# how bogus is Matthew Lesko? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 7, 2005, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bogus-is-matthew-lesko/293418 "2005-03-07T20:08:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![filmyak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@filmyak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmyak)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bogus-is-matthew-lesko/293418/1 "2005-03-07T20:08:25Z")
I’ve got a friend who is ready to order that spaz Lesko’s books from a tv commercial, the kind that promises info on tons of gov’t grants that give everyone a chance to have the gov’t pay their rent, go on vacation, etc. Anyone have any info on these books I can pass on? My gut says they’re full of crap with the occasional bit of decent info if you have a legitimate grant reason, not the cornucopia of free cash they seems to be. But real info would be appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![James\_Westphal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9bd4f/32.png) [@James\_Westphal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/James_Westphal)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bogus-is-matthew-lesko/293418/2 "2005-03-07T20:28:58Z")
My recollection from when this was last answered was that the information in Lesko’s book is real, it just doesn’t apply to everyone. The government programs he describes are real, but chances are you don’t qualify. Your gut is essentially right. My guess is that if you were 10 different people, all with different financial circumstances, you could probably turn a profit on the book. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bogus-is-matthew-lesko/293418/3 "2005-03-07T20:39:34Z")
I’m not sure where you are, **Filmyak** , but you might wanna check your local library to see if they have the book instead of buying it. A quick check in Chicago’s system shows a bunch of [Lesko’s books.](http://www.chipubweb.org/cgi-bin/cw_cgi?resultsScreen+18864+1+10+4) I’m curious if Lesko just kept writing to that Pueblo, CO address for info, then stuck it all in a book, got some felt question marks on a suit, and then began tormenting late night TV. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bogus-is-matthew-lesko/293418/4 "2005-03-07T20:41:03Z")
The big thing about Lesko’s book is that all of the info is readily available from the Government Printing Office **for free or cheap.** Imagine paying somebody $10 for all the tax forms you need (which are free at the Post Office,) and you’ll get the picture. :dubious: [www.gpo.gov](http://www.gpo.gov) ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bogus-is-matthew-lesko/293418/5 "2005-03-07T20:50:09Z")
Umm, secretly imagine my 2000th post up there but with the words Pueblo, CO looking like this: [Pueblo, CO](http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/) I guess I’m getting senile as my post counts go up… ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bogus-is-matthew-lesko/293418/6 "2005-03-07T21:10:49Z")
This topic has been covered before: > **["Ask Lesko?" or Ask My "Uncle Sam"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=241286)** > > You know that crazy guy on TV wearing question marks all over his sport coat? 😕 He’s the “Ask Lesko” dude who pushes his rather pricey book about programs, perks, and benefits available to the average citizen from the US Government, but our Uncle... > **[Matthew Lesko & Free Money????](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=292733)** > > Is Matthew Lesko on the level about this “Free Money”??? There’s got to be a catch somewhere!! ---
**Author:** ![filmyak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@filmyak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmyak)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bogus-is-matthew-lesko/293418/7 "2005-03-07T21:56:33Z")
Perfect. Thanks, everyone! ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bogus-is-matthew-lesko/293418/8 "2005-03-07T22:29:04Z")
The book is a compilation of grants and loans that the government provides. We found that if you were a non-white or a woman, it had tons of information for you, but there were few programs that would help us. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bogus-is-matthew-lesko/293418/9 "2005-03-07T23:45:08Z")
One other piece of advice–see the local library has a copy of his books. Your pal can cead all the info Lesko’s compiled without writing to Pueblo, and without sending more $$ to Lesko. If the book is as good as promised, then he can get his own copy. ---
**Author:** ![stockton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@stockton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stockton)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bogus-is-matthew-lesko/293418/10 "2005-03-08T03:00:03Z")
> [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](#): > > One other piece of advice–see the local library has a copy of his books. Your pal can cead all the info Lesko’s compiled without writing to Pueblo, and without sending more $$ to Lesko. If the book is as good as promised, then he can get his own copy. Eerie. This reminds me a lot of post #3 in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bogus-is-matthew-lesko/293418/11 "2005-03-08T04:10:46Z")
> [@stockton](#): > > Eerie. This reminds me a lot of post #3 in this thread. I’m only seeing with one eye these days; I guess I focused on all the “write to Pueblo!” talk and completely missed stpauler’s earlier mention of the public library. Apologies. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bogus-is-matthew-lesko/293418/12 "2005-03-08T04:13:53Z")
Most public libraries have theft problems with Lesko’s books. If you find one on the shelf, you would be lucky. Lesko has made people think that the Federal government is in the business of giving people money for half-baked business ventures that have little planning or chance of success. ---
