Thousands of South African students rely on scholarship and bursary funding to again access to Higher Education. As a result, it has also become very common for criminals to take advantage of desperate students and their families, by promising them fake scholarships.
Most of the time it is easy to pick up whether an email or message offering student scholarships is fake due to scammers using questionable email addresses or unofficial contact details.
However, as technology and Artificial Intelligence develops, it has become much easier to make a fake organisation or opportunity look legitimate.
This is why it is always advisable for prospective students to do proper research on any scholarship offers they find, whether it be through an online platform, advertisements or word of mouth.
To avoid being scammed, here are a few ways to identify fake offers:
- Do your research: Before applying for any financial aid opportunities, make sure to do your research on the organisation or company offering it. Visit their website, check their social media presence, and reviews from other students.
- Verify the donor: If you're unsure whether an organization offering a scholarship is legitimate, verify their information with the Department of Higher Education and Training or other reputable sources.
- Never pay to apply: Real scholarship donors will not require you to pay an application fee. If you're asked to pay any money upfront to apply or receive a scholarship, it's likely a scam.
- Watch out for unsolicited offers: If you receive an email or message offering you a scholarship out of the blue, be cautious. Legitimate scholarship organisations typically require students to actively seek out and apply for scholarships.
- Questionable contact information:
- Don't share personal information: Be wary of any scholarship offers that ask for your personal information, such as your ID number or bank account details. Legitimate organisations will only need basic information to verify your eligibility.
- Trust your instincts: If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. No matter how desperate you are, trust your gut instincts and don't hesitate to walk away from any scholarship offer that seems suspicious.
Students should always be extra cautious and verify any offers or requests they receive before providing any personal information or making any payments. If this requires you to double or triple check, by all means do so.
Picking up any irregularities or suspicious information in the scholarship offer will only be beneficial to you.
It's also important to report any suspected scams to the authorities to help prevent others from falling victim to the same scams. Spread the word on social media and alert any students in your reach.
Find the latest bursaries, how to apply for bursaries and any other information you need on bursaries on our website.
