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How to Avoid Scams

October 29, 2019


How to avoid scams while searching for scholarships, filling out the FAFSA form, or repaying your student loans.



You don't have to pay for help finding money for college. If you are unsure whether to pay a company for help finding financial aid, stop and think for a minute: What's being offered? Is the service going to be worth the money? Do the claims seem too good to be true? The UWL Financial Aid Office urges you not to pay these companies for assistance that you can get for free elsewhere.

You don't EVER have to pay for completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Sites who charge to file the FAFSA for you are not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education. The official FAFSA form is at fafsa.gov and is totally free. If you are asked for your credit card information while filling out the FAFSA form online, you are NOT at the official government site.

Companies that offer to find scholarships for a fee usually provide information that is available for free elsewhere. Again, does the claim seem too good to be true? Then it probably is.

Beware, be wary and be careful. There are companies with offers out there that are anxious to take your money instead of truly finding you money.

Use these tips to ensure that you are not getting scammed! Whether you're filing for FAFSA, repaying your student loans, or even applying for scholarships, you need to be careful not to give out your information to a non-trustworthy company or organization!

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