How can this dilemma be resolved?

The Pavias are a curious couple. They try to create an image of surface ‘sweet talk’ and affectations, but do not be deluded, George m. Pavia’s acts and reported neurosis establish that he is a self styled autocrat, bully, and a trickster.

Scamraiders’ staff have interviewed persons who have had involvements with the Pavias and involvements with Dr Arnold Hutschnecker and others the Pavias have been involved and we have scoured court and other records and documents.

And the paper trail, documents, court records and interviews reveal a sordid tale of the Pavias antics, railroading, ambushes, deceptions, corruption, obstruction of justice, bribery, perjury, spite, greed, tax evasion, revenge, and even thefts of family property to unjustly enrich George and Antonia.

Scamraiders has also learned that George Pavia was (for about 20 years) under the care of mental doctor Arnold Hutschnecker who we are advised diagnosed George with having delusions of grandeur and sociopathic conduct and numerous ‘other’ complexes. Hutschnecker was also the ‘shrink’ for Richard Nixon for a period.

We have been told by persons who knew Hutschnecker that George always had a problem and neurosis with his appearance, much like as Dr Hutschnecker put it ‘a chimpanzee/type look-a-like’ sadly the doctor revealed that George blames everyone for his deficiencies and wants to and does engage in revenge on all who have figured out his cloak and false facade and who have stood up to George’s intimidation and abusive conduct.

It seems that it must be ‘George’s way or else.’

Shrink Hutschnecker outlined before his death that George is a vicious and spiteful scallywag and scoundrel who will take vengeance by thefts, intimidation and deception and worse.

George, we are advised by court papers, even tried rob and rook his first wife Ellen Solomon’s estate and rook her rent stabilized apartment in NYC.

Many interviewed who had interaction with Mr Pavia think that George is a deranged man with patterns of grandiose conduct similar to that of Capt. Queeg in the film The Caine Mutiny, well enough said for now.

We refer you to much more about the Pavias in detail in Scamraiders archived articles and documents, interestingly all undenied by Pavia or his thugs.

And on Feb 22, 2011 Scamraiders will post ‘Bob Feldman ’68 Article.’ Did supreme court designate Soto Mayor’s law firm partner violate NYC rent stabilization law? ‘the partner’ is none other than George Pavia.

You will see what others and the ECB court, the DHCR and the Dept of buildings say about the Pavias and their forgery, retaliations and bribery, tax fraud, perjury, and the NYC ECB court finding three times at separate hearings that the Pavia’s are perjurers, and how these Pavias stole rent stabilization by obstruction of justice, tampering, collusion and worse

The Pavias are now snug as bugs in a rug in their stolen property faking and rooking their way to their own self styled nirvana created by fraud and corruption.

But nothing, per the shrink, will rectify George’s mental disorders exacerbated when George looks in his mirror.

Possibly that is why George has a long beard, he possibly hates himself and thus despises looking at himself in a mirror as other see him so says Dr Hutschnecker we are told by reliable sources.

And as we are told Dr Hutschnecker put it’ George Pavia is a lecherous, distorted looking and emotionally angry person frustrated by rejections, thus a mentally distorted, vicious, hateful and contorted person.

Dr Hutschnecker further reported that George is riddled with inferiority complexes and who is suffering with compensating needs to abuse, take advantage and manipulate others by these and other vengeful and dastardly acts perpetrated by George Pavia in order to shroud Mr. Pavia’s, spiteful, and inferiority complexes.’

We learned that George Pavia was in mental and medical therapy with his ‘shrink’ Dr Hutschnecker for many years spanning from about the early 1960′s to the mid 1980′s.

Scamraiders investigations, reports from his ‘shrink’ Hutschnecker and other interactions, etc. regretfully reveal that George Pavia appears to be a wicked self indulgent and Machiavellian person who has repeatedly displayed his belief that he and wife Antonia are above the law and that they can get away with fraud, deception, intimidation, corruption,perjury and worse to satiate his unjust self enrichment.

