| Scholarship Scams: What You Should Know |
| Warning signs |
| "For a fee, we provide a comprehensive list of scholarships." |
Don't spend money on a fee-based matching service. The biggest and best scholarship databases are available for free online. Check out the free scholarship search at www.fastweb.com. |
| "We have a money-back guarantee." |
Legitimate scholarships are always competitive. No one can guarantee that you will win a scholarship. Also, be wary of "high success ratio". They usually do not refer to actual award winners. |
| "We need your credit card or bank account number." |
No legitimate scholarship should require your credit card or bank account numbers. Be careful whenever giving out your credit card or bank account numbers. |
| "We will do all the work." |
To receive a scholarship, students must complete the application and essay themselves. No one else can do the work for them. |
| Unsolicited Scholarships |
If you are called to receive an award for which you never applied, be alert - it is most likely a scam. |
| Pressure Tactics |
Don't allow yourself to be pressured into applying for a scholarship, especially if the sponsor is asking you to pay. |
| Claims of Exclusive Scholarships. |
Legitimate sponsors won't restrict knowledge about their award to a single search service. |
| An Official-Sounding Name or Endorsement Doesn't Automatically Mean Legitimacy. |
A sponsor may use words like "national", "education" or "federal" or have an official-looking seal, but might still be a scammer. Also, the federal government and the U.S. Department of Education do not endorse private business. |
| Your Questions Aren't Answered Directly. |
If you can't get a straight answer from a sponsor regarding their application, what will be done with your information, or other questions, proceed with caution. |
Remember that applying for financial aid should
never cost more than a postage stamp! |
