Progressing Economy

This company send solicitations claiming the government has a $"7 Billion Dollar Annual Government fund that is free for the taking. They claim responders who send them $39.95 will receive a step-by-step manual on how to obtain these funds. Unfortunately, there is no such government program and those that have responded to the solicitations have received nothing.

We advise careful consideration if you are thinking about responding to ads for "free" grant money. Our experience with similar offers has been that companies placing government grant ads, have no affiliation with the government, but rather, are third parties attempting to capitalize on information that can be obtained for free from government agencies or websites.

Government grants are not designed to provide a means for you to pay your bills or have extra spending money. Generally, obtaining a grant is a complicated process requiring documentation and research, and are primarily for education, research, and business purposes. Although foundations may exist whose requirements are based on personal preference, the vast majority requires applicants to meet very specific guidelines they have established to even qualify.

Some consumers have claimed the company also offers business opportunities. If you are thinking of responding to a business opportunity, begin checking out the business by requesting a BCA reliability report. Conduct an online search using the company name and “complaints”, “reviews”, or “scam”, and search for company personnel, especially the individual soliciting the offer. Contact the solicitor and ask questions to determine if the” job” is a legitimate employment offer or if it’s is a good fit for you. Some questions to ask may be:
1. What tasks will I need to perform on the job? Make sure they detail the duties you will be required to complete.
2. Will I be paid a salary or will I work on commission?
3. Who will I report to?
4. Who will pay me?
5. When will I get my first check?
6. What do you base your earnings claims on? Ask for references of individuals who have earned money using their program or documents to support the likely earnings.
7. What is the total cost of the program, including supplies, materials, training, and membership fees? What will I get for my money and how can I get a refund if I choose not to continue with the program?

Where to Complain

If you have already paid money for a business opportunity that you now believe may not be legitimate, take these steps:
• First contact the company and ask for a refund.
• Contact the administrator of the website where the offer was posted or the advertising manager of the publication that ran the ad and inform the manager of your issues. This may lead to them posting an alert about the ads or removing them from future publications.
• File a complaint with BCA. Even if the company refuses to resolve the complaint or respond, the information will help others avoid the scam and a number of complaints against the same company can be referred to government authorities for action.
• File a complaint with the United States Postal Inspection Service at https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/contactus/filecomplaint.aspx or call 877-876-2455.