University education is costly! Parents are spending millions of dollars to fund their children's education. Most parents depend on scholarships to help in paying off high college fees. Scammers are aware of this plight by parents and connive fraudulent attempts to trick unsuspecting parents. These scammers exploit desperate parents and applicants to scam their money or banking details.
Some con artists demand exorbitant charges as fees for processing an application. In addition, the new tactics involve sending fake cheques with considerable funds to desperate applicants. Afterward, they contact the student and ask to offset the balance to them.
Scam scenarios are getting innovative at the expense of unknowing students. Some unfortunate applicants fall for these scams given the high scholarship application rates.
Our guide provides an in-depth analysis of different scholarship scam sites and what to do to stay safe.
Common Tactics of Scam Sites
The con industry is ever-evolving, with new tactics coming forward to dupe more players. Here are some common tactics these con artists employ:
Phone Call Scam
Arguably, it is the oldest trick in the book of scam artists. An unscrupulous individual or firm calls a prospective applicant and claims to offer a learning opportunity. The end goal is duping students into paying high tuition fees or admission charges. Applicants end up revealing their financial details.
Note a legit scholarship program does not directly contact a prospect. Therefore, research the name of the program and find its online reputation. Lack of information about a certain company is a red flag. Don't open any attachments on your email or provide your personal information.
Guaranteed Scholarships
The second trick up their sleeves is guaranteeing students a scholarship. These organizations go through thousands of applications. The main aim is to seek desperate applicants willing to pay and jump ahead of the line.
In most cases, these individuals ask for fees or make up unknown demands for cash. In return, they dupe applicants with promises of a money-back guarantee. Fall for this scam, and get your money taken for good.
If the deal is too sweet…? Yes! Apply caution with each application. Any scholarship application does not come with a guarantee.
Extra Payment Scam
Immediately, a scholarship program asks for any payment in exchange for funds, and it's fishy. No organization requires applicants to submit any money. Therefore, never pay tuition or other made-up charges.
Most likely, these programs are run by scam artists looking for a payday. Others get too innovative and offer advanced loans where students can access low-interest college loans. The catch is that all applicants must pay a charge to meet the eligibility criteria.
Urgent Application
Scholarships have deadlines for applications. Finding a scholarship with a few hours or days' deadline is highly suspicious. This is a common technique employed by scammers to create a sense of urgency for applicants to catch them off-guard.
Some scammers attempt to impersonate government officials or representatives to show their authority in the application process. They copy the supporting documents that showcase their suitability to the program, such as a skilled term paper writer at EssayWriter.org. These scammers demand immediate cash transfers.
How to Protect Yourself From Online Scams
Given the ingenuity of scammers, it calls for extra care when dealing with such organizations. Here are tips to protect yourself from these online scams:
Never Pay Upfront
Never make any upfront payments to any program for application or service fees. This is a common tactic to deceive unsuspecting applicants and reap their money. Legitimate scholarship programs have a free application process.
Sweet Deals
These applications are professional and straightforward. There is a certain cap placed on scholarships. Therefore, avoid enticing deals with large sums from scammers.
Contact Program
Any scholarship offer should follow with direct communication with the head office. Ask pertinent questions about their physical address, track record, and requirements. Real organizations avail this information to all respondents.
Search Online Reputation
Search the organization's name online and look for reviews and testimonials from other applicants. There are plenty of chat rooms and open forums with applicants sharing their experiences with their scholarship application process. It's easy to find some victims of a scam sharing their experiences.
How to Find Real Scholarships
Don't lose hope if you're a victim of scams. There are real scholarships targeting students like you. Here are tips for finding these scholarships and applying for them:
Search for Free Scholarship Sites
Students can take advantage of the multiple scholarship databases available online. These sites contain multiple scholarships available where students can apply based on their eligibility criteria.
Prepare Documents
A scholarship application comes accompanied by supporting documents to make it legitimate. Some supporting documents to send with the application include:
- Application form
- Transcripts
- CV
- Letter of recommendation
- Statement of purpose
- Standardized test scores
Practice your essaywriter skills to craft these documents to boost your chances of acceptance by the scholarship board.
Check Local Organizations
Instead of looking online for a scholarship opportunity, visit your local organizations and inquire about any available scholarships. Multiple non-profit organizations offer these opportunities. Moreover, this option is way less competitive compared to online versions.
