Finding financial aid for college is a daunting project for many people. Unfortunately, there are some less-than-honest companies that try to use the confusion associated with college financial aid to make money through scams. Knowing where to turn for help and knowing some of the warning signs of a scam can help you to avoid these scammers.

Application Assistance Scams

There isn’t any reason to pay someone to help you find funding for college. This is one of the biggest scams associated with collegiate financial aid. Unscrupulous companies require you to pay them to find scholarships, grants and loans. However, you don’t need to pay those companies. You can get free help through a high school guidance counselor or through the financial aid office of the college you want to attend. Oftentimes, these school officials are made aware of new financing opportunities long before other companies. Additionally, these officials usually have access to your grades and official transcripts that you may need when applying for certain types of financial aid.

FAFSA Scams

Your first step in trying to get financing for college should be to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Just as the name states this application is free; however, some companies charge a fee if you file this form through them. In order to avoid giving your personal information to one of these companies, you must ensure that you have navigated to the official Department of Education’s FAFSA website. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and ensure the copyright is to fasfa.gov.

Scholarship Scams

Another option for college aid is through private scholarships. In order to ensure that you are filling out the right forms and applying for the right scholarships, contact your high school counselor or a college financial aid officer. Since scholarships are sometimes based on what degree you are seeking or other factors, you must make sure you meet all the criteria. Unethical companies may promise to do this for you, but it is fairly easy to do it yourself or to ask your counselor to help.

Be wary of any scholarship application that requires you to provide your credit card or bank account number. You should never have to pay to apply for a scholarship, and most scholarships will pay the school directly for the funds you win, so it is never necessary for the company to have access to your financial accounts.