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For parents

Scholarship Scam Checker

Check a scholarship or aid offer against the warning signs the FTC lists.

Answer each question about the offer: a letter, email, call, text or seminar. Each one is a warning sign from the FTC’s or Federal Student Aid’s own advice.

Paid FAFSA help: a check you can do right now

The FAFSA is free to complete. Any site that charges to file the FAFSA is charging for something free.

The official form is on Federal Student Aid’s own site, StudentAid.gov. The FAFSA form (studentaid.gov, opens in a new tab)

Federal Student Aid: scams (studentaid.gov, opens in a new tab) last checked pending our review

Answered0 of 10

Fees, card or bank numbers, and logins

What they ask you to pay or share

Question 1. Do they ask you to pay anything (an application, processing or “redemption” fee) to apply or to get the money?
Question 2. Do they charge to fill out or submit the FAFSA?
Question 3. Do they ask for a credit card or bank account number to “hold” or deliver the award?
Question 4. Do they ask for your StudentAid.gov username and password (FSA ID)?

Guarantees, invitations and “only from us” claims

What they promise

Question 5. Do they promise you’ll definitely get the money, or offer a refund if you don’t?
Question 6. Do they say they’ll do all the work for you if you pay them?
Question 7. Did a message say your student was selected for a scholarship or aid package they never applied for?
Question 8. Do they say you can’t get this information anywhere else?

The pitch itself, and what others say about them

How they sell it

Question 9. Is there pressure to pay right away, for example at a “free” seminar or on a call, or you’ll lose out?
Question 10. When you search the organization’s name with the words “scam” or “complaint”, do complaints come up?

“Not sure” is an answer. Pick it when you can’t tell yet.

Your check shows up here

0 of 10 answered. Answer them all to see the result (“Not sure” is an answer).

This counts warning signs from the FTC’s and Federal Student Aid’s advice. It never calls an offer safe or real.

Where these facts come from

  1. The FTC says never pay to apply for a scholarship. One line it lists from scammers: “We’ll do all the work. You just pay a processing fee.”

    FTC: avoiding scholarship scams (consumer.ftc.gov, opens in a new tab) last checked pending our review Report a problem with: The FTC says never pay to apply for a scholarship. One line it lists from scammers: “We’ll do all the work. You just pay a processing fee.” (an email to us)

  2. Federal Student Aid says you don’t have to pay to find scholarships or other financial aid.

    Federal Student Aid: scams (studentaid.gov, opens in a new tab) last checked pending our review Report a problem with: Federal Student Aid says you don’t have to pay to find scholarships or other financial aid. (an email to us)

  3. A line the FTC lists from scammers: “The scholarship is guaranteed or your money back.” The FTC warns that refund conditions attached to these promises can make a refund close to impossible to get.

    FTC: avoiding scholarship scams (consumer.ftc.gov, opens in a new tab) last checked pending our review Report a problem with: A line the FTC lists from scammers: “The scholarship is guaranteed or your money back.” The FTC warns that refund conditions attached to these promises can make a refund close to impossible to get. (an email to us)

  4. The FTC says these scams often start with a social media post, email or letter that looks like a personal invitation saying you’ve been selected for a scholarship or financial aid package.

    FTC: avoiding scholarship scams (consumer.ftc.gov, opens in a new tab) last checked pending our review Report a problem with: The FTC says these scams often start with a social media post, email or letter that looks like a personal invitation saying you’ve been selected for a scholarship or financial aid package. (an email to us)

  5. A line the FTC lists from scammers: “I just need your credit card or bank account number to hold this scholarship.”

    FTC: avoiding scholarship scams (consumer.ftc.gov, opens in a new tab) last checked pending our review Report a problem with: A line the FTC lists from scammers: “I just need your credit card or bank account number to hold this scholarship.” (an email to us)

  6. A line the FTC lists from scammers: “You can’t get this information anywhere else.”

    FTC: avoiding scholarship scams (consumer.ftc.gov, opens in a new tab) last checked pending our review Report a problem with: A line the FTC lists from scammers: “You can’t get this information anywhere else.” (an email to us)

  7. The FTC says scam seminars and calls are usually high-pressure sales pitches that push you to pay right away or risk losing out, and advises not paying any money at a seminar.

    FTC: avoiding scholarship scams (consumer.ftc.gov, opens in a new tab) last checked pending our review Report a problem with: The FTC says scam seminars and calls are usually high-pressure sales pitches that push you to pay right away or risk losing out, and advises not paying any money at a seminar. (an email to us)

  8. The FTC advises searching the organization’s name online with the words “complaint” and “scam” before you pay anything, and talking with a school counselor or college financial aid office, who may offer the same help for free.

    FTC: avoiding scholarship scams (consumer.ftc.gov, opens in a new tab) last checked pending our review Report a problem with: The FTC advises searching the organization’s name online with the words “complaint” and “scam” before you pay anything, and talking with a school counselor or college financial aid office, who may offer the same help for free. (an email to us)

  9. The FAFSA (the Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is free to complete.

    Federal Student Aid: scams (studentaid.gov, opens in a new tab) last checked pending our review Report a problem with: The FAFSA (the Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is free to complete. (an email to us)

  10. You fill out the official FAFSA form on Federal Student Aid’s own site, StudentAid.gov.

    Federal Student Aid: the FAFSA (studentaid.gov, opens in a new tab) last checked pending our review Report a problem with: You fill out the official FAFSA form on Federal Student Aid’s own site, StudentAid.gov. (an email to us)

  11. The U.S. Department of Education and its partners will never ask for your StudentAid.gov account username or password.

    Federal Student Aid: scams (studentaid.gov, opens in a new tab) last checked pending our review Report a problem with: The U.S. Department of Education and its partners will never ask for your StudentAid.gov account username or password. (an email to us)

  12. You can report a scholarship or financial aid scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, or to your state attorney general.

    FTC: avoiding scholarship scams (consumer.ftc.gov, opens in a new tab) last checked pending our review Report a problem with: You can report a scholarship or financial aid scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, or to your state attorney general. (an email to us)

  13. Every state has an attorney general; the National Association of Attorneys General lists them all.

    NAAG: find your attorney general (naag.org, opens in a new tab) last checked pending our review Report a problem with: Every state has an attorney general; the National Association of Attorneys General lists them all. (an email to us)

More tools: before you pay or sign up