01/09/2021
PAYING MONEY TO GET MONEY
Is someone offering you a “guaranteed” scholarship through their “exclusive” access—if only you cover the application or processing costs first? That should set off alarm bells. “One thing to watch out for is when anyone charges you an upfront fee,”. “Most legitimate scholarships are out to give students money, not collect money. That is a big red flag.”
OFFERS TO FILL OUT APPLICATIONS FOR A FEE
A smooth operator might tell you, “We do all the work; we’ll locate scholarships for your student and fill out the paperwork. We just need a ‘processing fee.’” This is totally ridiculous. They can’t, and won’t, write usable scholarship essays for you or acquire meaningful letters of recommendation. They’ll cash your “processing fee” and send you some garbage they googled, plagiarized, or use for all their victims.
PRESSURE TO RESPOND QUICKLY
Scholarship fraudsters often pressure you to respond immediately (or unreasonably quickly) by employing time-sensitive malarkey like “First come, first served,” “For lucky applicants who apply first,” and “Act now to claim recent additions to our file.” Don’t rush into this trap.
OFFICIAL SOUNDING NAMES
Scam operations often have names that impersonate government programs, scholarship organizations, and nonprofit education foundations, even using words like “National”, “Federal”, and “Administration.” Plus, they might have a Washington, DC address. Don’t be duped. Google any group’s name to certify its legitimacy before you even talk to them — especially if they reached out to you first.
FREE SEMINARS
Perhaps you’ll be invited to attend a free event that promises useful scholarship information. Upon arrival, if you’re greeted by aggressive sales reps pressuring you with hyperbolic pitches for overpriced services, loans, and student resume formatting, then there’s no need to be polite. Leave straight away, there’s nothing of value for you there.
SHOWING UP OUT OF THE BLUES
A letter shows up in your mailbox, or an email in your inbox, or a paid advertisement in your social-media feeds. It’s got good news: You have already won a scholarship. Scholarships don’t usually just land on your lap like that. You’ll need to do the legwork of finding them and applying.
NO LEGITIMATE CONTACT INFO
Reputable scholarships provide a telephone number and a business address. Frauds do not, because they don’t want to be traced. Beware of operations using a PO box or a residential address. Hang up on people who won’t give you their phone number because they insist that they’ll call you. Don’t call, or return “one-ring” phone calls.
