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Is This Grant Offer Real?
Paste a grant message, ad or link. The check reads it for the warning signs that the FTC, BBB, GSA and SBA describe, and shows the reason behind every sign it finds.
What the Check Looks For
Each sign comes from published guidance by consumer and government agencies. The check reads wording only and never claims certainty.
Fees to Get the Money
A processing fee
, release fee
or any payment before money arrives. No government agency demands a payment to get a grant.
Unusual Ways to Pay
Gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency or payment apps. The FTC says a request to pay a grant fee this way is always a scam.
Awards You Never Applied For
Messages such as you’ve been selected for a $15,000 grant
. Real government grants require an application, and the government does not reach out unannounced to offer one.
Guarantees, Pressure and Secrecy
Phrases like guaranteed approval
, respond within 24 hours
or keep this confidential
. Real programs are competitive and publish their deadlines.
Requests for Personal Details
Bank logins, account numbers, a Social Security number or card details. The FTC advises never sharing them with anyone who contacts you.
Look-Alike Agencies and Addresses
Names like the Federal Grants Administration
, which does not exist, web addresses such as grants-gov.com
, and free email accounts for an agency.
Sales Pitches Dressed as Grants
Paid grant lists, grant-writing services that promise an award, see if you qualify in 60 seconds
forms, and loans or cash advances described as grants.
Signs of a Real Program
A .gov web address, an Assistance Listing or funding opportunity number, a competitive application with eligibility rules, and no fee to apply.
Sources last checked:
Where Real Grants Are Listed
The only place to find a list of all available federal grants is Grants.gov, and that list is free. Applying for a federal grant is also free.
Federal programs are described in Assistance Listings on SAM.gov. The SBA does not provide grants for starting and expanding a business; its grants page lists the ones it does offer.
Questions About the Check
Does the check open the link I paste?
No. The web address is read as text only, so the page is never loaded. The check looks at the address itself: whether it ends in .gov, and whether it imitates a government or agency name.
Is the text I paste stored?
No. The text and link are checked, then discarded. Only the verdict and the names of the signs found are kept, to count how the tool is used.
Can the check be wrong?
Yes. It looks for known warning signs in the wording, so a careful scam can pass and a real notice can look unusual. Treat the result as a reason to check further, not as proof, and confirm any program on Grants.gov or the agency’s .gov website.
What does a real federal grant look like?
Real government grants require an application. Federal opportunities are listed on Grants.gov, the full list is free, and applying is free. Federal programs are described in Assistance Listings on SAM.gov.
Does the SBA give grants to start a business?
No. The SBA says it does not provide grants for starting and expanding a business, and it only emails from addresses ending in @sba.gov. Its grants page lists the grants it does offer.
Where can I report a grant scam?
Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or through BBB Scam Tracker.