I would like you to do a web search on 'Advance fee scam'. Use any search engine you wish. Then come back. If you'd like me to save you time - yes it's a scam. It's a VERY simple advance fee scam. You are asked to send $250., usually by a CASH wire service, or provide credit card/banking information. Next, you LOSE the $250. and get nothing. A very, very, very old scam. In the old days these scams were done with letters (snail mail) mailed from Africa. Usually some Nigerian Prince/King/Despot who needed your help moving money out of the country. An oldie!
It is a scam.
The government does not offer grants to individuals for personal use.
It is a scam ran by off shore con artists to trick you into sending unrecoverable money to them, you get nothing in return.
The only legitimate avenue for government grants is through www.grants.gov which is the official US government webs site for grants.
From their FAQ concerning fraud:
http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support/general-support/grant-fraud.html
Please note the following:
No government grant-making agency will make phone calls; send email or letters to solicit money or personal banking information from a potential grant recipient.
There are no processing fees for federal grants.
Federal grants are not issued for personal use, but are intended for institutions and non-profits to carry out projects with a public purpose.
Know who you're dealing with on the web. Scam artists will often post a website with a name similar to a legitimate site.
If you have provided personal banking information to anyone claiming to be associated with a Federal grant agency, call your bank immediately to prevent unauthorized access to your account.
If you receive a call, mail, email, FAX, or any other form of communication soliciting you for a grant, STOP.
It is a scam.
Report it to the FTC:
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0113-government-grant-scams
File a complaint with the FTC. If you think you may have been a victim of a government grant scam, file a complaint with the FTC online https://ftccomplaintassistant.gov/ , or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
I RECEIVED CALL FROM 089 AND WAS INFORMED TO CALL 206-801-1924 TO GET MORE DETAIL ON MY GRANT. THEY THEN INFORMED ME THAT I NEEDED TO SEND IN $190.00 BEFORE GETTING GRANT. I ASKED TO SPEAK TO THE LADIES SUPERVIOSR AND SHE HUNG UP ON ME.