The golden rules
- Legitimate programs never charge a fee to apply. Application fees, "processing fees," and "release fees" for grants or benefits are the single most common scam pattern.
- No real agency demands payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. Ever. That request alone is proof of a scam.
- Real programs don't need your Social Security number before explaining the program. Personal details come at the official application stage, on official channels — not in a first phone call, text, or pop-up.
- Pressure is a red flag. "Act in the next 10 minutes," "your benefits will be forfeited," "guaranteed approval" — legitimate assistance doesn't operate that way.
Common scams targeting people in hardship
Government impersonation
Websites, calls, or texts pretending to be the IRS, Social Security Administration, or a "national grant office." Government agencies initiate contact by mail in almost all cases, and never ask for payment to release funds. Verify any claim independently through USA.gov or the agency's official site — not through links or numbers the message itself provides.
Advance-fee grant scams
"You've been selected for a $9,000 hardship grant — just pay $200 in fees to release it." Real grants do not work this way. You apply through official channels; nobody selects you out of the blue, and nobody legitimate asks for money to release money.
Fake debt relief
Companies promising to erase your debt for a large upfront fee, or telling you to stop all communication with your creditors. Under federal rules, for-profit debt relief companies generally cannot charge you before settling your debt. Start instead with a nonprofit counselor via NFCC.org.
Rental and housing scams
Fake listings that demand deposits before a viewing, or "rent-to-own" contracts with hidden terms. Never pay a deposit for a property you haven't seen, and have any rent-to-own contract reviewed — free HUD housing counselors can help: find one here.
Phishing texts and emails
Messages about "unclaimed stimulus," "EBT card locked," or "benefits suspended" with a link to a look-alike site. Don't click. Go directly to the official website by typing its address, or call the number on the back of your card.
How to verify before you share anything
- Search the exact program name plus the word "scam."
- Check the web address: official U.S. government sites end in .gov.
- Call the agency through a number you find independently — not one provided in the message.
- Ask yourself: did I contact them, or did they contact me out of nowhere?
If you've been targeted
- Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- If you shared financial details, contact your bank immediately.
- If you shared your Social Security number, visit IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan.
Where this site stands
We're an independent informational site — not a government agency — and we follow the same rules we ask you to hold everyone to: no fees, no urgency tactics, no collecting your personal details, and clear labels on every sponsored link. Read exactly how we operate on our Advertising Disclosure and Disclaimers pages.