Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt says that his office has shut down a fraudulent operation based in Paola. The organization is alleged to have promised consumers who bought a handbook that they were "guaranteed" to receive grants from the federal government. A-G spokesman Jeff Wagaman says the operation tried to siphon hundreds of dollars from consumers across the country for grant research, writing and coaching services. Wagaman said the company also failed to substantiate its claims of a 70-percent-or-higher success rate in securing grants.
Wagaman says consumers who were bilked by the operation will be notified if prosecutors can get them refunds.