Possibly George Pavia this time may have bet wrong and finally after years of his machinations will be exposed and caught and this time with his hands in the cookie jar? Time will tell.

Please note as always Scamraiders welcomes any denials by George and Antonia Pavia of the reports in this article which will be posted along with Scamraiders replies to date none of the articles and exposes of the Pavia’s have been denied and Scamraiders has produced evidence of its reports regarding the Pavia’s acts, see Scamraiders ‘terms of use’ and ‘mission statement.’

The Pavias and in particular George have instead caused their hired hooligans and thugs to intimidate, extort, threaten and abuse Scamraiders and its staff and its present and former affiliates.

But no denials from the Pavias in fact bully George himself has rather threatened and used bodily harm in the presence of 4 witnesses, intimidation by George of freedom of press and free speech.

George has no problem engaging in abuse and mafia style threats, assaults and intimidation

George has seemingly deluded himself that he is above the rules of law in his murky world of greed and larceny.

George Pavia’s acts seem to confirm Dr Hutschnecker’s findings as to George and his vicious and vengeful mental deficiencies and disorders.

See more on Hutschnecker/Nixon, etc and on Pavia:

Bob Feldman 68: Did Supreme Court Justice-Designate Sotomayor’s Law…

Arnold Hutschnecker, 102, Therapist to Nixon – New York Times

A. Hutschnecker; Served as ‘Shrink’ to Richard Nixon

Presidential Leadership, Illness

‘If it’s too good to be true, then it probably is’ rings true in many instances. Law enforcement agencies often remark on just how difficult it is to bring elder fraud perpetrators to justice – once an investigator has begun looking into the scheme, the scammers are already moving on to another ploy. There’s just no way to catch them all, which means it’s up to you to help your parents understand and implement senior citizen fraud protection tactics and be on the lookout for people who wish to do them, their property, or their savings significant harm.

How can you help your parents fight back against elder fraud? Aside from a quick lesson in senior citizen fraud protection, a handy cheat sheet by all the phones or computers in the home is often the best way to avoid these common elder fraud tricks, which include the following top ten ways to beat the bad guys.

What to Include on Your Senior Citizen Fraud Protection Cheat Sheet

1. Avoid sending money or providing personal financial information. Be cautious who you disclose your bank account, credit card, and social security numbers to. Suspicious, but realistic looking checks made out for a considerable amount of money should be an elder fraud red flag. Your parents should know that if they weren’t expecting a check, it could be a fake. Tell your loved ones if they have concerns related to this type of senior citizen fraud that protection comes from asking someone they trust for help. Checks such as these are usually accompanied with directions instructing the recipient to call a phone number. The message tells the caller to send taxes on the money he or she just received through a wire transfer service. The scam, of course, is that once the recipient sends the money, their check bounces.

2. Do not speak at length with people who are unfamiliar to you – tell your parents to decline answering questions of a private matter over the phone, Internet, or at the door. Above all, the key to senior citizen fraud protection is caution. If a telemarketer who is pushing a product begins asking for too much information, tell your loved one to request the name of his or her employer, the address, and a phone number. If a caller asks to speak to the man of the house and there isn’t one, tell your mother never to indicate that she lives alone.

3. Do not sign any documents without reviewing them carefully. Your loved one can often be signed up for something he or she may not be interested in and begin receiving phone calls that solicit other products. If anything appears suspect, tell your loved one to contact his or her lawyer or a trusted friend immediately. Many elder fraud con artists will pose as door-to-door salesmen and try to sell your loved one something on the spot, introducing multiple new products and a whirl of paperwork that needs to be signed now and paid for to ‘secure’ it. This potential elder fraud ploy is dangerous, because the friendly salesman is no longer some distant threat with no face; he appears to be knowledgeable and trustworthy. Tell your parents one of the most important senior citizen fraud protection tools available to them is not to allow anyone into the home they don’t know.

