Introduction
Scholarships are financial awards that cover part or all of the cost of attending a college, university, or other educational institution. They are also a great way for students to fund their education without taking out student loans.
However, with so many different options available, we’ve also seen an increase in scholarship scams and fake programs. These programs will take your money but fail to deliver on their promises.
Unscrupulous individuals start these programs for personal gain at your expense. That doesn’t mean that every scholarship you find online is a scam.
But it does mean that you need to be cautious and do your research before paying any application fees or providing personal information like your social security number.
Read on to see how you can spot a fake scholarship program and protect yourself from being taken advantage of by unscrupulous individuals posing as well-meaning charity workers and honest academics seeking applicants for their scholarships.
Check The Scholarship Provider’s Website
One of the first things you should do is make sure that the website you found the scholarship on is legitimate. You can usually find this information by looking for an “about us” or “contact us” section on the website.
You can also use a site like WhoIsHosting. This is to see where the website is hosted. If the website is outdated, hosted on a free platform, or seems otherwise suspicious, it’s best to proceed with caution.
Researchers have found that many fake scholarship websites will just use logos and images from other reputable institutions. This isn’t enough to conclude that the website is actually affiliated with those organizations, so always make sure to check the details on the website to make sure you’re on the right one.
The Scholarship Sounds Too Good To Be True
Any scholarship worth its salt will be competitive and require some kind of application essay, portfolio, or other demonstration of your abilities.
If you come across a scholarship that promises to cover your entire tuition, you should proceed with extreme caution. Many of these fake scholarship programs will ask you for a small fee, often referred to as an “administrative fee”, as payment for applying.
They may even require you to pay for a background check or other type of screening process that should be free for all applicants. Be very cautious about paying for any part of the application process.
Some fake scholarship programs will use vague language like “no essay” or “no essay required”. If you’re asked to write an essay or otherwise provide evidence that you’re qualified for the funds, proceed with extreme caution.
The Program Is Only Available Through A Specific Broker/Agent
If the scholarship you’re interested in is offered by a specific broker or agent, you need to proceed with extreme caution. Legitimate scholarships will be open to application and submission from all students with the required qualifications.
If the scholarship is only available through this one specific broker, there’s a good chance it’s fake. Most scholarship programs are also free to apply for and have no upfront costs.
If you’re asked to pay a fee, attend an event, or provide a product or service to an agent in return for applying, proceed with extreme caution.
Some scholarship providers will partner with third-party organizations to increase their outreach and applicant pool. However, these partnerships are completely free to students and do not require any payment or service on your part.
The Program Requires You to Pay to Apply or Stay Registered
Any legitimate scholarship program that you apply to will allow you to submit an application and remain registered without paying a fee.
There may be some programs that require you to submit an application fee to cover administrative costs, but they will refund this amount if your application is rejected.
If you’re asked to pay to stay registered, attend an event, or provide a product or service to an agent in return for applying, proceed with extreme caution.
Most scholarship providers will partner with third-party organizations to increase their outreach and applicant pool. However, these partnerships are completely free to students and do not require any payment or service on your part.
You’re Asked to Provide Personal Information That Doesn’t Feel Right to You
If you’re asked to provide your social security number, driver’s license, or other personal information, proceed with extreme caution.
Legitimate scholarship providers will never ask you for this type of personal information. If you’re asked to provide personal information, always proceed with caution.
Most scholarship providers will ask you to provide basic information like your name, address, and email address. If they request additional information, they will let you know why they need it and how it will be used.
Avoid providing any personal information that you don’t feel comfortable sharing.
Conclusion
Scholarships are a great way to fund your education without taking out student loans, but they can also be ripe for fraud. Be cautious and do your research to avoid being scammed by a fake scholarship program and an unverifiable source.