Small businesses duped by fake Australian government grants scam

By Marie Sansom

Small businesses have paid up to $700 to access non-existent Australian government grants spruiked on a website.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) issued a public warning today (Monday) about the conduct of the Australian Business Funding Centre Pty Ltd, which also goes by the name Australia Business Financing Centre or ABFC and has a website www.australiangovernment.grants.org.

Despite the website using an Australian address, it is operated by ABFC’s sole director who is based overseas.

The ACCC has alleged that ABFC charged small businesses between $500 to $700 to access an online database of Australian government grants and loans but once they were given access to the database the grants evaporated or they were not eligible to apply.

The website, which is still up, proclaims: "Australian government money may be available for your small business.”

It says: “Take 45 seconds to learn how much money your small business may be able to receive in government grants and/or loans if you meet the criteria. While no one can guarantee you funding the more you know the better.”