4. Make sure to verify all claims. One of the newest elder fraud alerts is related to home construction or improvement, and much like any other industry, scams abound. The best senior citizen fraud protection tip in this instance is to use a well-known contractor in the area. Tell your parents to request references and contact the Better Business Bureau or the National Fraud Information Center if they’re unsure. Create a contract and make sure the work is carried out to the letter; a fly-by-night scheme will probably try to talk down the contract, but if it’s in writing, your loved one ultimately has more recourse. And if the contractor wants the money upfront, tell your loved one to move on to the next choice.

5. Reach out for help before investing or spending considerable amounts of money. Tell your loved one to call you with questions about any investment that involves a significant transfer of money or shares. In many cases, the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) can be a lifesaver; this organization regularly sends out information on the latest elder fraud schemes and offers senior citizen fraud protection tips as well as financial planning assistance and consumer rights, all of which can help your parents judiciously decide on various offers and purchases.

6. Shred all bills, notices, and personal mail before throwing them away. Information regarding your loved one’s financial situation is often retrieved by con artists from discarded mail that is not shredded (also known as ‘dumpster diving’). It’s all too easy for elder fraud scammers to get bank account and credit card numbers from statements as well as details on safe deposit boxes, ATM cards, addresses, phone numbers, social security numbers, and more. Remind your loved one that one of the most important senior citizen fraud protection tips is to tear up all mail before throwing it away. Or, better yet, give him or her the gift of a paper shredder!

7. Recognize predatory lending practices. This senior financial abuse and elder fraud practice, also known as loan fraud, is often perpetrated by mortgage brokers, appraisers, and home contractors looking for a quick buck. Seniors approach these seemingly knowledgeable individuals looking to refinance their homes, but are bombarded by fast-talking scammers who incorporate a must-act clause into the deal. In the end, your loved one will walk away with a high-cost loan with exorbitant fees totaling more than 5% of the entire amount. When talking with your loved one about predatory lending and senior citizen fraud protection tips, remind him or her that other tricks include pre-payment penalties, ‘flipping’ (when a loan is refinanced to generate fee income without providing any net tangible benefit to the borrower), mandatory arbitration, and other unnecessary additions. Don’t let your parents make this decision alone; help them be more informed consumers.

8. Avoid health insurance scams by identifying the red flags. Many lower income seniors rely on their Medicare health insurance, which is why many elder fraud scams originate here. Often, less-than-reputable medical equipment companies target seniors, offering free supplies in return for their Medicare numbers. Tell your loved one that the doctor must order and sign for all equipment and products before Medicare will pay for it. Remind your parents of the most important senior citizen fraud protection tips when it comes to health insurance, including never signing blank insurance claim forms, never providing unchecked medical authorization for billing purposes, always reviewing Medicare’s payment terms closely, never giving out their Medicare numbers to someone they don’t know, and verifying with their physician if they are unsure of a product or equipment that’s been ordered.

9. Bypass the ‘Sucker List’ altogether. Many seniors are eager to win something and often enter numerous sweepstakes, sign up for free magazines, or register for contests. Companies with elder fraud scam artists will keep records of these submissions, meaning your loved ones could end up on what is called the ‘Sucker List,’ making your parents that much more of an elder fraud target. This list usually contains not only people who the scammers believe to be a good target, but have already been successfully targeted before.

10. Just hang up. Scammers know that senior citizens are more polite, more trusting, and a lot less likely to hang up when the call becomes personal; unfortunately, elder fraud con artists take full advantage of this fact. Tell your loved one that if he or she doesn’t know the caller and questions regarding financial or personal matters come up, they can simply hang up on the caller with no questions asked. Hanging up is one of the simplest senior citizen fraud protection methods.

An Ounce of Prevention…

If your loved one has been a victim of elder fraud, please urge them to report it to the proper authorities. Falling for a scam is embarrassing to many seniors, making it one of the most under reported crimes. Their assistance in the matter can help bring con artists to justice and perhaps inspire other seniors to implement better methods of senior citizen fraud protection.

