federal government and even private foundations hardly give grant money for a for-profit business or for personal purposes. I hope that you did not give your bank details. Also, government grant information is FREE. You can go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) http://www.cfda.gov and Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov - these are two sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and information on grants. Browse through the listings and see if you can find any grant that would support a for-profit venture. Even if you buy books on "how to get grants" or list that supposedly has information on grants -- all of them are mere rehash of what CFDA has, albeit packaged differently. But still the info is the same - hardly any grants for starting a for profit business. Most of the federal grants are given to specific target groups with specific requirements (e.g. minority business owners involved in transportation related contracts emanating from DOT - Grant#20.905 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Short Term Lending Program Grants are also often given to non profit groups or organizations involved in training or other similar activities (grant 59.043 Women's Business Ownership Assistance that are given to those who will create women's business center that will train women entrepreneurs For private grants, you may want to check the Foundation Center's Foundation Grants for Individuals Online. It's a subscription based website ($9.95 per month) but their opening blurb only says that the database is ideal for "students, artists, academic researchers, libraries and financial aid offices." Entrepreneurs are apparently not one of them, so I take it they also don't have listings of private foundations who give grants to would-be entrepreneurs.
