888-261-4837

I received a call from this number (888-261-4837), but no one left a message.  I called the number back and got a voice mail message that stated that I should leave a message for Susie, ext. 103 at USA grant line application.

ALL GRANT OFFERS ARE SCAMS

from consumeraffairs.com
Government Grant Scams
The "free money" scam has been around almost as long as the human species.
It has more variations than a bulldog has wrinkles but you can count on one thing: the government (any government) does not simply give money away to individuals. Anyone who tells you differently has larceny in his heart.
If you give him your bank account number, he will soon have your funds in his pocket.
It does no good to list all of the names used by these bunko artists because a.) they change all the time and b.) every single free-money government-grant offer is a scam. Period.
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2009/03/grant_scam_ads.html
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/scam_alerts/grant.html
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2009/03/ftc_stimulus_scam.html

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION WEBSITE      
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt134.shtm

‘Free Government Grants’: Don’t Take Them For Grant-ed
“Because you pay your income taxes on time, you have been awarded a free $12,500 government grant! To get your grant, simply give us your checking account information, and we will direct-deposit the grant into your bank account!”
Sometimes, it’s an ad that claims you will qualify to receive a “free grant” to pay for education costs, home repairs, home business expenses, or unpaid bills. Other times, it’s a phone call supposedly from a “government” agency or some other organization with an official sounding name. In either case, the claim is the same: your application for a grant is guaranteed to be accepted, and you’ll never have to pay the money back.
But the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, says that “money for nothing” grant offers usually are scams, whether you see them in your local paper or a national magazine, or hear about them on the phone.
Some scam artists advertise “free grants” in the classifieds, inviting readers to call a toll-free number for more information. Others are more bold: they call you out of the blue. They lie about where they’re calling from, or they claim legitimacy using an official-sounding name like the “Federal Grants Administration.” They may ask you some basic questions to determine if you “qualify” to receive a grant. FTC attorneys say calls and come-ons for free money invariably are rip offs.
Grant scammers generally follow a script: they congratulate you on your eligibility, then ask for your checking account information so they can “deposit your grant directly into your account,” or cover a one-time “processing fee.” The caller may even reassure you that you can get a refund if you’re not satisfied. In fact, you’ll never see the grant they promise; they will disappear with your money.
The FTC says following a few basic rules can keep consumers from losing money to these “government grant” scams:
    Don’t give out your bank account information to anyone you don’t know. Scammers pressure people to divulge their bank account information so that they can steal the money in the account. Always keep your bank account information confidential. Don’t share it unless you are familiar with the company and know why the information is necessary.
    Don’t pay any money for a “free” government grant. If you have to pay money to claim a “free” government grant, it isn’t really free. A real government agency won’t ask you to pay a processing fee for a grant that you have already been awarded — or to pay for a list of grant-making institutions. The names of agencies and foundations that award grants are available for free at any public library or on the Internet. The only official access point for all federal grant-making agencies is www.grants.gov.
    Look-alikes aren’t the real thing. Just because the caller says he’s from the “Federal Grants Administration” doesn’t mean that he is. There is no such government agency. Take a moment to check the blue pages in your telephone directory to bear out your hunch — or not.
    Phone numbers can deceive. Some con artists use Internet technology to disguise their area code in caller ID systems. Although it may look like they’re calling from Washington, DC, they could be calling from anywhere in the world.
    Take control of the calls you receive. If you want to reduce the number of telemarketing calls you receive, place your telephone number on the National Do Not Call Registry. To register online, visit www.donotcall.gov. To register by phone, call 1-888-382-1222 (TTY: 1-866-290-4236) from the phone number you wish to register.
    File a complaint with the FTC. If you think you may have been a victim of a government grant scam, file a complaint with the FTC online at www.ftc.gov, or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
September 2006


Feds: Scammers Falsely "Guaranteed" Government Grants
Court halts operators' deceptive pitches for grant writing book and services






By James Limbach
ConsumerAffairs.com
July 24, 2009

A federal judge has stopped an operation from falsely claiming that it could help consumers secure a "$25,000 Grant" -- guaranteed -- from the U.S. government.
The case is part of a Federal Trade Commission crackdown on scammers trying to capitalize on the economic downturn by targeting people facing financial hardship.
In the complaint the FTC, jointly with the attorneys general of Kansas, Minnesota, and North Carolina, charged that Grant Writers Institute, LLC and its related entities (together, GWI) falsely told consumers that they were eligible for grants as part of the recently announced economic stimulus package .
According to the complaint, the false and deceptive claims by GWI violate federal law, state consumer protection laws, and the FTC's Telemarketing Sales Rule. The complaint seeks a court order permanently stopping the defendants' illegal conduct and forcing them to return money to consumers injured by the scheme.
"Stamping out grant fraud and other types of schemes that take advantage of consumers in dire financial shape continues to be one of the Federal Trade Commission's highest priorities," said David Vladeck, Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection. "There is no such thing as a guaranteed grant. But to consumers in financial trouble, the chance for extra income -- guaranteed or otherwise -- can unfortunately be a huge draw."
The FTC says since at least 2007, GWI has mass mailed postcards to consumers across the country falsely claiming that the consumers "are Guaranteed a $25,000 Grant from the U.S. Government." Consumers who call the number are pitched a $59 book titled "Professional Grant Writer 'The Definitive Guide to Grant Writing Success.'"
The company's telemarketers falsely claim that the book will explain how to get government grants  -- including the "guaranteed" $25,000 grant. GWI and its North Carolina-based telemarketers, also named as defendants in the complaint, then call consumers who have bought the book, trying to get them to pay hundreds of dollars or more for grant research, writing, or coaching services, falsely claiming a 70 percent success rate in securing grant funding.
In reality, few, if any consumers ever receive any grant money.
The Commission contends that in addition to falsely claiming consumers were "guaranteed" to receive grants, GWI used the current government stimulus package to make its pitch. For example, when consumers called the number on the mass-mailed postcard, they heard a recording that said, "If you've been reading the papers you know that recently our government released $700 billion into the private sector. What you probably don't know is that there is another $300 billion that must be given away this year to people just like you."
The recording continues, "And if you're one of the lucky few who knows how to find and apply for these grants, you will receive a check for $25,000 or more, and we guarantee it . . . If you don't get a check for $25,000 or more, you pay nothing."
The following were named as defendants:
• Affiliate Strategies, Inc.;
• Landmark Publishing Group, LLC (d/b/a G.F. Institute and Grant Funding Institute);
• Grant Writers Institute, LLC;
• Answer Customers, LLC;
• Apex Holdings International, LLC;
• Brett Blackman, individually and as an officer, manager, and/or member of Affiliate Strategies, Inc., Landmark Publishing Group, LLC, Grant Writers Institute, LLC, Answer Customers, LLC, and Apex Holdings International, LLC;
• Jordan Sevy, individually and as a manager of Landmark Publishing Group, LLC;
• James Rulison, individually and as president of Answer Customers, LLC, all located in Kansas.
The complaint also names the following North Carolina entities as defendants:
• Real Estate Buyers Financial Network LLC (d/b/a Grant Writers Research Network);
• Martin Nossov, individually and as a manager and member of Real Estate Buyers Financial Network LLC; and
• Alicia Nossov, individually and as a manager and member of Real Estate Buyers Financial Network LLC.



Read more: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2009/07 ... l#ixzz0NENGCoRV

didn't pick up no message left

I signed up for this under the impression it was a one time cost. i have not gotten a call from them however, their site as also produced nada and have just realized that there are monthly charges on my card. i am disputing them and have sent several emails asking for cancellation.
hope i can fix this. kris

I applied for the grant payed $29.99 to register, I't seemed that they wanted more money, I called  my credit card company because I could not get my money. they conferenced the 888-261-4837 the woman said that I had to apply and get denied to get a refund. I cant find the website,I'm out $29.99. I do not mean to be gullable but I don't think the government would allow this. I'm out the money but I hope somebody will be smarter then me.

