Guide 05 · Safety
Grant scams: the red flags, in one table
Scams change their wording, but the warning signs stay familiar.
summary
- Real programs do not charge a fee to hand you an award or to see official forms.
- Pressure to decide quickly is a warning sign in itself.
- When in doubt, stop and check with the official source or your school’s aid office.
The table
| Red flag | Safer move |
|---|---|
| A fee to receive an award or to “process” one | Do not pay. Check the program with the official source. |
| You were “selected” for something you never entered | Treat it as unsolicited. Verify independently. |
| A deadline of hours, not days | Slow down. Real programs publish their dates. |
| A request for a bank or card number up front | Never give it to an unknown party. |
| A guarantee of an outcome | No legitimate program can guarantee one for everyone. |
| A charge to file free government forms | Use the official government site, which is free. |
If you already shared something
Contact your bank if account details were involved, change affected passwords, and consider reporting the offer to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Where to check instead
For federal aid, use studentaid.gov. For state programs, find your state higher-education agency. For school aid, call or email the school’s financial aid office.
General information only. Tuitnova is not a school, lender, scholarship provider, or financial aid office, and this is not financial, legal, or tax advice. Programs, rules, and dates vary and change; check with your school’s financial aid office or the official program website.