Grant Checks

We urge caution. This company solicits consumers by direct mail and internet ads regarding private grants that may be available to them. These grants may be for education, debt relief, low income subsidy or any other type of “financial aid”. Responding victims apply for their grant and are sent printed information along with a check, typically for $4,975.00. They are then directed to a website for instructions. The website contains several photos of individuals purporting to be brokers. Respondents are instructed to click on the name of the broker who secured their grant. All photos and names on the webpage instruct the grant seeker to mail or fax their commission to the Cross Creek address, with the exception of one. The current broker exception is Lindsey Hoffman. Ms. Hoffman advises readers she is on vacation in Europe, and thus requires her commissions sent via the specific variety of stored value credit card (Greendot Reloadable/MoneyPak) and load it with the commission she is entitled to. Respondents are promised a second, larger check after the stored value card number is e-mailed to the broker. Of course, the card is quickly liquidated and the original check is later returned as counterfeit, or account closed. We believe the broker name to be fictitious, or frequently changed to avoid detection by authorities.

Although a grant seems like a reasonable explanation for receiving a large sum of money, especially for college students, generally grants are not designed to provide a means for you to pay your bills or have extra spending money. Obtaining a grant is usually a complicated process requiring documentation and research, and they are primarily for education, research, and business purposes. Don't be fooled by official looking checks drawn from accounts at well known banks. Counterfeit checks are often drawn on an active and verifiable account, typically at Wells Fargo. Explanations may vary, but these companies have thought of everything. They will supply convincing printed information with a plausible explanation for why funds need to be sent back to the broker. (Conflict of interest, regulations, etc.) In this case, money is transferred back to the scammer via stored value credit card. Thus, avoiding the suspicion often generated by wire transfers. This method also facilitates further laundering of the stolen funds.