individuals to start or grow their own business.

· You try to get your money back and find that the guarantee is no real guarantee at all.

Common sense tells entrepreneurs that no one will give you ‘no-strings money’ to start a for-profit business. Most new businesses are started with a very small amount of money (e.g., $5,000). And people come up with it out of their personal savings or borrowing from their relatives.

There are a few highly specific grants for small businesses. However, a look at the details shows the money is hardly free; it comes with a host of restrictions and quid pro quos. There are also some very restrictive, difficult-to-obtain grants given to small businesses to research new technologies for

NEWS FLASH: Government Grant scams are running rampant all over the United States. But you must understand that the government is NOT in the business of giving away free money for the sake of giving away money. Contrary to what a lot people are led to believe, "free grants" do not exist -- at least, not in the way we might believe. Like most con artists, the free-money hucksters take a grain of truth and distort it.

No government group or charitable organization is going to give you money without asking themselves, "What's in it for me?" In addition, the American people would never stand for the government setting individuals up in business at no cost -- and all at taxpayer risk.

A grant is a gift that entails certain obligations on the part of the grantee and expectations on the part of the grantor -- and it is a contract that legally binds you to fulfill your end of the bargain (if you don't, penalties will be imposed). Every free federal grant that you may receive will be bundled with certain obligations and responsibilities that must be fulfilled or complied with. If you choose not to comply with the obligations stipulated in the grant, you will likely find yourself grappling with a load of legal trouble.

Grant scams are one of the most rampant because people love to believe that they can get free money from the government. Grant scam artists have telephoned U.S. residents to inform them they had won thousands of dollars in government grants, in some cases because they paid federal taxes on time.

Beware of companies that guarantee you will receive a home business grant, especially if you must pay up-front for services. Any time you're asked to pay a fee for something you're getting free is a huge red flag. If you are considering paying for a home business grant service, check the company out with the Better Business Bureau for complaints. Also, don't believe anyone who claims to be from the government and offers you a grant or assistance getting one. Getting a grant for which you never applied are signs of trouble.

Here's how many of the home business grant scams work:

· For a fee of about $40 - $50 you get a packet with information on how to write a home business grant proposal and a customized list of organizations who can provide the grant you need.

· Some grant scams involve criminals placing ads in newspapers and on websites offering loans for small business.

· The company guarantees that you will get a home business grant or you will get all of your money back.

· You get a call, letter or e-mail from an official-sounding person saying you've qualified for a government grant (even though you never applied for one). All you need to do to get money from the government is send in some of your own to cover fees.

· You pay the fee and in return you get back the information but with one catch: The organizations on the list don't typically give home business grants to individuals to start or grow their own business.

· You try to get your money back and find that the guarantee is no real guarantee at all.

Common sense tells entrepreneurs that no one will give you ‘no-strings money’ to start a for-profit business. Most new businesses are started with a very small amount of money (e.g., $5,000). And people come up with it out of their personal savings or borrowing from their relatives.

There are a few highly specific grants for small businesses. However, a look at the details shows the money is hardly free; it comes with a host of restrictions and quid pro quos. There are also some very restrictive, difficult-to-obtain grants given to small businesses to research new technologies for

gations on the part of the grantee and expectations on the part of the grantor -- and it is a contract that legally binds you to fulfill your end of the bargain (if you don't, penalties will be imposed). Every free federal grant that you may receive will be bundled with certain obligations and responsibilities that must be fulfilled or complied with. If you choose not to comply with the obligations stipulated in the grant, you will likely find yourself grappling with a load of legal trouble.

Grant scams are one of the most rampant because people love to believe that they can get free money from the government. Grant scam artists have telephoned U.S. residents to inform them they had won thousands of dollars in government grants, in some cases because they paid federal taxes on time.

Beware of companies that guarantee you will receive a home business grant, especially if you must pay up-front for services. Any time you're asked to pay a fee for something you're getting free is a huge red flag. If you are considering paying for a home business grant service, check the company out with the Better Business Bureau for complaints. Also, don't believe anyone who claims to be from the government and offers you a grant or assistance getting one. Getting a grant for which you never applied are signs of trouble.

Here's how many of the home business grant scams work:

· For a fee of about $40 - $50 you get a packet with information on how to write a home business grant proposal and a customized list of organizations who can provide the grant you need.

