10 Scholarship Scam Warning Signs 
- Fees: You shouldn’t have to pay to search for or apply for scholarships. Check out the free scholarship search at www.fastweb.com
- Credit Card or Bank Account Information Needed: You should never have to give credit card or bank account information to award providers.
- Scholarship Guarantee: No one can guarantee that you’ll win a scholarship because no one can control scholarship judges’ decisions. Also, be wary of “high success rates” – they usually do not refer to actual award winners.
- No Work Involved: Legitimate scholarship applications require time and energy.
- No Contact Involved: Legitimate sponsors should provide contact information upon request. If the sponsor does not supply a valid e-mail address, phone number and mailing address (not a PO box) upon request, that could be the sign of a scam.
- Unsolicited Scholarships: If you are called to receive an award for which you never applied, be alert – it’s 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. Dept. 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 you information (e.g., if it will be sent to a third party) or other questions, proceed with caution.
