Scholarship Scams
Be alert for services that solicit money in exchange for guaranteed scholarships. Watch out for pitches that boast:
* "You're a finalist!" or "You've won!" a contest or scholarship you never entered. Be wary, especially if they ask you for a credit card or bank account number to hold your "winnings." Don't believe it. You must apply for scholarships first to receive them.
* "First come, first served." While you do need to get your application in before the scholarship deadlines, the “first come, first served” rule does not apply to scholarships.
* "Millions of dollars go unclaimed." Legitimate scholarship awards are predetermined. Sponsors work very hard to find the most qualified applicant.
* "It's guaranteed!" Scholarship searches can guarantee search "results". They can’t guarantee you the scholarship money.
* "We'll do the work for you, for a fee." The fee may be nominal and the offer may come from someone sounding official. So make sure you do your research before paying anyone to do a search for you.
If the offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
