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03/10/2026
How to avoid government grant scams that offer free money for personal expenses
FTC
Scammers make up all kinds of bogus stories to steal your personal information, or your money. Some go negative and make up a problem that doesn’t really exist. Others try a positive spin and say you won something, like free money made available through a government grant or program. How do you know if these promises are legit — or a scam?
Here are five common signs of a fake government grant scam:
- Scammers contact you out of the blue (by phone, email, text message, or social media) and say you qualify for free money from the government.
- Scammers claim you can use government grant money for personal needs, like paying bills, education expenses, home repairs, or paying off debts.
- Scammers ask for your personal information — like your Social Security number — to see if you qualify for a government grant.
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