Another invaluable senior citizen fraud protection tool is helping your loved one sign up for the national ‘do not call’ registry to prevent harassing telemarketer calls. It’s a free service, and you can either call 888-382-1222 or register online at www.donotcall.gov. Another website that offers helpful senior citizen fraud protection tips of its own – www.fraud.org/elderfraud – helps fight against con artists by posting regular updates and information. Walking your loved one through potential elder fraud scenarios is as helpful as checking in regularly to go over financial transactions, bills, and emails as well as posting (in plain sight) the senior citizen fraud protection tips outlined above.

Ultimately, the only way to prevent elder fraud is through education, and this requires you to be firm on the subject, providing an insightful look into the various methods of senior citizen fraud protection. Caution is always the key to protection, and your loved one should be provided with a list of helpful sources to contact for additional information, including the National Consumer League’s Fraud Center, AARP, the Better Business Bureau, and Consumer Action. Above all, make sure your loved one always knows who he or she is dealing with in the course of transactions or investments. And, as always, it’s important to remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of ‘cure.’

George and Antonia stole much, and have engaged in documented tax avoidance. They also stole 18 East 73rd Street NYC from Antonia’s mother Ms Janna Pierce in or about 1975. Then George, a lawyer, began renting out the 2 top floors (4 Units), and a “basement unit”. George intentionally failed to Register 18E 73 with the DHCR as mandated by law. Rather George and Antonia rented these units to victim tenants without providing Rent Stabilized Leases, at the building that was subject to Stabilization.
For years the Pavias cheated their tenants until Jim Couri exposed The Pavias, and filed with the DHCR for Rent Stabilization. Jim won, and the Pavias went wild and embarked on a rampage of threats, harassment, lewd acts, fraud, and ultimate probable bribery of Judge Madden.

All the while Pavia was kicked out of numerous Courts, and the DHCR prevailed in Article 78 Proceedings, and on Appeal. The Pavias were called “perjurers” by the NYC-ECB Court, and found to be engaged in forging fake DOB Certificate of Corrections. Pavias then Lawyer Jay Itkowitz stated on his Blog that Pavia will “Do anything to get Couri out”. Pavia engaged in rampant fraud on the Court, manipulation of Madden and extortion. Pavia ultimately stole Couri’s apartment, and robbed rent stabilization from over a dozen tenants. Details of Judge Madden being compromised and corrupted by Pavia has been exposed in many articles with factual data and details. The Reasonable Inference Rule and other evidence confirms clear and convincingly that Madden was compromised and corrupted by a lecherous runt and thief, George Pavia.

Now the Pavias are having parties at 18E 73 under the egis of Corinne Pulitzer of Douglas Elliman, who has acted in concert with the Pavias to commit fraud on the Court and loot rent stabilization; and who aided the Pavias in committing tax fraud aiding in the sale of the Pierce property at 15 E 77st NYC where George and Antonia looted for themselves and their Son and Daughter by a tax scam and phony transfers of the deed—-piece-meal.

Now the Pavias, after engaging in thefts of tenants rights by fraud, deception and bribery, are trying to sell 18 East 73rd Street NYC for $22,000,000.00 to unsuspecting prospective buyers. The Pavias and Pulitzer have not disclosed that they by theft,bribery, corruption and RICO conspiracy have illegally and unjustly enriched themselves at the expense of Couri and others who had the misfortune to have the Pavias as landlords and that 18 E 73 St NYC has apartments within that were stolen by Pavia from Rent Stabilized Tenants who have rights that the Pavias compromised by criminal acts, RICO, thefts, perjury and fraud. George is a despicable person who has no conscience now trying to cheat buyers of 18 E 73 St that the Pavias robbed from their tenants and who by fraud circumvented the NYC Rent Stabilization Laws.

The Pavias have been engaged in money-laundering, theft, conspiracy, bribery, fraud and corruption which they are desperate to shroud from any buyer, as the Pavias ripping-off their tenants will result in RICO and treble damages against the Pavias and all in concert with them.

Meanwhile psychopath George Pavia has the temerity to refer to the tenants he has robbed and looted as “PAINS IN THE ASSES”, as published in a article in the Real Deal.

Soon George needed mental help after engaging in looting and robbing and fixing. Years passed and George Pavia engaged in tax evasion, perjury, thefts and threats and worse.When Dr Hutchnecker was questioned before his death he revealed that George Pavia suffered from numerous mental disorders including delusions of grandeur, and sociopathic tendencies.

George Pavia is a man riddled with complexes and who is devoid of ethics. Scams inc has published a plethora of evidence of Pavia’s pathetic conduct. We are advised that Pavia will be center stage in a RICO litigation now in the investigative and development stages.

The jury duty scam is the newest type of identity theft scammers are using to get your personal information. This is a new twist on identity theft, and you should be aware of it so you can avoid becoming a new victim.

With the jury duty scam, the scammer calls you claiming to work for the local court and tells you that you failed to report for jury duty. He then explains that a warrant has been issued for your arrest.

When you explain that you never received the jury duty notification that sets up the perfect question for the identity theft scam. The scammer then asks you for identity verification wanting your social security number.

Once that is provided the scammers go for even more information like birth date and sometimes credit card numbers just because there are some people that will give it out freely.

Scammers tell you that a warrant has been issued for your arrest to catch you off guard. That thought is so powerful you don’t think about protecting your confidential information and quickly become a victim of the identity theft scam.

Here are a few ways you can protect yourself from the jury duty scam.

1. Never give out your Social Security number, credit card numbers, bank or any other personal or confidential information on the phone unless you originated the call and are positive you know who you are talking to.

2. People who work for the courts will never call you to ask for social security numbers or credit card numbers. If someone calls wanting this information, hang up.

3. If you fail to appear for jury duty, the court will send a second summons by mail. The courts do not call and threaten to arrest people.

The jury duty scam is the latest in a series of identity theft scams where scammers use the phone to try to get someones social security number and other confidential information.

The scammers will continue to come up with new ways to try and get your personal information. But if you are aware of how it works you might be able to avoid becoming a victim of this jury duty scam.

If you are looking for a roommate and you placed ads on roommate listings, regardless whether or not those listings are free or paid, chances are you will get a response from person who claims they are interested in being your roommate. This person will have no interest in being your roommate. There only interest is to scam you and rob you for your money. Fact: roommate scams swarm roommate listings. Familiarizing yourself with these roommate scams is your first guard of protection from theft and fraud. If you don’t know what a roommate scam is or how it sounds or look like, educate yourself fast before you become a victim. If you do become a victim of a roommate scam, you have to immediately contact your local authorities and possibly the FBI.

Here is what a roommate scam email looks like:

Hi,

I saw your ad on (roommate listing).com I am looking to rent a room or seek a roommate who is nice and honest. My name is Denise and I am 29 yr. old Broker currently living in London with my Uncle. I am honest, trustworthy and a caring individual who enjoys making good friends and having a good time.

I plan to come to the United States to work at a new brokerage firm on an 8 month contract. I just want to confirm the rent, utilities and if there is any deposit. What’s the amount to move in altogether? I can pay you 2 months rent and would like to move in right away. I will have my associate in the United States send you a cashier’s check for 2 the months payment.

Please forward me your full details where you want payment to be mailed

Name
Address
City, Zip
Email
Phone Number

Thanks and I will be waiting for your details so I can proceed with the payment!

Regards,

Denise

This is a clear example of a roommate scam. There are other similar roommate scams where people claim to be from Canada, UK, Nigeria, Australia, Sweden, etc. Ways to quickly spot a roommate scam goes as follows:

1. The person is a foreign national

2. They claim they are moving to the US for work, school or a modeling contract

3. They usually only give their first name and if you reply with an email asking for their full name, address and email, sometimes they refuse to give it to you.

4. They want to send you their “final paycheck” from their current employer and deposit the check in your bank account as form of payment for the rent deposit.

