What is the real story about these government grants?

I am sorry that you fell for a scam.

The Government NEVER calls anyone to tell them that there are grants available. Nor do they charge anything for grants. Stay away from companies that tell you that there are grants available for any purpose that you can think of, that there are free money available because that is absolutely FALSE.

The government is NOT in the business of giving away free money for the sake of giving away money. There are no grants for paying bills, for getting out of debt or for buying a car. Grants are free, but it means OBLIGATION. You will be obligated to do as the grant sets out to do. Grants have objectives, and your purpose must fit the objective of the grant.

For one, you have to write the grant application and the grant application is not a simple document - you have to explain how your purpose for applying for the grant fits well with the objectives set out by the grant.

There is a stringent review process through a committee. You will compete with other applicants for the grant money, and this grant review committee will evaluate the merits of each proposal. Only those that they feel exemplifies the objective of the grant will be approved.

Nonetheless, 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 your purposes.

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.

Note though that these grants generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments. 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. Individuals especially for personal purposes are not eligible for federal grants.

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

What grants? Did you apply to any government dept for a grant?

If you did, why do these companies need your account number at all, if they were real they'd send YOU a check not ask you to pay them.

Your name, phone number and bank account details are being sold around scammers lists, and you are being described as an easy mark. Having fallen for this once, don't get caught again. Wise up.

Change your phone number, even if you have to pay.

Change your bank account so they can't take any more money.

Stop telling complete strangers your name, bank account number or any other personal details.

Now take the bank statements to the police and trading standards and see if they can get you any of your money back.

And remember - there are no government grants. If there were, you'd apply to the relevant government department, and they would send you a check. You would never have to pay.

sarah c sumed it up well. These scams are all over the news all the time. Will people ever learn. If anyone contacts you asking for personal of financial information, you can bet its a scam. Anyone with a legitimate reason to ask for that type of information will never call or e-mail you. They will send a written request are show up with a warrant. If they contact you by mail, verify the request though an address on phone # obtained from another source.

it sound like you have been taken and that was a scam if i was you then i would close that checking account as soon as possible so they can't get any more of your money. Then open up a new account but don't give anyone your information again consider this a lesson learn.

a hundred% rip-off. a million) the government does not supply out provides for those motives. 2) in the event that they did, they does not cost a value. 3) the government does not use Western Union. Western Union money are no longer reversible. as quickly as you deliver the money, it rather is long gone.

What are these grants for? Stop applying for them and don't give out your personal banking information.

It's a complete scam. You will never see your check and you keep handing them money. Don't do it anymore.

what makes you think it's ever a good idea to give you banking info to anyone over the phone that is contacting you. ~~~

sounds like a scam