Email Scam Suggests Recipients are Eligible for Grant Money

According to the Better Business Bureau, law enforcement and other agencies, a new type of online scam for grant money has surfaced. This scam appears to be another version of the “overpayment scam”.

Victims are solicited via email regarding 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 on how to purchase a stored value credit card (GREENDOT Reloadable/MoneyPak*) and load it with the grant broker's “commission”. Victims 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.

Websites reportedly used in the scam are: www.jqbank.com, www.grantchecks.com, www.beverlyhillsgrants.com, and www.grantoutlet.com. The scammers move their operation to a new website when they start attracting too much scrutiny.

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*GREENDOT Reloadable/Money Pak stored value credit cards are legitimate cards but are being used as part of this scam.