· Some grant scams involve criminals placing ads in newspapers and on websites offering loans for small business.

· The company guarantees that you will get a home business grant or you will get all of your money back.

· You get a call, letter or e-mail from an official-sounding person saying you've qualified for a government grant (even though you never applied for one). All you need to do to get money from the government is send in some of your own to cover fees.

· You pay the fee and in return you get back the information but with one catch: The organizations on the list don't typically give home business grants to individuals to start or grow their own business.

· You try to get your money back and find that the guarantee is no real guarantee at all.

Common sense tells entrepreneurs that no one will give you ‘no-strings money’ to start a for-profit business. Most new businesses are started with a very small amount of money (e.g., $5,000). And people come up with it out of their personal savings or borrowing from their relatives.

There are a few highly specific grants for small businesses. However, a look at the details shows the money is hardly free; it comes with a host of restrictions and quid pro quos. There are also some very restrictive, difficult-to-obtain grants given to small businesses to research new technologies for

in some cases because they paid federal taxes on time.

Beware of companies that guarantee you will receive a home business grant, especially if you must pay up-front for services. Any time you're asked to pay a fee for something you're getting free is a huge red flag. If you are considering paying for a home business grant service, check the company out with the Better Business Bureau for complaints. Also, don't believe anyone who claims to be from the government and offers you a grant or assistance getting one. Getting a grant for which you never applied are signs of trouble.

Here's how many of the home business grant scams work:

· For a fee of about $40 - $50 you get a packet with information on how to write a home business grant proposal and a customized list of organizations who can provide the grant you need.

· Some grant scams involve criminals placing ads in newspapers and on websites offering loans for small business.

· The company guarantees that you will get a home business grant or you will get all of your money back.

· You get a call, letter or e-mail from an official-sounding person saying you've qualified for a government grant (even though you never applied for one). All you need to do to get money from the government is send in some of your own to cover fees.

· You pay the fee and in return you get back the information but with one catch: The organizations on the list don't typically give home business grants to individuals to start or grow their own business.

· You try to get your money back and find that the guarantee is no real guarantee at all.

Common sense tells entrepreneurs that no one will give you ‘no-strings money’ to start a for-profit business. Most new businesses are started with a very small amount of money (e.g., $5,000). And people come up with it out of their personal savings or borrowing from their relatives.

There are a few highly specific grants for small businesses. However, a look at the details shows the money is hardly free; it comes with a host of restrictions and quid pro quos. There are also some very restrictive, difficult-to-obtain grants given to small businesses to research new technologies for

siness grant proposal and a customized list of organizations who can provide the grant you need.

· Some grant scams involve criminals placing ads in newspapers and on websites offering loans for small business.

· The company guarantees that you will get a home business grant or you will get all of your money back.

· You get a call, letter or e-mail from an official-sounding person saying you've qualified for a government grant (even though you never applied for one). All you need to do to get money from the government is send in some of your own to cover fees.

· You pay the fee and in return you get back the information but with one catch: The organizations on the list don't typically give home business grants to individuals to start or grow their own business.

· You try to get your money back and find that the guarantee is no real guarantee at all.

Common sense tells entrepreneurs that no one will give you ‘no-strings money’ to start a for-profit business. Most new businesses are started with a very small amount of money (e.g., $5,000). And people come up with it out of their personal savings or borrowing from their relatives.

There are a few highly specific grants for small businesses. However, a look at the details shows the money is hardly free; it comes with a host of restrictions and quid pro quos. There are also some very restrictive, difficult-to-obtain grants given to small businesses to research new technologies for

individuals to start or grow their own business.

· You try to get your money back and find that the guarantee is no real guarantee at all.

Common sense tells entrepreneurs that no one will give you ‘no-strings money’ to start a for-profit business. Most new businesses are started with a very small amount of money (e.g., $5,000). And people come up with it out of their personal savings or borrowing from their relatives.

There are a few highly specific grants for small businesses. However, a look at the details shows the money is hardly free; it comes with a host of restrictions and quid pro quos. There are also some very restrictive, difficult-to-obtain grants given to small businesses to research new technologies for the government. The people who compete with intricate, detailed proposals for these grants are experts in engineering and science and have the brightest technology minds in the country.