CLEVELAND — As many students head back to school, the Better Business Bureau is warning families about scholarship and financial aid scams. In these types of scams, the Better Business Bureau said victims may be promised money, but they first have to pay a fee.
According to Ericka Dilworth with the Cleveland Better Business Bureau, these promises often involve scholarships or grants that you didn't apply for.
"We're talking about mostly those kinds of situations where you have not reached out and you get something random," Dilworth said. "If you get something unsolicited, that's usually the biggest red flag.
If students or families are concerned about a possible scam, Dilworth recommends reaching out to your school counselor or advisor who can help you navigate the scholarship and financial aid process.
"You have got to do your homework because you really cannot trust a text you get, a phone call you get or an e-mail you get and you can't just reach out to a business through the link they've provided because it's a scam link most of the time," said Dilworth. "You have to find legitimate sources and do your homework that way."
Warning signs for these types of scams include:
- Scammers may claim to represent the government, a university or nonprofit organization
- Scammer may pretend to be as a financial aid representative claiming you won a scholarship or grant that you didn't apply for
- Scammer may use words like "national" or "federal" in order to sound more official
- Scammer will ask for money, which may be presented in the form of a one-time "processing fee"
More info from BBB: https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/16922-bbb-tip-scholarship-scams