Identifying fake Scholarships: 20 red flags to watch out for

Scholarships are financial awards given to students to help cover the costs of education, including tuition, fees, and sometimes additional expenses like books and supplies. Unlike fellowships, scholarships are often awarded based on academic merit, although they can also be awarded for other reasons such as athletic ability, artistic talent, or financial need. However, because of desperation many fall in the hands of scammers who promotes fake scholarships. The list below shows how fake ones can be identified.

1. Request for Payment: Genuine scholarships never require payment. Please note applications fees for admission (scholarship fees) charged by known institutions are legit.

2. Unsolicited Offers: Be cautious of scholarships you didn’t apply for.

3. Guaranteed Wins: No legitimate scholarship can guarantee you’ll win.

4. No Selection Criteria: Legitimate scholarships have clear eligibility requirements.

5. High-Pressure Tactics: Scams often urge immediate action.

6. Lack of Past Winners: Genuine scholarships showcase previous recipients.

7. Vague Contact Information: Legitimate scholarships provide clear contact details.

8. No Official Website or Online Presence: Reputable scholarships have professional websites.

9. Too-Good-To-Be-True Offers: Be wary of overly generous offers.

10. Requests for Banking Information: Never provide financial information for a scholarship.

11. Poorly Written Materials: Legitimate scholarships have professional, error-free presentation.

12. Untraceable Email Addresses: Official scholarships use professional email domains.

13. No Affiliation with Recognised Institutions: Genuine scholarships are often affiliated with known entities.

14. Spelling and Grammar Errors: Professionalism is key in genuine offers.

15. Nonexistent Sponsors: Verify the legitimacy of the sponsoring organisation.

16. Suspicious Deadlines: Extremely short or rolling deadlines can be a red flag.

17. Lack of Transparency in the Selection Process: Genuine scholarships are open about their selection criteria.

18. “No Work” Scholarships (too easy to get): Scholarships requiring no essays or other work are suspect.

19. Promises of Scholarship Consulting for a Fee: Legitimate scholarship advisors don’t charge upfront fees.

20. Excessive Personal Information Requests: Be cautious if asked for unnecessary personal details.