Start an investigation
Take it one step at a time. You can stop at any step and come back later.
Want it on paper? Print our one-page checklist.
1Pick one topic
Choose one thing to look into. Small and specific is best.
2Gather the public records
Facts come first. These free government websites show where public money goes:
- USAspending.gov: federal grants, loans, and contracts. Search by company name or ZIP code.
- Oversight.gov: reports from the government's own fraud watchdogs (Inspectors General).
- FOIA.gov: how to ask a federal agency for records.
- Your township, city, or county website: meeting minutes, budgets, and permits. If they are not online, ask the clerk. See our sample records request letter.
Keep a simple notebook or folder: what you found, where you found it (the web address), and the date.
Not sure what a word means? See our Word list.
3Ask Grok Bot clear, specific questions
Grok Bot can search public records and explain them in plain words. Good questions name who, what, where, and when.
How to use a question
- Press the big yellow Copy button under the question.
- Open the Grok Bot app. Press and hold in the message box, then tap Paste.
- Change the words in [square brackets] to your own details. Then send it.
Questions that work for any topic
Using only official public sources, find public records about [company, project, or program name] in [county, state]. List each source with its web address so I can check it myself.
On an iPad or phone, you can also press and hold the words, then tap Copy.
Explain this document to me in plain language, as if I have never seen one before. What does it say about money? [paste the text or attach the document]
On an iPad or phone, you can also press and hold the words, then tap Copy.
What are some innocent explanations for this, and what would make it a real concern? [describe what you found]
On an iPad or phone, you can also press and hold the words, then tap Copy.
Ready-made guides
Guide: Check a company's public records
Use this when a business got public money, won a government contract, or is asking for your money.
- Write down the company's exact name and the state it is in.
- Copy a question below and paste it into Grok Bot.
- Open each official source Grok Bot gives you, and check it with your own eyes.
- Write down what you found, the web address, and the date.
- If something still looks wrong, go to Report fraud.
Questions to copy into Grok Bot
Using only official public sources, look up the business [company name] in [state]. Is it registered with the state? When was it formed, and is it still active? Give me the web address of each official record so I can check it myself.
On an iPad or phone, you can also press and hold the words, then tap Copy.
Using only public government records, did [company name] in [state] receive federal grants, loans, or contracts? Check USAspending.gov and list each award with its amount, date, agency, and web address.
On an iPad or phone, you can also press and hold the words, then tap Copy.
Has the business [company name] been fined, sued, or penalized by a government agency? Only include items you can show me from an official source or a court record, with links. If you find nothing, tell me that.
On an iPad or phone, you can also press and hold the words, then tap Copy.
Guide: Check whether a charity is real and registered
Use this before you give money, or when a charity asks you for a donation.
- Write down the charity's exact name and city. Fake charities often use names that sound like real ones.
- Copy a question below and paste it into Grok Bot.
- Check the answer yourself on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search.
- Your state may also have a charity office. The National Association of State Charity Officials lists them.
- If a charity seems fake, report it to your state attorney general or ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Questions to copy into Grok Bot
Is [charity name] in [city, state] a registered tax-exempt charity? Check the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Tell me its status, and whether gifts to it are tax-deductible. Give me the link.
On an iPad or phone, you can also press and hold the words, then tap Copy.
Does [charity name] have to register with the state charity office in [state], and is it registered? Point me to the official state lookup page.
On an iPad or phone, you can also press and hold the words, then tap Copy.
Explain [charity name]'s latest public Form 990 tax filing in plain words. How much did it raise, and how much went to programs, salaries, and fundraising? Give me the source.
On an iPad or phone, you can also press and hold the words, then tap Copy.
I got a donation request from [charity name]. Here is what it said: [paste the message]. Does it show the warning signs of a fake charity? How can I give safely?
On an iPad or phone, you can also press and hold the words, then tap Copy.
Guide: Spot a scam text, email, or call
Use this when a message you did not expect asks for money, personal details, or quick action.
- Do not click any links, reply, or call a number in the message.
- Copy the words of the message. Leave out any of your own personal details.
- Copy a question below, paste it into Grok Bot, and then paste the message where it says to.
- To report a scam text, forward it to 7726 (the letters S-P-A-M). This helps your phone company block it.
- Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If you lost money, call your bank first.
Questions to copy into Grok Bot
I got this [text / email / phone call]. Here are the words: [paste the message, with my personal details removed]. Does it show the warning signs of a scam? Explain in plain words. Do not open any links in it.
