Grant and Stimulus scams in the news

List last updated: March 17th 2009

Fortunately some of the main stream media is also picking up on the large amount of scams that started to appear the moment the words 'stimulus package' were uttered. Here is a list of 'mainstream' media coverage of the grant scam explosion I found so far. I'll continue to update this list /post while I find more.

Beware: Stimulus Scams Abound (CNN, March 12th)

"The ink was no sooner dry on president Obama's signature on the stimulus package -- aka, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 -- than all sorts of bottom feeders began looking for ways to exploit the package to stimulate their own finances."

Don't get Taken by these Stimulus Scams (LA Times, March 5th)

"Want a personal piece of the $787-billion stimulus pie?

Don't look for it in online ads that promise individuals a share of the money. They're scams, warn the Federal Trade Commission and the Council of Better Business Bureaus, which have tracked several sites and Facebook ads that offer consumers thousands of dollars in stimulus grants."

Feds Demand Obama scam ads crackdown (The Register, March 5th):

"Fraudster ads and emails have mushroomed in recent weeks tempting debt-laden patsies with the quick fix of "free" stimulus grant money – all they need to do is provide personal information, download software, or provide a small down payment. It's a typical online scam at heart, but the ruse using Obama as bait has attracted special attention from the US Federal Trade Commission."

Associated Press Video (AP, March 5th)



Beware Sites Promising Big Government Stimulus Checks for a Fee (ABC News, March 2nd):

"[...] both the Federal Trade Commission and the Better Business Bureau are cautioning consumers about ads that promise easy access to government money, ads that they say have multiplied since passage of the economic stimulus package."

Facebook Removing Suspicious Stimulus Check Ads (The Industry Standard, February 9th)

"Facebook management has responded to users' complaints last week that the site was overrun with ads promising government checks from President Obama's proposed $800 billion stimulus program."

Why Facebook Needs to Kill the Obama Stimulus Check Ads (The Industry Standard, February 4th)

"The U.S. Government is sending checks for over $26,000 to help you pay of your debt. You Never Need To Repay!" So claims the latest ad to clutter my screen at Facebook (see sample at left). I click the ad. It takes me to a site, jeffgetsgrants.com, with a photo of a guy above some text that claims he's a firefighter named Jeff Donahue. Jeff claims he "went from being broke to completely paying off my debt in 30 days by spending a few minutes filling out a form online that qualified me for a Free $12,000 Financial Aid Check from the US Government."