# Is THIS a scam?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/77366>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 21, 2001, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/77366 "2001-08-21T17:05:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ShouldBeWorking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@ShouldBeWorking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShouldBeWorking)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/77366/1 "2001-08-21T17:05:50Z")

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I know that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. And I know that we’ve covered SCAMs hundreds of times before in GQ. But… indulge me.

Is this a scam?

[http://www.governmentland.com](http://www.governmentland.com)

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**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/77366/2 "2001-08-21T17:20:02Z")

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Contact the Department of the Interior. I would think were this program for real, Interior would be the one to administer it.

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**Author:** ![Wumpus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8c91f0/32.png) [@Wumpus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wumpus)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/77366/3 "2001-08-21T17:25:46Z")

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If you read the entire FAQ, all they’re sending you for your $18 is a packet of information. I imagine most of that info is also available from the government for free (assuming the program described is really exists, of course.)

I imagine the catch to this is that the land described is either 1) totally inaccesable by road, or 2) protected in such a way that you can’t build on it. So all you’re really getting from your land is a tax liability.

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**Author:** ![ShouldBeWorking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@ShouldBeWorking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShouldBeWorking)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/77366/4 "2001-08-21T17:37:24Z")

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Thanks Otto. I found the answer.

It’s a scam.

For those interested…

[http://www.blm.gov/nhp/freeland/freeland.htm](http://www.blm.gov/nhp/freeland/freeland.htm)