How to Protect Yourself from College and Scholarship Scams
04/13/2026
A lot of young adults view college as a pathway to better jobs and more opportunities. Sadly, scammers also see this as a chance to take advantage of people looking to improve their lives.
Applying for college, financial aid, and scholarships can be overwhelming, and scammers know it. They’ll try to make everything sound easy, promising things that aren’t realistic. Stay sharp and watch out for education scams—they’re everywhere.
Scammers use all kinds of tricks to target people your age. They might tempt you with generous scholarships, financial aid, or student loan forgiveness, only to steal your bank details. Some demand huge payments for services that legitimate organizations offer for free. Others advertise online courses for worthless degrees and fake certifications, promising job placements that never happen.
The best move you can make is to always verify that you’re dealing with legit colleges and trustworthy service providers.
Six Smart Ways to Spot Education Scams
- If it sounds too good to be true, it is
Consider any irresistible promise to be a warning. - Never pay to apply for scholarships or financial aid
Legitimate scholarship programs and financial aid providers do not charge application fees. - High-pressure tactics are a red flag
Urgent warnings about discontinued scholarship or loan programs are meant to scare you into complying. - Scammers always ask for credit card or banking information
Legitimate service providers don’t need that information. - Keep your Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID private
If your account is breached, scammers can steal your identity, or worse. - Report suspicious activity
Alert the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov if you encounter a potential scam.