Avoiding Scams
Follow these basic rules to avoid being scammed:
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Never pay money to get money! Don't pay money to be considered for a scholarship or to receive scholarship applications. Don't pay money for a scholarship search, since you can do this for free on the Internet.
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Watch out for advance-fee loans where you have to pay a fee before receiving a loan. If you pay the fee, the loan may never show up.
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Watch out for the "scholarship prize." If you don't remember entering the contest, you're probably being scammed.
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Few, if any, scholarships are "guaranteed." Beware of scholarship services that guarantee that you will receive a scholarship. Typically they only guarantee that you "qualify" - which means that if you turn in the application, you may be considered because you meet the minimum criteria. It does NOT guarantee that you will receive the scholarship.
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Requiring an investment of some sort in order to receive federal student aid is a direct violation of federal and state regulations and laws.