Grant Scams Promise Relief, Lead to More Headaches

Burnsville, Minnesota – April 9, 2014– Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) is warning the public about grant scams. Recently BBB received a report from a consumer who stated they were contacted by The Washington D.C. Grant Department about being approved for a $7,000 grant. Contacts like this are not uncommon and such notices are usually accompanied by requests to pay processing fees. BBB reminds people that federal grants are not issued for personal use, but are intended for institutions and non-profits to carry out projects with a public purpose.

“This is a scam that regrettably never goes out of vogue,” said Dana Badgerow, president and CEO of BBB of Minnesota and North Dakota. “And the people who carry it out are good at what they do; they know what to say and how to say it, which is why everyone needs to be careful.”

Usually these grant “notifications” come via the phone, but people may also receive them through mail and email. These notices usually claim to be from the Federal Grants Administration or some other phony - though official-sounding agency. Individuals who receive them are told they’re either eligible for or have been awarded a government grant.

Once the grant has been dangled in front of the unlucky recipients, they’re usually told they need to pay processing fees. In some cases, these fees are requested via prepaid debit cards; in others, people are asked to provide banking or credit card information. However, there are no processing fees for federal grants. Furthermore, no government agency will make phone calls; send email or letters to solicit money or personal banking information from a potential grant recipient.  

To avoid falling for a grant scam, you should:

·         Never pay for a "free" government grant. If you have to pay money to claim anything that’s "free," it isn't free – or, very likely, legitimate.

·         Keep in mind that no government grant-making agency will make phone calls; send email or letters to solicit money or personal banking information from a potential grant recipient.  

·         Be aware there are no processing fees for federal grants.

·         Watch out for communications from official-sounding government agencies – such as the Federal Grant Administration – which don’t exist.

·         Visit grants.gov to obtain information on federal grants and applications.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says following a few additional rules can keep consumers from losing money to these "government grant" scams:

Never 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 funds. Always keep your bank account information confidential.

Be aware a real government agency won't ask you 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 official access point for all federal grant-making agencies is grants.gov.

Remember that 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 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, 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.

If you have provided personal banking information to anyone claiming to be associated with a federal grant agency, call your bank immediately to prevent unauthorized access to your account.

For free Business Reviews, the latest consumer news and tips you can trust, visit bbb.org.

DNR encourages homeowners to complete necessary open burning

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources encourages homeowners to complete necessary open burning now, as restrictions will take effect shortly after snowmelt occurs.

“Warm temperatures will continue to erode the snowpack in the next few weeks,” said Larry Himanga, DNR fire prevention coordinator. “This will expose last year’s leaves and other yard waste.
The safest way to dispose of this vegetation is to recycle or compost it.”
Homeowners who choose to burn should do so under the safest conditions, when snow is still on the ground. A DNR burning permit is not required when there are at least 3 inches of continuous snow cover. The cover drastically reduces the chance a fire will escape and burn unintended areas. Check local city and municipal regulations; many are more stringent.

Spring fire restrictions will soon take effect and will severely limit open burning until summer green up occurs. Traditionally, most wildfires occur in April and May. More than 95 percent of these fires are caused by human error. Due to the high fire incidence during this period, the DNR initiates burning restrictions to coincide with this annual "fire season."

The restrictions are weather dependent, but normally last from four to six weeks until there is sufficient green vegetative growth. Historically, spring fire restrictions dramatically decrease the number and size of accidental fires.

By burning prior to snowmelt, homeowners can reduce the potential for an escaped fire, which could endanger homes and property. And, if the DNR or a fire department has to respond to an escaped fire, the homeowner is responsible for the cost.

Bear hunt applications available; deadline is Friday, May 2

Applications for Minnesota bear hunting licenses are being accepted now through Friday, May 2, at any Minnesota Department of Natural Resources license agent, online at www.mndnr.gov/buyalicense and by telephone at 888-665-4236.

A total of 3,750 licenses are available in 11 permit areas, the same number of licenses available last year. Bear licenses cost $44 for residents and $250 for nonresidents. The season opens Monday, Sept. 1, and closes Sunday, Oct. 12.

Notification to successful lottery winners will be made in mid- to late May. The deadline to purchase licenses awarded by lottery will be Thursday, Aug. 1. Any remaining unpurchased licenses will be available to those eligible starting at noon on Wednesday, Aug. 6.

An unlimited number of bear licenses will be sold over-the-counter for no-quota areas in east-central and far northwestern Minnesota. No-quota licenses are valid only in a no-quota area. Hunters with a no-quota license can harvest one bear.

By offering the same number of licenses as last year, the DNR continues to work toward its goal of gradually increasing Minnesota’s bear population. The state’s bear population was estimated at 17,000 in 2008. Trends since then suggest that today’s population is 10,000-15,000. Reducing the number of bear licenses results in hunters harvesting fewer bears, allowing the population to gradually increase.

Complete information on the fall bear hunt is available on the DNR website at www.mndnr.gov/hunting/bear.