Fake Government Grant Scams on SMS / Text
Scam texts announce you have qualified for a government grant, then push you to a link or number to pay a 'release fee' and hand over personal details.
Part of: Fake Government Grant Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
A fake grant text delivers a quick jolt of fortune: you have been approved for a government grant, claim it through this link. The brevity strips away the scrutiny a longer pitch might invite, leaving only the promise of free money and a single tap to chase it.
Genuine grant programmes do not notify recipients of awards by unsolicited text, nor do they charge fees to release funds. SMS suits scammers because it reaches a wide audience instantly and a tappable link sits one thumb-press from a convincing but fraudulent claim page.
How this scam works on SMS / text
The text states you have qualified for or been awarded a grant and must click a link or call a number to claim it. No genuine application preceded it.
The link opens a page requesting personal and banking details and an upfront 'release' or 'processing' fee; the phone option connects to a scripted 'agent' applying the same pressure. Everything entered or paid goes to the scammer.
The message's promise of effortless funds, paired with a short deadline, is built to prompt an immediate, unverified response.
Common red flags
- A text says you qualified for a government grant you never applied for
- You are told to click a link or call to claim free money
- An upfront release or processing fee is required
- The page asks for bank and identity details
- The sender ID is spoofed to look official
- A short deadline pressures you to act at once
How to protect yourself
- Do not tap links or call numbers in unexpected grant texts
- Know that genuine grants never charge a fee to release funds
- Be sceptical of any grant you never applied for
- Never enter bank or identity details on a page reached from a text
- Delete the message and block the number
- Verify grant programmes only on official government websites
How to report it
- Forward the text to your national smishing or spam reporting number where available
- Report the impersonation to the genuine grant agency or department
- File a report with your local fraud or cybercrime reporting service
Frequently asked questions
The grant text mentioned a specific relief program I've heard of in the news — is that a good sign?
No — scammers frequently reference real, well-known relief or assistance programmes by name to borrow their credibility, even though the text has no connection to the genuine programme. Verify any such programme only through the relevant department's official website, not by tapping the link in the text.
What's the safest way to check if I have an unclaimed government grant?
Search directly on your government's official grants or benefits website, using an address you type yourself rather than a link from a text. Genuine unclaimed funds, where they exist, are typically found through official government portals, not unsolicited messages.
I gave my bank details to claim a grant by text — how quickly should I act?
Act as soon as possible — contact your bank immediately to flag the account and ask about protective measures, since faster reporting generally improves your options. Also change any reused passwords and monitor your accounts closely in the following weeks.
I got a text saying I qualified for a grant — should I claim it?
Genuine grants require an application and never announce awards by surprise text or charge a release fee. Treat the message as a scam: do not tap the link, and verify programmes only on official government sites.