I have previously shared on how I got entangled on a fake university scholarship. Not only did I lose money, but I wasted my time. I will now share with you some signs of a scholarship scam and how you can better approach scholarship providers.
On Scholarship Education
One of the signs of a scholarship scam is claims that they’ll do all the work for you. It takes a lot of time to apply for scholarships. This is a process and no one can avoid it. If they promise to do all the work for you, then you’re likely getting caught in a trap.
Applying for scholarships usually entails a fair amount of work that only you can do – writing about yourself and filling out personal information. Most importantly, after the work you’ve put in, you need to get a confirmation that your application has been submitted. This will mostly be via email. Oral assurance will likely not hold.
Do not depend entirely on an agent even if they claim to have enough experience to take you through the whole application process.
Don’t get me wrong, agents will always have all the information concerning the application process in their office. Even better, they will be able to assist you in your language. However, the agent’s work can be limited and they might have to prioritize. Nepotism, elitism, and corruption could also come into play.
You should always try to have a better grasp of your application process and what you need to do next. It will help you grow up and get experience on similar processes as you will face them again in the future. Careful research is key to successful applications.
Be cautious and don’t fall prey of fraudulent agents with no authorisation to undertake your university or scholarship application process.
Signs of a University Scholarship Scam
Fees
Be wary of scholarships that require you to pay ‘small fees.’ Legitimate scholarships want to give you financial support or money, not take it away from you.
No success stories of past winners
Most scholarship providers brag about the money they have given out. If you can’t find any history or success stories of previous scholarship winners or awardees, the scholarship could be a scam. However, with new scholarships, it’s obvious they don’t have past winners.
VISA Applications
Visa applications aren’t as scary as they seem. As with the university application, you just need to carefully follow the instructions given.
Mediums of communication
The best way to communicate will be via email. It’s in very rare cases where you’ll communicate everything on WhatsApp. If you find yourself engaged on WhatsApp communication with an officer that might be a sign that you’re about to be scammed.
Tip
There are more opportunities out there. On Selibeng.com, every scholarship opportunity is linked with the official website of the provider. Take that extra step to verify all the details from the official website and only use contacts provided from the official website.