**Author:** ![noblebaron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e274bd/32.png) [@noblebaron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/noblebaron)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bogus-is-matthew-lesko/293418/13 "2005-03-08T06:46:57Z")
You could probably save money by going online to [www.governmentgrants.com](http://www.governmentgrants.com) It looks like they’ll give you similar information for less money and you get the info instantly. I see they also have links to the Lesko grants books. -NobleBaron ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bogus-is-matthew-lesko/293418/14 "2005-03-09T04:46:47Z")
I know this isn’t GD, but in terms of Matthew Lesko bogus-ness… While Lesko isn’t exactly scamming anyone (his book is a convenient collection of info that’s just normally available separately) the tone & essence of his _pitch_ and the so-called ‘testimonials’ from his readers that appear in the commercials seem to all fall under the category of, how shall I put this, **low-life scum who’ll do absolutely anything to avoid getting a real job and earning an honest living!** 😃 IOW, Lesko’s trying to show lazy, quasi-dishonest people how, with a few white lies and/or half-truths, you can take advantage of programs that are really meant for other people who truely need them (and he’s making a nice living doing so). So in essence I think he’s a sleazeball. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bogus-is-matthew-lesko/293418/15 "2005-03-09T05:07:17Z")
Also notice that out of 60+ reviews on [Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1878346407/qid=1110345769/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/104-0250601-7760707?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) , he gets only 2 stars. That’s one of the lowest ratings I’ve ever seen for a book so heavily reviewed. Go to any library and ask for the most current [Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance](http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?programId=8897&channelId=-13090&ooid=10111&contentId=12885&pageTypeId=8203&contentType=GSA_BASIC&programPage=%252Fep%252Fprogram%252FgsaBasic.jsp&P=MVS) for most of the same info and it’s free. ---
**Author:** ![Crandolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Crandolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crandolph)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bogus-is-matthew-lesko/293418/16 "2005-03-09T07:16:55Z")
> [@Hail Ants](#): > > (his book is a convenient collection of info that’s just normally available separately) True, but then so is an encyclopedia or the SDMB. There’s something to be said for editing or compiling in a handy way. I remember seeing that Pueblo address contantly on PSAs on TV in the 70s and perhaps into the 80s, but I don’t recall having seen it for years since. Not sure if that says more about my TV viewship decline than the decline in PSAs at reasonable hours (or in general) but I imagine that, filling the void, he is responsible for a lot of people becoming aware of federal programs that they otherwise wouldn’t be. My mother bought the book(s) over a decade ago before the internet was much of a reality for the average person, and it was somewhat useful. I think I mentioned this in one of the earlier threads linked to above, but I actually bumped into him on the street in DC a couple of years ago and he was wearing the question mark suit, which was quite surreal. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bogus-is-matthew-lesko/293418/17 "2005-03-09T07:35:15Z")
The Pueblo address was for getting free government publications, not grants. You could get a government pamphlet on how to lose weight or properly maintain your car. The Federal Government doesn’t like to print stuff anymore unless it has to. It prefers to point you to a website. ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bogus-is-matthew-lesko/293418/18 "2005-03-09T07:36:47Z")
**Onion** take: > [@](#): > > Thousands of Americans receive tax-free money from the government for education, new businesses, and so on. But the problem with these money-making schemes is YOU DON’T QUALIFY. You would have to actually go to school or start a business to get a piece of that pie. But can you lie? YES, YOU CAN! You’ve done it a million times in your life, to a million people—your ex-wife, your parents, the departmental supervisor at your former job. With the Instant Money Invention Plan, all you have to do is lie about something else… your salary! > > Wouldn’t it be great to work from the comfort of your own living-room couch, sitting back and watching the money roll in? Of course it would. Unfortunately, there’s no such thing. But I’m not talking about some get-rich-quick scheme. I am talking about FOOLING PEOPLE into THINKING you’ve gotten rich quick. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bogus-is-matthew-lesko/293418/19 "2005-03-09T16:49:58Z")
Well, he can probably show you how to eliminate your clothing expenses by convincing somebody to give you his hand-me-downs, using whatever approach worked on the Riddler. ---
**Author:** ![aahala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@aahala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aahala)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bogus-is-matthew-lesko/293418/20 "2005-03-09T17:22:10Z")
Restating the original question. If you had a meeting with your financial advisor and he showed up wearing a yellow clown’s suit with question marks, would it: a) increase your trust in his advice b) decrease your trust in his advise c)make you want to shop for a similar costume [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bogus-is-matthew-lesko/293418.md?page=2)