Scholarship Scams

Red Flags

• If a scholarship charges a fee, it is usually a scam.
• Be incredibly cautious of scholarships asking for your bank account number, Social Security Number, credit card number, or other personal information.
• If you receive a scholarship you never applied for, it is probably a scam. Scammers will ask you to pay a fee to receive the supposed scholarship.
• The scholarship claims to be sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. The Department of Education and other federal agencies do not endorse scholarships or businesses.
• The scholarship says they will do all the work and makes big promises, like “We will give you your money back if you do not receive the scholarship.”

Reporting

• If you suspect fraud, file a complaint with the Nevada Attorney General at http://ag.nv.gov/Complaints/File_Complaint or by calling 1-888-434-9989.
• You can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission by calling the FTC's Consumer Response Center at (1-877-382-4357) or visit https://ReportFraud.ftc.gov/#.

The Community Foundation of Northern Nevada, a 501 (c) 3 organization, is established to strengthen communities in our region through leadership and philanthropy. The information provided on this page does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this page are for general informational purposes only.

^{Rev. November 2021}