5. They ask you to cash the check, money order or cashier’s check (usually more than the amount of the rent’s deposit) into your bank account or open an account at a different bank of their choice. Once the check is deposited into your account, they will ask you to deduct a portion of the money to cover the rent and will ask you to withdraw the exceeded portion to wire transfer back to them. They will explain that they need the extra money wired back to them to purchase “a plane ticket” and/or “pay for moving expenses”. These checks, money orders and cashier’s checks are counterfeit. The “exceeded potion” you withdraw from the back is how they make their money. In many cases, once the bank realizes that these checks are counterfeit, they will come after YOU for the money.

6. They offer for “an associate” or “sponsor” they know in the US to send you a check, cashier’s check or money order for you to deposit in your bank for the rent deposit (again the check, money order and cashier’s checks are fake!).

7. They request your personal information like full name, address, phone number, personal email account and bank where you will be depositing the checks. Sometimes they will insist on a particular bank for you to deposit their fake checks.

8. Their emails make the assumption that you have chosen them to be your roommate and will ask you to remove your ad off the roommate listing.

9. You receive similar emails that sound almost identical, but using different names and job occupations.

10. If you request info from them like their current home address, scans/fax copies of their passport, visas and employer contracts, they will refuse to give you the information and make BS excuses why they can’t.

11. If you do communicate with these roommate scam artists through email or telephone (at first not knowing you are about to be scammed) and request a little more time to do research or explain you are interviewing other people, they will get nasty, impatient and barrage you with constant emails, IM and phone calls.

When answering emails on roommate listings always be sure to verify as much information as you can about the other person. Ask questions and don’t be shy about it. Remember, you will be essentially moving a stranger into your house or apartment. Therefore, you have every right to protect yourself and ask questions. Trust your gut and listen to any red flags that may go up if you believe you received an email that appears to be a roommate scam. If you no longer feel comfortable communicating with someone you suspect is trying to scam you, stop all communication and report the incident to the FBI. You can do this by visiting the FBI website and look for links about internet scams.

Understanding and recognizing roommate scams is the first step to protecting yourself while you search for a roommate. Information is power! The more informed you are about roommate scams, the easier, safer and quicker it will be to find the perfect roommate for you!

Happy roommate hunting!

For more information about roommate scams, how to find a roommate and living with roommates, please visit http://thefemaleroommate.blogspot.com

Consumers who’ve lost money to sweepstakes and lottery scams should be on the lookout for “reloader” scams.

In these scams, con artists pretend to help past victims of scams recover their money.

In one recent example, a reader got a call from someone claiming to be an agent from “revenue services” investigating Publisher’s Clearinghouse.

 

Read more at http://www.cleveland.com/consumeraffairs/index.ssf/2013/03/con_takes_another_swipe_at_pre.html

Physical Mail Fraud

Mail fraud involves the use of the federal postal or communication systems in order to carry out an attempt to defraud innocent persons. In mail order fraud the victim (as buyer) has provided money to an alleged seller, say, through themail or that the underlying order will be fulfilled for delivery via the US Postal Service. In the event that no delivery ensues, then a case for mail order fraud forms.

It’s critical that the victim provides mail fraud reporting to local post office officials so that they can turn the matter over to their mail fraud investigative unit, which aggressively pursues convictions where evidence supports such an action. In a typical mail fraud report, the US Post Office investigative team catalogues the documents supporting the underlying fraud scheme. The documents will be used in order to prove the intent to defraud.

Suspicious Packages

If you receive a suspicious letter or package that you do not recognize or it doesn’t have a return address, follow these safety precautions:

Handle the package or envelope with extreme care; don’t shake or bump it.
Isolate it immediately. Move it to a secure place, away from people and pets.
Do not open, smell or touch it. If you notice a powder or residue, don’t taste it; immediately wash your hands and other body parts that may have been exposed with soap and water.
Contact your local sheriff or police department.
If you suspect a package or other container may be a bomb, evacuate the premises immediately. If you suspect radiological, biological or chemical exposure, do not handle the object. Shield yourself, other people and pets from further exposure by evacuating the area immediately. Do not try to resolve the problem yourself by disposing of, disarming or otherwise trying to reduce the threat of the unknown object. Special police and fire teams are highly trained for this kind of activity and should be called right away.

