Scam alert: Solicitation offers huge government grant, but victims "paid money for a piece of paper"

MILWAUKEE -- There is a new scam to watch for when you check your mailbox -- offering you the possibility of a huge government grant. But this letter could cost you!

Government grant scam solicitation

The solicitation offers thousands of dollars for a business cash grant -- but this is nothing but junk mail. Just below the headline, it says the bearer of the certificate is entitled to $360,000.

In reality, the letter is worthless.

"They paid a lot of money for a piece of paper, that was, you know, just something they could print off their own printer really," Renee Focht, U.S. postal inspector said.

Government grant scam solicitation

Postal inspectors say if recipients decide they want to apply for the grant, they need to pay a fee up front.

"The recipient would send a check in a certain amount, depending on the grant amount they wanted -- so the larger the grant amount, the more money they had to send to get it for a processing fee," Focht said.

Days and then months go by, and victims never see a penny.

"Unfortunately, folks fall for this, and when they got their certificate it came along with some work at home type things where they could earn money," Focht said.

Government grant scam solicitation

One victim told postal inspectors she went to the address on the envelope to demand her money back.

"She was, you know, pretty upset -- because she went there to get her refund and got there and it was just a private mailbox place and they just forward the mail to Canada," Focht said.

Postal inspectors say many victims blame themselves for falling for this scam.

"The reaction I get from a lot of them is that they actually feel 'stupid' for responding to these kinds of ads. And, you know, they shouldn`t feel stupid. They should understand that these are worded very well, and that`s why they fall for it," Focht said.

Government grant scam solicitation

If you want to know whether a grant offer is legitimate, just head to the website -- Grants.gov.