Unfortunately, in their efforts to pay the bills for college, many students and their families are falling prey to scholarship scams. The Federal Trade Commission cautions students to look for telltale lines:

• "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" or "You're a finalist" in a contest you never entered.