At one time or another, you’ve probably heard about a fast way to get money through government grants. The truth is that there is no easy way to get fast cash but scammers take advantage of our dreams.  Government grant scams take your money and deliver little of value.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says, one of these scammers, Meggie Chapman, will now pay $1.68 million to consumers for ripping them off. According to the FTC  Chapman, “assisted and facilitated a scheme that deceived consumers by falsely promising them a “guaranteed” $25,000 grant from the federal government.”

The FTC and law enforcement officials in Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota and North Carolina tried to stop her in 2011.  They won a case against Chapman in U.S. District Court in Kansas in 2011. But she appealed. The good news is that the Court of Appeals upheld the district court’s ruling. So Meggie Chapman is out of the game, we think.  But she will have to pay up.

BOTTOM LINE

Stay away from individuals or companies that offer sure-fire ways to get money through government grants.