Scam library · Kids & teens · Email & phishing · Government impostor
College scholarship and grant scam
A letter or email says your student has been selected for a scholarship or federal grant. To receive it, pay a processing fee or provide your bank account number.
Or a company offers to find scholarships for a fee, with a money-back guarantee that's nearly impossible to collect.
What the message looks like
From: Scholarship Award Center <awards@nationalscholar-fund[.]org>
Subject: Your $5,000 scholarship award
Congratulations! Your student was selected for a $5,000 merit scholarship.
To finalize the award, a one-time $89 processing fee is required. Pay within 72 hours.
How this scam works
Real scholarships don't charge application fees, and the FAFSA is free to fill out at studentaid.gov. Scammers use names that sound official, like 'National Scholarship Foundation' or 'Federal Grant Department'.
Some hold 'free financial aid seminars' that turn into high-pressure sales pitches for expensive services.
Others steal personal details, like Social Security numbers and bank account information, for identity theft.
Families can find legitimate scholarships for free through school counselors, college financial aid offices, and free search tools listed by Federal Student Aid. If someone wants money to help you get money, take a step back and check with a counselor first.
Scam offers often arrive right when families are stressed about college costs: after acceptance letters, around FAFSA deadlines, or when tuition bills come. Some services promise to 'do your FAFSA for you' for a fee, then charge for something that's free. Others say your student has been 'pre-selected', even though they never applied.
A few scams target students directly through social media, offering scholarships that require bank login details for 'direct deposit'. A real scholarship will never need your online banking password.
Parents and students should also be wary of anyone who asks for a FAFSA ID (the StudentAid.gov account login). That account controls access to federal aid information and should be kept private.
Red flags
- Fees to apply for or receive scholarships.
- Guaranteed scholarships or grants.
- Requests for bank account numbers to 'deposit' a grant.
- Official-sounding names that aren't real agencies.
- Pressure to decide quickly.
How to tell it’s fake
- Fill out the FAFSA for free at studentaid.gov.
- Ask your school counselor or college aid office.
- Use free scholarship search tools.
- Research any organization before sharing details.
What to do if you clicked, paid or shared info
Don’t panic, and don’t blame yourself. These scams are built by professionals. Act quickly, one step at a time.
If you clicked a link or called back
- Stop responding and report to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
If you paid
- If you paid, contact your card issuer or bank.
If you shared personal info, a password or a code
- If you shared a Social Security number or bank details, visit IdentityTheft.gov and watch your accounts.
Where to report and get help (U.S.)
If a message seems legit and you’re still not sure, get a second opinion before you act. Reporting helps stop scammers, even if money can’t be recovered. If you are in danger, call 911.
- Your bank or card issuer
Call the number on the back of your card or on your statement, not one from the message. Ask them to stop or reverse the payment and to watch the account. - Federal Trade Commission (FTC) · ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Report the scam and get a step-by-step recovery plan. - FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) · ic3.gov
Report scams that happened online, especially if money was lost. Include phone numbers, websites and payment details. - AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline · aarp.org helpline
Free, for anyone of any age: trained volunteers help you sort out next steps. 877-908-3360, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern. - IdentityTheft.gov · IdentityTheft.gov
If you shared your Social Security number or someone opened accounts in your name.
How Gmork Scam Guard would warn you
Scam Guard in Chrome and Edge on your computer checks scholarship emails and websites. It flags fee-to-claim pages and fake government aid sites. If an award seems legit, ask a counselor or scam expert first.
Scam Guard can miss things, so the checks above still matter. See what it warns about and what it keeps private.
Questions people ask
- Is the FAFSA free?
- Yes, at studentaid.gov.
- Do scholarships charge fees?
- Real ones don't charge to apply or receive money.
- Is a guaranteed scholarship real?
- No one can guarantee scholarships.
- Where can I find real scholarships?
- Your school, college aid offices and free search tools.
- Someone offered to file our FAFSA for a fee. Is that allowed?
- Some paid services exist, but the FAFSA is free and help is available for free from school counselors and the Federal Student Aid website. Never share your StudentAid.gov login with a company.