Security Alert: Be Cautious & Protect Yourself from Scholarship Fraud

At StudyHorn.com, we are committed to providing accurate and trustworthy information about Indian scholarships. Your safety is important to us. This page is designed to help students stay alert and avoid falling victim to fraudulent activities related to scholarships.

Fraudsters often target students by pretending to offer guaranteed scholarships, asking for payments, or trying to steal personal information. Understanding how these scams work is the first step to staying protected.

What is Scholarship Fraud?

Scholarship fraud includes any attempt to cheat students by:

  • Asking for money or registration fees
  • Offering fake scholarships
  • Stealing personal details (Aadhaar, OTP, login details, etc.)
  • Pretending to be part of a scholarship organization
  • Asking students to return scholarship amounts or share bank details

It is important to stay alert and verify everything before taking action.

How Fraudsters May Try to Scam You

Here are the most common fraud methods used in India:

1. Demanding Money for Guaranteed Scholarship

Fraudsters may call or message you claiming:

  • “Pay ₹500 / ₹1,000 to secure your scholarship”
  • “Registration charges needed for approval”
  • “Pay this fee to get guaranteed selection”

⚠️ No genuine scholarship program asks for money at any stage. Never pay anyone.

2. Asking for Aadhaar, Mobile OTP, or Personal Details

Some scammers ask for:

  • Aadhaar number
  • OTP from your phone
  • Login ID & password
  • Bank details

⚠️ Never share OTP or Aadhaar with anyone. Scholarships do NOT require OTP sharing through phone calls or unknown links.

3. Fake Representatives Asking for Refund of Scholarship Amount

Scammers pose as officials and say:

  • “Your scholarship was transferred by mistake, send it back.”
  • “We need to verify your account, share bank OTP.”

⚠️ No scholarship authority will ever ask you to return money. Ignore such calls/messages.

Tips to Avoid Scholarship Fraud

1. Verify Official Communications

  • Check the email domain before trusting any message.
  • Genuine scholarship portals use their official government or organizational email IDs.
  • Avoid responding to Gmail/Yahoo emails claiming scholarship approval.

2. Protect Your Personal Information

  • Do not share passwords, bank details, Aadhaar, or OTP with anyone.
  • Use only official scholarship websites such as NSP, state portals, or official government sites.
  • Beware of third-party agents claiming to “help” with applications.

3. Keep Your Documents Secure

  • Store your scholarship documents safely.
  • If applying from a cyber café, delete files & log out properly.
  • Never upload documents on unknown or suspicious websites.

4. Stay Informed and Report Fraud

If you experience:

  • Fake calls
  • Suspicious emails
  • Demands for money
  • