KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A Cautionary Tale About Grant Scams
It’s a common dream for many homeowners to upgrade and remodel their houses, but one Knoxville woman recently learned the hard way that chasing such dreams can sometimes lead to unexpected pitfalls. Jacqueline Rogers, a devoted school custodian and long-time resident of her home, was all set to give her kitchen a facelift and install a door in her laundry area, thanks to a supposed grant she thought she had qualified for. Unfortunately, the promise of “free money” turned out to be a clever hoax.
The Road to Deception Begins
The scam unfolded when Rogers received what appeared to be a friendly friend request from a Facebook account posing as her brother-in-law, Terrance Schofield. Eager to trust family, Jacqueline accepted the request, leading to a conversation that would change the course of her plans. “He asked me if I had heard about this agent named James Brown, who was giving away grant money,” she recalled, hinting at her initial excitement.
After contacting the so-called agent, it wasn’t long before Rogers was informed that she had been “approved” for a whopping $170,000 grant. To her delight, she even received a fake certificate of ownership as proof. However, the excitement quickly turned into confusion when she was told that she needed to supply some cash upfront to receive her money.
How the Scam Worked
This scam utilized several tactics to ensnare Rogers. She was initially asked to pay for the certificate and cover various fees, which she was told were related to the IRS. Without hesitation, she complied and sent money to cover the costs, believing that this would lead her to the funds needed to remodel her home. “He told me he was sending a FedEx truck to my house with my money, but they were stopped by the police,” Rogers described, revealing how the scammer manipulated her trust by sending misleading images and orchestrating a convincing story.
Rogers was directed to purchase several pre-paid money cards, each costing $500. As she began to send money, the scam only deepened, and soon enough, she was asked for a total of $5,000. Yet even when doubt crept in, she reached out to the agent for reassurance. “I asked if it was a scam, and he told me it wasn’t. He convinced me to trust him,” she lamented, as she now realizes the extent of her mistake.
A Valuable Lesson Learned
Staying one step ahead, the scammer even recently attempted to target Rogers for another $1,500, but she firmly decided that she would not be sending any more money. The entire experience has left her shaken but wiser, and she is determined to warn others about such fraudulent schemes. “He really ripped me off,” she said, expressing frustration, sadness, and disappointment.
Protecting Yourself Against Grant Scams
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) emphasizes the importance of vigilance when it comes to grant scams. While real federal grants do exist, applying for them requires a proper application through legitimate government websites, such as Grants.gov. Importantly, the government does not charge a fee to apply for these grants, and applicants should always look out for red flags like unsolicited notifications claiming they have “won” grants.
So, the lesson here is straightforward: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Stay informed, stay aware, and always double-check claims before letting enthusiasm lead you down a path filled with deception.
