Scholarships Scams

Be careful when searching for information on student financial aid. Make sure information and offers are legitimate. Don't fall prey to fraud. Estimates show that families lose millions of dollars to scholarship fraud every year.

The College Scholarship Fraud Prevention Act helps protect against fraud in student financial assistance. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC cautions students to look for these telltale lines: "The scholarship is guaranteed or your money back." "You can't get this information anywhere else." "I just need your credit card or bank account number to hold this scholarship."

To file a complaint, or for free information, call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The TTY number is 1-866-653-4261. Or, visit www.ftc.gov/scholarshipscams.

The Student Guide, U.S. Dept. of Education