GRANTS.GOV - GRANT OPPORTUNITIES Grant Opportunities This company attempted to rip me off Roslyn Heights, New York

One day I checked my mail and discovered a letter sent in my name from a company acting to be Grants.gov. 

The letter stated that a grant was approved for me in the amount of $40,000.00. They had sent a check along with this approval letter for the sum of $3,670.00.

They said that the check was from one of their sponsors and that I was to use the money to pay for Federal and State processing fees. I called Grant Opportunities at the customer service number that was listed on this letter. I talked to a man, who said all I had to do is deposit the check, wait for it to clear, pay the processing fees which was $3200, and I was to Western Union it to their Process Department which is in Greenville, SC 29601 to a woman (supposed Tax Agent) named Tracy Hillman.

Fortunately for me I have a pretty good bank. I checked my account because they told me there would be a five business day hold on the check until it cleared. I happened to check my account to see my balance over the weekend and discovered on my statement that the check was a counterfeit. I was nervous because I thought my bank was going to try and have me arrested. I immediately called the bank the first business day they were open and they explained to me that things like this happen all the time and as long as this was not a reaccurring thing going on with my account that there would be nothing done to me. WHEW!!!

The reason I am posting this is because I have read a very similar report that happened about a year ago with this same scam from these people using the name Grant Opportunitis and acting like they are affiliated with Grants.gov

I called Grants.gov after visiting there website and getting the real number and they opened up a case for me. I gave them all the information I had and got my case number. They also gave me another email adrres to file a complaint and this is probably the third one i have filed and I will continue to find as many sites to report this scam to. 

One thing I learned about grants is that there are NEVER any processing fees. Also in order to receive approval for a grant you would have had to fill out some sort of paperwork for the grant so if you do not recall every applying for a grant then its a scam. Last but not least I am learning about all these people signing up for these sites that only charge around $3 to access these different grants and what not...do not be fooled. These sites have hidden terms and conditions that will leave your head spinning. I have done research on the web and have found that there are sites you can find that are absolutely FREE to access grants.