SIGNS OF A SCAM	SIGNS OF LEGITIMATE  SCHOLARSHIP SERVICES
states you've won an award for which you did not apply;	sends information about awards when you request it;
does not supply valid contact information;	makes contact information abailable upon request;
guarantees you will win an award; and/or	does not guarantee you will win an award; and/or
requires personal financial information  (such as credit card numbers or checking account numbers) To "verify" or "hold" a scholarship or a "money-back" guarantee.	should not direct you to a fee-based provider because they know that financial aid information is readily available for free.

"For a small fee, we'll give you a list of scholarships."
Never spend money on a fee-based matching service.  The biggest and best award databases are available for free on the Internet, including FastWeb: www.fastweb.com.

"$6.6 billion in scholarships went unclaimed last year."
Statements about unclaimed awards are misleading.  They generally refer to tuition reimbursements that aren't available to the public.  Shcolarships are competitive and are awarded.

"You are guaranteed a minimum of $1,000 in awards."
A service cannot guarantee any scholarships because they have no control over the scholarship judge's decisions.

"We have a 96% success rate."
These false success rates indicate the percentages of students they've successfully matched with the database, NOT the number of students who actually receive money.

"We'll need a bank account/credit card number to verify your information."
Your bank account and credit card information is confidential.  A legitimate scholarship provider will not ask for this information.

"We will do all the work for you."
To win a legitimate scholarship, you must submit your own applications, write your own essays and solicit your own letters of recommendation.  There is no way to avoid doing the work.

1.    Save all forms you receive from the suspect company.  Keep copies of written details about the offer and
        any correspondence, e-mails or other paperwork.  Make sure all materials are dated.

2.    Take notes during any seminar or phone conversations.  Record the date, time, phone number and the
        person's name with whom you spoke.  Also, include a detailed account of your conversation.

3.    Report the suspected scammer to any of the following organizations:

4.    National Fraud Information Center (NFIC)  800-876-7060   www.fraud.org

5.    Federal Trade Commission (FTC)  877-382-43587  www.ftc.gov

6.    State Attorney General's Office - www.ag.state.la.us - ask about filing a complaint with the Bureau of
       Consumer Protection in your state.

7.    Better Business Bureau (BBB)  (703) 276-0100    www.bbb.org

8.    United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS)  800-654-8896