Here is the website :) www.newusafunding.com . I almost took the bait thanks to the Posters

My husband found a similar one while looking into home repair loans (maybe the same one?), put basic info in but we decided to wait till payday when we encountered to 29.99 "registration fee". But he still got a missed call and a voicemail from a 1(888)261-4837. He was excited they gave him a call but the circumstances set off a red flag in my mind and I decided to do some research. I thank you for putting your feedback up, it helped us from spending money we don't have :-(

I try to get some information of how to get a government loan to paid some debts and charged me $29.99 and I not get any helps at all I'm want at least my money back ask soon possible  I ask for help not for them to make me have more debt iI someOne can help please thank you very much.my phone it 860-[removed].

This thread had a brief spurt of action in 2009 Q3 and went mostly dormant, yet the few victim stories all cite a thirty dollar fee upfront. Some things never change.

It should go without saying that you were not getting a loan but the shaft, and you should be far more careful in how you shop for financial services. I would guess that you paid in a manner which makes a refund somewhere between difficult and impossible, such as wire transfer, a temp swipe card, or the new favorite, an iTunes card. If you gave the crooks the keys to your credit or bank account, you should have a chat with your banker before you're bled dry.

It is very unwise to expose your own phone number where yet more criminals might see it and use it to exploit you. I've asked for a redaction from Admin.

The whole point of obtaining a loan is that you accept money because you're broke and the lender is not. Americans do not pay money as a condition of borrowing. An up-front fee is illegal, no matter if it's called "good faith payment" or a "processing charge" or an "origination fee" or whatever excuse. You might also be targeted later by more criminals who accuse you of not repaying a loan, even if you never accepted one.

Here's the Federal Trade Commission alert on this issue:
Six Sure Signs of an Advance-Fee Loan Scam

Scam want money for Grant

Please tell me how to fill the formats from Ethiopia. For free funding.

How to instantly recognize a scam call:

• When the caller asks you to pay with a GiftCard or insists on money being wired to them
• A caller says they have received a notice or alert from your computer and want to fix it
• A caller or message that says you have a Grant and only need to pay some fees to get it
• If a caller or message says they have important documents that you must sign for to avoid legal issues
• If a caller or message that says they are a Gov. Agency and ask you to pay to avoid prosecution or stop a Warrant for your Arrest
• The caller avoids answering any questions on who they are or company they work for
• Anyone who asks for personal information that won't validate who they are or why you should give it
• Anyone who insists on asking for a Donation, but wont give you any verifiable information they are from a known Charity
• Anyone who calls and says you won something, but only need to pay a tax or fee to receive it

Always ASK questions if you intend on answering an unknown call. Most scammers will hangup, rather than give you any information on who they are, some will lie and try to continue by fast talking you with an accent. Insist on getting the information until you are certain of whom you are talking to before revealing any personal information or agreeing on anything they are presenting to you. Telemarketers/scammers will generally only give you the least amount of information necessary to win your confidence and try to go right back into their 'speech' on what they called about.
This is a good time for those who want to waste the callers time, by waiting until they finished their speech, then ask a question about them or play dumb, be calm and let them do all the talking.

Anyone who is rude, obnoxious or vulgar should be hung up on immediately, because nobody who acts that way is trustworthy. Unless you want to have a go at them for fun.

If you get a guy named by the name Juan he's a [***] as freak that you don't want to trust whatsoever

I did not answer the call, yet they had left a 5 sec. voicemail.

Asked for my visa card numbee

I no longer want or need any help getting a loan I want you to stop taking my money because I don't even use or understand what you are selling