Pooh Pooh On You Scammers!

Ok folks, my “Pooh-Pooh On You Scammers” commentary is coming to an end today with the last of messages on those darn Internet Scams and how to keep yourself away… Far Far away!

What I have discovered through my researching for this expose is that it looks like a lot of other professionals and lay grant seekers alike have fallen prey to these unseemly but no doubt very attractive web presentations and marketing strategists. I’m betting that all these grant “businesses” are run by really smart, tech savvy young people, because the likelihood of an old fart like me developing such an effective techno-cyber strategy is just about as likely as the sun actually shining here in upstate NY today (can you tell I’m in the later stages of SAD?).

Scammers - Talent… yes, what a shame though… there is always that societal fringe that has to use their great talents to make a case for deceit. How in the world do you wrangle these little devils into pursuits for good? (Clockwork Orange ‘Em!) Well that chit chat will have to wait for another moment in time…

I’ve added a few more interesting web sites to the Enter At Your Own Risk – Grant Scams List! Be sure to check this short-list out before you venture out into Cyber Grant World!

Further insight… Here are some excellent observations by Brian of JDSBlog.com who’s internet grant research has left an obvious and emotional impression on him (hey, the sting lingers for a while when you’ve been bitten!).

Brian writes on 3/27/08…

“The best lies are those with a hint of truth. This allows the true part to be verified. Then through slight of hand and with the help of those precious people born every minute (That one is already a saying. Look under Barnum Bailey.) the true part lends its veracity to the rest of the scam and “Bam!” you’ve got yourself a great scam. (This is also how politicians and political radio and T.V. hosts also operate.) At Half-Truth Inn, their slogan is “The Government Gives Away Billions of Dollars Each Year”. Of course, here in the Half-Truth Inn only part of any statement is true. In this case, it is true that the government gives away Billions of dollars each year. Too, bad that most of that goes to college students. Ever hear of Pell Grants? Those are government grants; over $15 Billion worth. What about business grants? Again, Billions is right. Exxon, Archer Daniels Midland, ConEd, GM, Tennessee Nuclear Power Authority, ever hear of any of them? They got Billions. How about small businesses? Sure. A good friend of mine owns a small business. He applies for millions of dollars worth of grants each year. He has even received some government grant money for his small business. His secret? Well, he and his partners hold about six or so PhDs among them and they are in Biology and Biochemistry and they still have some ties to the university, and they do research into the right things; sound like your business? Ever see an announcement about $300 million dollars to fight diabetes? Some of that will be research grants.

Great stuff Brian! If you would like to read Brian’s entire article on grant scams visit him at:
http://www.jdsblog.com/2008/03/27/government-grant-small-business/

Hope you enjoyed this short series and are now feeling more Scam Proof! Be sure to drop me a note and let me know if these articles have been helpful. As always, continue to send me your thoughts on grant/scholarships subjects of your interest for future banter! http://livingwellgrants.com

Have a great weekend! Is it SPRING yet where you are? It is here (in my head…). My kids are looking pretty concerned with my scantily appearance as I venture out in the SNOW today!

Jenny Lynn