Scholarship Scams 101: How to Tell What’s Legit and What’s a Trap

You won’t realize it at first, but yes, it’s possible to be scammed on a scholarship. Most people out there might think that scholarships are free of any potential scams or wrongdoing from colleges and other organizations, but sadly, that’s not the case. In this blog, we are going to run through how to tell what’s legit and what’s a trap on a scholarship.

Types of Scholarship Scams

Two of the most prevalent types of scams are email and social media scams, as well as phishing calls and SMS texts. Now, these two relate more to having a general awareness of how the internet works concerning these systems. Phishing calls and email/SMS text scams are more prevalent than ever, and you must be aware of them.

Another type of scam is a fake scholarship website. These are probably a little bit less of a worry, just because normally you might find scholarships on the official college websites, or you will find them on our website too. 

Lastly, there’s something called scholarship matching services. There are websites out there that offer a free way for you to look for a scholarship. That being said, there are times when you might come across a site that charges you a fee. That’s something that can be a scam if they steal your money without giving away the service of looking for said scholarship.

Common Red Flags of Scholarship Scams

We just mentioned it, but one of the common red flags that are associated with scholarship scams is fees. Looking for a scholarship should never require spending money to do so. If you find that an official college website charges you a fee to look for a scholarship or even apply for a scholarship, you might want to report it to the college and ask if it was a mistake.

The next potential red flag of scholarship scam is what’s called a guaranteed money claim. It is essentially a false claim made by scholarship providers promising that you will receive a scholarship award. That’s not how scholarships work; they are more competitive, and usually only one or a few people will receive them while everyone else misses out.

Another red flag can relate to the first topic of types of scholarship scams. Phishing calls, SMS texts, and email scams can trick you into thinking that you might have just been “selected” for the scholarship, but here’s the catch… You never applied for it.

The last one that can be considered a red flag is if it’s anytime you’re requested for sensitive personal info such as your bank details, social security number, etc. You do not need this to be shown for applying because normally when you apply for a scholarship, the details from the college are already on hand from your education, and so on. Requiring you to give them again, specifically your bank details as an example, is very fishy, as we just mentioned with the fees. You should not need to pay, and if you are asked to give those details, that means they might want you to pay or just take the general info about it.

How to Verify if a Scholarship is Legit

Now that we’ve talked about the types of scams and the red flags that come with them, let's talk about the legit ones and how you can verify they are legit. The first thing you should do is research the scholarship provider. You won’t know it’s a scam unless you make sure to figure it out first, and you can do that by calling the college or calling the organization that provides the scholarship so that they can give you the most information possible.

This can also come with checking for contact info and a real website. The real website most likely will be an .edu website, and once you’re there, you should call the school counselors to make sure it all works.

With that being said, the final thing to show you is our verified scholarship sources and help on our website. We give you as much help to find the best opportunity, along with several scholarships that can be customized to the type of person you are. We hope you take the time to check them out and contact us if you have any questions!

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