Scams will try to capitalize on and profit from your need for scholarships and financial assistance. Common scam "red flags" include fee charges, vague or no contact information, and masquerading as a government agency, such as the Department of Education, which try to persuade you with a false sense of credibility. Above all, you should never have to pay a fee for any service or to apply for a scholarship when there are many other excellent and free scholarship services available online. Also, be cautious about disclosing vital info, such as your Social Security Number, due to a rise in identity theft crimes. We suggest using reputable and well established online sources, such as fastweb.com.
If you suspect fraud, you can report to Federal Trade Commission and National Fraud Information Center. These agencies will determine whether to investigate further based on the description you reported. By actively reporting fraud, you will discourage these scams from expanding their operations and help other students from being victimized.
Federal Trade Commission
CRC-240
600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20580
877/382-4357
www.ftc.gov
National Fraud Information Center (NFIC)
PO Box 65868
Washington, DC 20035
800/876-7060
www.fraud.org
For more comprehensive information, visit finaid.org. This site offers information about the Scholarship Fraud Prevention Act of 2000, which includes jail time and up to $500,000 in penalties for people convicted of scholarship scams.
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