Scholarships are the best way for international students to pursue their careers without breaking the bank. However, in many cases, students get easily trapped by scammers who use various tactics to offer them something in exchange for their help or to find an appropriate scholarship. So, Beware of Scholarship Scams, and Do Not Trust anyone unquestioningly.
Furthermore, the victims of these Scams lose thousands of Dollars collectively annually.
In this article, we advise on how to Avoid Scholarship and Financial aid Scams, how to Spot Scholarship Scams, tips on how to avoid scholarship scams, and how to Avoid Scholarship Scams so you can Beware of Scholarship Scams in the Future and never be fooled by Scammers. Moreover, staying informed is the key to Avoid these Scholarship Scams.
COMMON SCHOLARSHIP SCAMS AND TIPS TO AVOID SCHOLARSHIP SCAMS
Here, we have discussed some Common Scholarship Scams so you can have a better idea of how to spot scholarship scams or How to Avoid Scholarship Scams
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Scholarship Scams Involving Payment Demands
Scammers assure you that you will get a scholarship if you pay to reserve the offer. They will guide you that it costs money to apply for any scholarship and will vanish once you pay the application fee to them.
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Guaranteed Scholarship
Many fake companies advertise that they will guarantee to get you a scholarship and, in return, ask for a fee or offer a money-back guarantee, but legitimate services will never assure you that they will get a scholarship
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Request for Bank Account or Personal Information.
Fraudulent Scholarship companies may ask you for bank information to verify your eligibility or personal information such as a bank account, credit card, social security number, or other confidential personal data during the application process.
Please keep in mind that legitimate companies may ask for standard information like name, address, phone number, and Email address. If you have any questions about providing information to a legitimate organization, they will happily answer them, so feel free to reach out. Last but not least, trust your GUT and avoid falling for traps.
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Unexpected Scholarship Award Notification
Sometimes, you may even receive a call, message, or Email stating that you have been selected for a scholarship you never applied for. This is a common sign of a scam. Don’t respond to such calls and messages.
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Pressure driven Scholarship proposals
Scammers Often Pressure you to apply quickly for a “limited time” scholarship to create a false sense of urgency. Legitimate scholarships set a deadline a month before, so one should have ample time to complete the application process. So, beware of these high-pressure tactics and avoid falling into the trap of rushed scholarship offers.
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Beware of Companies promising more financial Aid.
Some companies claim they can help you get more financial Aid, loans, and grants if you pay them a fee. They might even lie on your free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to get money.
But if someone cheats by taking the name of FAFSA, it’s totally illegal and can result in a hefty fine (up to $20,000) and even jail time. So, don’t take a risk from any company that offers to fill out this free form for you; instead, do it yourself. Never share FAFSA login information with anyone, so stay protected from any fraud.
How to find actual Scholarships
Once you know the red flags or how to avoid scholarship scams, you can follow the steps to learn how to get graduate scholarships.
- Always do thorough research before applying for any specific scholarship from reputable websites. Colleges and universities typically list Scholarships on their official websites.
- Niche, Chegg, Fastweb, and College Board are trusted sources for finding scholarships.
- For scholarships, check federal agencies, your state’s grant agency, higher education agencies, businesses, and organizations related to your field.
- Submit your FAFSA for free, and never pay anyone a fee.
- Learn How to Answer Popular Scholarship Interview Questions from different sources to increase your chance of success.
FAQ related to scholarship scams
- What do you do if you pay the scammer? or What do you do if you suspect a scholarship financial aid scam?
You should report any scams to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at official website and file a complaint with your state attorney general.
If you have already been scammed, check out the FTC’s article about what to do if you’ve been scammed and take immediate action.
- What are some warning signs of scholarship fraud?
Here, we discuss some red flags related to scams
If Scammers say
- The Scholarship is guaranteed or money back
- You can’t get information anywhere
- I need your bank Account or Credit card number
- I will do the processing work and charge fees in return
- The Scholarship will cost some money
