How to spot government grant scams
The warning signs of fake grant offers and fee scams, and where to check whether a program is real.
Real government funding is applied for, competitive and free to apply for. Scams turn that around: the money comes looking for you, and there is a fee to get it.
Warning signs
- You were contacted out of the blue by phone, text, email or social media to say you qualify for a grant you never applied for.
- There is a fee to release, process or "guarantee" the grant, often requested by gift card, wire transfer or cryptocurrency.
- They want your bank or ID details to "deposit" the money.
- The name sounds official but does not match a real agency, or the message comes from a personal email address.
- Someone promises you will win. Nobody honest can guarantee a competitive grant.
How to check
- Find the program yourself on an official government website rather than following a link in a message.
- In the US, federal grant opportunities are listed on Grants.gov, and registration in SAM.gov is free.
- In Canada, start from canada.ca or Innovation Canada's finder.
- Every program on GrantSift links to its official page so you can verify it at the source.
If you paid or shared details
Contact your bank straight away, and report it: in the US to the Federal Trade Commission, and in Canada to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Paying for genuine help, such as a writer you choose who charges a clear fee, is different from paying to "unlock" a grant. Even then, nobody should charge you to submit through an official portal for you as if that were a requirement. Applying is free.