Scamwatch is warning Manning Valley consumers and small businesses to take extra care when seeking government grants and to be suspicious of unsolicited offers of money in the form of government grants.
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The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Scamwatch service advises caution when looking for grants to support or start a business and to be wary of websites that offer access to databases of government grants for a fee.
“These websites often give the impression they have government affiliation by using prominently-placed official logos, links to genuine government websites and photos of well-known Australians or landmarks.
“However, the fees charged by such sites are unnecessary because this information is made available for free on government websites. Reports to Scamwatch also indicate that even if you pay the fee, you may find that there is no grant available for your business.”
Scamwatch says that legitimate information about government grants can be obtained for free at www.business.gov.au and other websites ending with .gov.au.
“Consumers and small businesses also need to be cautious of phone calls claiming you are entitled to a grant in return for an upfront fee. Scammers may claim to be from a fake government department and offer you thousands of dollars because of a recent change to government policy. Sometimes the scammers have already obtained a few of your personal details such as name and address which they will use during the call to make it seem legitimate. However, to claim the money you must first pay an ‘administration’ fee usually via wire transfer. If you pay, the scammers will make up excuses for why you need to send more.”
To protect yourself Scamwatch recommends that you be suspicious if you receive a call about a grant you did not apply for as the government does not cold call offering grants and does not charge a fee to release grant funds.
“Be cautious if you are contacted out of the blue by any government department requesting personal information—it may be a scam. Always contact the department independently before responding using contact details from a trusted source.
”Never send your personal, credit card or banking details in an email or over the phone—scammers can use your details to commit identity fraud or steal your money and if you think you have provided your account details to a scammer, contact your bank or financial institution immediately.”