Guide to Avoiding Grant Scams
When seeking for grant writing assistance, you must, first and foremost, become alert. Do not get too excited with the thought of finally finding someone to write you a grant proposal. You must be aware of his actions and you must ‘read’ his words. It is not that you do not trust people; let us just say, you are only being careful. These dollars are your hard-earned money. You must know how to spend it wisely. Most especially, you must not let somebody trick you.
Now, how do you know when you are being scammed? Please read the guide below:
1. The person who is speaking on the other line started your grant writing inquiry by discussing money, money, and money alone. He will use a sweet “dollar” talk, telling you that with only a small amount of money you will pay him, you will get a huge sum. But, wait, did he ever ask you about your project? Did he ever tell you the significance of your project? Did he ever discuss the stiff competition in grant applications? If your answers to all these questions are “No”, then, hang up the phone. He is neither worth your time nor your money.
2. The grant writer talks about free money in grants, that once you are funded, you have no other obligation, but to spend the money (even insinuating that you can spend it the way you want it). Grant is not about free money; it is about accomplishing a project that will either attend to your (valid) needs or benefit your community. It is also about obligations.
3. There are grants for any kind of business, so he says. No more ifs, no more buts. This is a lie. There are funding restrictions for businesses. More often than not, businesses that propose innovation and technology research and development are the ones being considered for funding. Do not allow yourself to become a victim of this false statement.
4. The scammer was the one who called you; you did not call him. This is not a usual business practice in grant writing companies. Typically, it is the clients who call to inquire about grants.
5. Someone calls you at home and informs you that you win a grant. Do not be too happy when you hear this. Do not let your emotions ‘eat’ you. Be focused. Ask yourself: “Did I ever apply for grant?” You see, in order to win a grant award, you must first apply for one. If not, why will an organization give you funding when you did not even request for it? Again, this is common sense. But, what if you did apply? Well, does the person on the phone represent the funding organization? If you are not sure about his identity, call the foundation and inquire about the person and ask about the validity of the information you have just been told.
6. After giving him your money, no communication has ever transpired. He said, you pay him this amount and he will be in charge of everything. Did he ask you about your plans? Did he ask you pertinent information about your project? Or did he disappear after getting your money? Well, if your answer to the last question is “yes”, well then, you have surely been scammed.
Beware of scammers. There are unscrupulous people out there searching for possible victims, who are gullible, and, sorry to say, greedy enough to think about money and only money. So, the next time you inquire about hiring a grant writer, do not feel irritated when you are asked with a lot of information before you get the answer to your question: “Can I request for grant funding?” More importantly, do not get mad with a grant specialist or a grant agent if he tells you that you are not eligible to apply for a grant. You see, eligibility is a prerequisite in every grant application. He is just being honest. Honesty will not hurt you, right?
