Each year, students and their families fall victim to scams that offer solutions to pay for college expenses. Please be aware of these types of scams and do not fall for these tempting offers.

On their website, http://www.ftc.gov, the Federal Trade Commission cautions students and their families to look out for the following statements:

-- “The scholarship is guaranteed or your money back.”

-- “You can’t get this information anywhere else.”

-- “I just need your credit card or bank account number to hold this scholarship.”

-- “We’ll do all the work.”

-- “The scholarship will cost some money.”

-- “You’ve been selected by a ‘national foundation’ to receive a scholarship”

--“You’re a finalist” in a contest you never entered.


Included are a few links which have been provided by the United States Department of Education with more information on scams and fraud protection.

http://www.ifap.ed.gov/eannouncements/0713FinAidFraud.html

http://www.ftc.gov/scholarshipscams/

http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oig/misused/victim.html


Additional links:

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/ouchalrt.htm

http://www.studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/lsa.jsp

Just remember that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

-Department of Student Financial Aid

Texas A&M University