| At some point in your life, you may receive a call, | | | | scam. |
| letter, or email from an organization claiming to | | | | - Government grants never require any sort of |
| represent the U.S. government and offering you a | | | | fee in order to apply for or receive the grant. |
| "free government grant." The person on the | | | | - You must file an application in order to apply for |
| other end of the line may then ask you for your | | | | a government grant. Grants are not simply |
| personal identifying information, including your | | | | awarded over the phone and are never |
| Social Security number, your date of birth, or | | | | guaranteed. |
| even your bank account number with the promise | | | | - Grants are awarded for specific purposes, |
| to deposit the grant directly into your account. | | | | usually to fund projects or provide services. They |
| Additionally, he or she may ask you to pay a | | | | are not awarded to individuals on the basis of |
| processing fee in order to receive the grant. | | | | being a "good taxpayer." |
| However, instead of receiving a grant, a person | | | | - Fraudulent individuals and organizations may try |
| instead is tricked out of money and personal | | | | to use official names to trick the individuals they |
| information. | | | | call. |
| These calls or emails promising free government | | | | - Information about government grants and other |
| grants are a type of telemarketing fraud. If you | | | | benefits is available for free. You should never |
| ever receive a call or a message of this type, it is | | | | have to pay for this information. |
| important to remember that: | | | | It is important to remember to never give out |
| - The government does not send unsolicited calls, | | | | personal identifying information over the phone |
| letters, or emails involving grants. If you receive | | | | and to report any case of suspected fraud. |
| an unexpected call about a grant, the call is a | | | | |