At the end of last week, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced they are taking legal action to shut down a COVID-19 relief scam that targeted small businesses.
In response to a joint complaint filed by Moody and the FTC, a federal court in Florida issued a temporary restraining order and appointed a receiver against Florida-based Grant Bae and its owner, Traeshonna P. Graham. The defendants allegedly marketed a fictitious grant-writing service that falsely promised minority-owned small businesses easy access to guaranteed funding and COVID-19 economic relief.
“The defendants targeted small, minority-owned businesses with the promise they could help secure COVID-19 relief. Instead of obtaining the promised federal grant funds, the defendants took fees from struggling businesses and left them in even worse financial condition. I am pleased we have shut down this scam and we will continue to litigate this case in an effort to recover lost funds for those harmed,” Moody said.
FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Samuel Levine said, “These scammers targeted minority-owned businesses and misused public funds meant to support honest businesses during the pandemic. Working with our state partners and with new authority granted by Congress, we will continue to shut down frauds that prey on people during the pandemic.”
The complaint alleges that Graham and her company C Lee Enterprises, LLC, doing business as Grant Bae,...
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