How do I avoid grant scams?

Warning signs

• A fee, deposit, or gift card needed to release your award
• A message about a grant you never applied for
• A guarantee that you will be approved
• Pressure to act within hours
• A request for your bank login, full identity documents, or remote access to your computer
• An organization you cannot find anywhere except in the message

How real programs behave

• They publish eligibility rules and a deadline you can read
• They never charge you to apply for public funding
• They name the office or foundation behind the money
• They tell you what reporting you owe after an award

If you already paid

• Contact your bank or card company right away and ask about a reversal.
• Stop all contact with the sender and keep every message.
• Change passwords for any account you shared.
• Report it to your state consumer protection office and the federal consumer complaint system.

Common questions

How do I avoid grant scams?

The simplest rule: you never pay a fee to receive grant money. Real programs have a written purpose, written eligibility rules, a deadline, and a free application page. Scams promise money with no rules, contact you out of nowhere, guarantee approval, and ask for a payment or your bank details.