How to spot scholarship scams
Real scholarships don’t charge you to apply or to collect. Here are the warning signs, what legitimate awards look like, and where to report a scam. Based on guidance from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Federal Student Aid.
Red flags
- A fee to apply, to "process" or to "hold" an award. Legitimate scholarships don’t charge you to apply or to receive the money.
- A guarantee or a money-back promise. No one can guarantee you’ll win a scholarship or grant.
- "You’ve been selected" or "you’re a finalist" for something you never applied for.
- Requests for a bank account or credit card number to "verify" you or "reserve" the award.
- Pressure to act right now, such as a paid "financial aid seminar" with a high-pressure sales pitch at the end.
- Someone offering to fill out the FAFSA for a fee. The FAFSA is free at the official site, studentaid.gov.
- Anyone asking for your FSA ID username or password. Your FSA ID is your legal signature. Never share it, not even with a school, a consultant or a "debt relief" company.
- "Exclusive" scholarship lists you have to buy. Free searches (like this site, your school counselor and your college’s aid office) cover the same awards.
What a legitimate scholarship looks like
- A named sponsor you can look up, with a real website and contact details.
- Published eligibility rules and a deadline, or official rules for a drawing that say "no purchase necessary".
- Money that is usually paid to your school, not to you in cash.
- Personal details are asked for only when you win, to verify eligibility and pay the school (some sponsors then ask for a Social Security number for tax forms).
How we check the awards on this site
Every listing links straight to the sponsor’s official page and shows the date we last checked it. We never charge students anything, we never ask for payment details, and we re-check official pages every week. Read how we verify.
Where to report a scam
- The Federal Trade Commission: ReportFraud.ftc.gov ↗
- Your state attorney general’s consumer protection office.
- If someone got your FSA ID, change your password at studentaid.gov ↗ and contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
Do real scholarships ever charge an application fee?
Legitimate scholarships don’t charge you to apply or to receive an award. A fee is the most common sign of a scam.
Should I pay someone to fill out my FAFSA?
No. The FAFSA is free on the official site, studentaid.gov. Free help is available from your school’s financial aid office and the Federal Student Aid Information Center.
Is it a scam if a scholarship asks for my Social Security number?
Not always. Some legitimate sponsors ask winners for it to verify eligibility and handle tax paperwork. Be wary if anyone asks for it, or for bank details, before you’ve won, or if you never applied.