Electronic Mail Fraud

Email fraud reflects unauthorized entry into personal or corporate networks, taking over an email address and then sending out messages purporting to be from the true owner operator of that email account or address. Email fraud typically originates as a request for service or a query regarding outgoing email messages. In certain instances an email is associated with identity theft. The key to unraveling an email fraud is to establish a “back tracking” electronically, where the procedure includes either reading the hard drive of the corrupted PC or via internet “cookies” which record the steps taken and origins of the email fraud perpetrator.

To avoid becoming an email fraud victim and to ensure potential convictions to those persons who would defraud you, you need to install security system software or utilize encryption software to deflect email fraud attacks. The success of email fraud depends entirely on commandeering your passwords, logons, PIN numbers, or other access codes which you may have casually left open.

Other email frauds are direct and personal, more like physical mail fraud. In these cases someone claiming to be from an entity you usually trust (your bank, doctor, school, etc.) sends you a request or reminder that asks you for personal information. NEVER send your social security number, bank account information or any other private, personal information to anyone by email without making sure the request is legitimate and the line secure. Less insidious, but more seductive, are emails from someone promising you a prize, money, a free trip that “you may have already won”—if only you’ll send back private information, money or other people’s email addresses. DON’T BE FOOLED!

Children, teens and the elderly are favorite targets for this kind of fraud, so make sure that everyone in your household who uses email is aware of how to be careful and alert in any of their online activities.

Enjoy safe communication by staying alert and being cautious in both the physical and the electronic worlds.

But the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, says that “money for nothing” grant offers usually are scams, whether you see them in your local paper or a national magazine, or hear about them on the phone.

Some scam artists advertise “free grants” in the classifieds, inviting readers to call a toll-free number for more information. Others are more bold: they call you out of the blue. They lie about where they’re calling from, or they claim legitimacy using an official-sounding name like the “Federal Grants Administration.” They may ask you some basic questions to determine if you “qualify” to receive a grant. FTC attorneys say calls and come-ons for free money invariably are rip offs.

Grant scammers generally follow a script: they congratulate you on your eligibility, then ask for your checking account information so they can “deposit your grant directly into your account,” or cover a one-time “processing fee.” The caller may even reassure you that you can get a refund if you’re not satisfied. In fact, you’ll never see the grant they promise; they will disappear with your money.

The FTC says following a few basic rules can keep consumers from losing money to these “government grant” scams:

• Don’t give out your bank account information to anyone you don’t know. Scammers pressure people to divulge their bank account information so that they can steal the money in the account. Always keep your bank account information confidential. Don’t share it unless you are familiar with the company and know why the information is necessary.
• Don’t pay any money for a “free” government grant. If you have to pay money to claim a “free” government grant, it isn’t really free. A real government agency won’t ask you to pay a processing fee for a grant that you have already been awarded — or to pay for a list of grant-making institutions. The names of agencies and foundations that award grants are available for free at any public library or on the Internet. The only official access point for all federal grant-making agencies is www.grants.gov.
• Look-alikes aren’t the real thing. Just because the caller says he’s from the “Federal Grants Administration” doesn’t mean that he is. There is no such government agency. Take a moment to check the blue pages in your telephone directory to bear out your hunch — or not.
• Phone numbers can deceive. Some con artists use Internet technology to disguise their area code in caller ID systems. Although it may look like they’re calling from Washington, DC, they could be calling from anywhere in the world.
• Take control of the calls you receive. If you want to reduce the number of telemarketing calls you receive, place your telephone number on the National Do Not Call Registry. To register online, visit donotcall.gov. To register by phone, call 1-888-382-1222 (TTY: 1-866-290-4236) from the phone number you wish to register.
• File a complaint with the FTC. If you think you may have been a victim of a government grant scam, file a complaint with the FTC online, or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

This article was previously available as Free Government Grants: Don’t Take Them For Grant-ed.