Contact College Directly
Sometimes, contacting your preferred college and asking about available scholarship opportunities is better. Remember to consider these educational institutions' power in offering students financial aid.
Seek Employer Scholarships
Some established companies often offer employer scholarships to part-time students or their children. For government workers, their children are eligible to apply for FAFSA.
Athletic Scholarships
There are private scholarships to award talented individuals in athletics with full board scholarships to enhance their careers. These opportunities seek applicants with good academic capabilities and strong sportsmanship.
Search for Mentors
Finding a mentor is helpful in landing applicants with a successful scholarship application. Consult mentors in related fields of studies with deep connections with individuals who can offer these opportunities. Also, their mentors can offer recommendation letters on your behalf.
Key Takeaway
The internet is thriving with scammers looking for unsuspecting applicants. Therefore, it's important to maintain caution before any transaction. Research online any suspicious programs and report any scam sites online.
Online Threat Alerts Security Tips
Pay the safest way
Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or if the offer was misrepresented. Federal law limits your liability to $50 if someone makes unauthorized charges to your account, and most credit card issuers will remove them completely if you report the problem promptly.
Guard your personal information
In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Always call the number found on a website’s contact information to make sure the number legitimately belongs to the entity you are dealing with.
Be careful of the information you share
Never give out your codes, passwords or personal information, unless you are sure of who you're dealing with
Know who you’re dealing with
Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Don’t provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something and know who you are sending payment to. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.
Check your accounts
Regularly check your account transactions and report any suspicious or unauthorised transactions.
Don’t believe promises of easy money
If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.
Do not open email from people you don’t know
If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.
Think before you click
If an email or text message looks suspicious, don’t open any attachments or click on the links.
Verify urgent requests or unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls before you respond
If you receive a message or a phone call asking for immediate action and don't know the sender, it could be a phishing message.
Be careful with links and new website addresses
Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.
Secure your personal information
Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.
Stay informed on the latest cyber threats
Keep yourself up to date on current scams by visiting this website daily.
Use Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are critical to online security.
Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs
Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.
Update the operating systems on your electronic devices
Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.
What if You Got Scammed?
Stop Contact With The Scammer
Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.
Secure Your Finances
- Report potentially compromised bank account, credit or debit card information to your financial institution(s) immediately. They may be able to cancel or reverse fraudulent transactions.
- Notify the three major credit bureaus. They can add a fraud alert to warn potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft. You may also want to consider placing a free security freeze on your credit report. Doing so prevents lenders and others from accessing your credit report entirely, which will prevent them from extending credit:
- Equifax
- Experian
- TransUnion
Check Your Computer
If your computer was accessed or otherwise affected by a scam, check to make sure that your anti-virus is up-to-date and running and that your system is free of malware and keylogging software. You may also need to seek the help of a computer repair company. Consider utilizing the Better Business Bureau’s website to find a reputable company.
Change Your Account Passwords
Update your bank, credit card, social media, and email account passwords to try to limit further unauthorized access. Make sure to choose strong passwords when changing account passwords.
Report The Scam
Reporting helps protect others. While agencies can’t always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.
Report your issue to the following agencies based on the nature of the scam:
- Local Law Enforcement: Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised.
- Federal Trade Commission: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report various types of fraud, including counterfeit checks, lottery or sweepstakes scams, and more.
- Identitytheft.gov: If someone is using your personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund, report it at www.identitytheft.gov. This federal government site will also help you create your Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan based on your situation. Questions can be directed to 877-ID THEFT.
How To Recognize a Phishing Scam
Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.
Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:
Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might
- say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
- claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
- say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
- include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
- want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
- say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
- offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real
About Online Threat Alerts (OTA)
Online Threat Alerts or OTA is an anti-cybercrime community that started in 2012. OTA alerts the public to cyber crimes and other web threats.
By alerting the public, we have prevented a lot of online users from getting scammed or becoming victims of cybercrimes.
With the ever-increasing number of people going online, it important to have a community like OTA that continuously alerts or protects those same people from cyber-criminals, scammers and hackers, who are every day finding new ways of carrying out their malicious activities.
Online users can help by reporting suspicious or malicious messages or websites to OTA. And, if they want to determine if a message or website is a threat or scam, they can use OTA's search engine to search for the website or parts of the message for information.
Help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA).