• Never spend money on a fee-based matching service. The biggest and best award databases are free online.
• Information about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and other forms is available for free from your guidance counselor, your library and the U.S. Department of Education. You still have to fill out the same basic information for a fee-based service that you would directly for the FAFSA.
• Your school financial aid administrator can help.
• For general financial aid or FAFSA-related questions, call 800-4-FED-AID (800-433-3243).
• A service can’t guarantee any scholarships because they have no control over the scholarship judges’ decisions.
• These false success rates indicate the percentage of students they’ve successfully matched with the database, NOT the number of students who actually receive money.
• A legitimate scholarship provider won’t ask for bank account, credit card or Social Security information.
• To win a legitimate scholarship, you must submit your own applications, write your own essays and solicit your own letters of recommendation.
• Indicates you won an award for which you didn’t apply
• Does not supply valid contact information
• Guarantees you will win an award
• Requires personal financial information (such as, credit card numbers, checking account numbers, and/or Social Security numbers to verify or hold a scholarship)
National Fraud Information Center (NFIC) 800-876-7060 / www.fraud.org
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357) www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov
Better Business Bureau (BBB) 703-276-0100 / www.bbb.org
US Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) 800-654-8896 https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/
State Attorney General’s Office - Visit your state’s website for state attorney general’s contact information. Ask them about filing a complaint with the Bureau of Consumer Protection.