On an iPad or phone, you can also press and hold the words, then tap Copy.
How do I find the real, official phone number or website for [company or agency name], so I can check whether this message is really from them?
On an iPad or phone, you can also press and hold the words, then tap Copy.
Where should I report this kind of scam: [describe it in one sentence]? Give me the official government reporting pages.
On an iPad or phone, you can also press and hold the words, then tap Copy.
Guide: Check a contractor's license
Use this before you hire someone to work on your home, or when a contractor got a public job.
- Ask the contractor for their business name and license number.
- Copy a question below and paste it into Grok Bot to find your state's official license lookup.
- Look up the license yourself on the state's official website. Check that it is active and that the name matches.
- Be careful if someone wants a large payment up front, or only takes cash.
Questions to copy into Grok Bot
How do I check whether a contractor is licensed in [state]? Give me the official state licensing board's lookup page.
On an iPad or phone, you can also press and hold the words, then tap Copy.
What does [state] require a [roofer / plumber / electrician / home builder] to have: a license, insurance, or a bond? Use only official state sources.
On an iPad or phone, you can also press and hold the words, then tap Copy.
A contractor wants [amount] up front before starting work on my home in [state]. Is that normal? What are the warning signs of a home repair scam?
On an iPad or phone, you can also press and hold the words, then tap Copy.
Guide: Find which office to report to
Use this when you have checked the facts and still believe something is wrong.
- Write one or two plain sentences about what you found.
- Copy the first question below and paste it into Grok Bot.
- Check that the office it suggests is on an official government website (most end in .gov). Our Report fraud page lists the main ones.
- Use the second question for help writing a short, factual report.
- Send the report only to that office. Do not post it online.
Questions to copy into Grok Bot
I believe I found [one sentence, for example: a company billing Medicare for care that was never given] in [city, state]. Which government office is the right one to report this to? Give me the official reporting page and phone number from a .gov website.
On an iPad or phone, you can also press and hold the words, then tap Copy.
Help me write a short, factual report for [office name]. Stick to what the public records show, list my sources, and do not call anyone a criminal. Here are my notes: [paste your notes].
On an iPad or phone, you can also press and hold the words, then tap Copy.
More questions by topic
Topic: Government benefit programs
Look at programs and totals, not at the families who get help. Benefit records about people are private by law.
How much federal money did [state or county] receive for [program, such as SNAP or housing aid] in [year]? Show me the official source.
On an iPad or phone, you can also press and hold the words, then tap Copy.
Has an Inspector General found fraud in [program] in [state] in the last five years? Summarize the official reports with links.
On an iPad or phone, you can also press and hold the words, then tap Copy.
Topic: Energy projects and public money
Which company owns the [project name] energy project (such as a power plant, pipeline, or solar or wind farm) in [county, state], and what public filings show its contracts, approvals, and owners? Give me links to the official records.
On an iPad or phone, you can also press and hold the words, then tap Copy.
Did [project or company] receive federal grants, loans, or tax credits? What do USAspending.gov and other public records show?
On an iPad or phone, you can also press and hold the words, then tap Copy.
Which state commission approved this energy contract, and when? Give me the order or case (docket) number.
On an iPad or phone, you can also press and hold the words, then tap Copy.
Topic: Medicare and health care
I got a Medicare Summary Notice with a charge I don't recognize. Explain each line, and tell me how to check whether it is a billing error or fraud. (I will not share my Medicare number.)
On an iPad or phone, you can also press and hold the words, then tap Copy.
Has the business [clinic or company name] in [city, state] been named in any public Medicare or Medicaid fraud cases? Only show cases with official sources.
On an iPad or phone, you can also press and hold the words, then tap Copy.
Topic: Local government spending
Find the latest budget and meeting minutes for [township or city], [state]. What were the biggest spending decisions this year?
On an iPad or phone, you can also press and hold the words, then tap Copy.
Help me write a public records request to [township or county] asking for [contract, permit, or invoices] about [project].
On an iPad or phone, you can also press and hold the words, then tap Copy.
4Check before you conclude
- Open the sources yourself. AI helpers can make mistakes, so trust the official document, not the summary.
- Ask: Is this fraud (someone lied to get money), or just a decision I disagree with? Only the first is fraud.
- Talk it over with a friend or family member you trust.
5Report it to the right people
If you still believe something is wrong, send it to an official office. They have the power to investigate.
Never post accusations online. Share what you find only with the authorities.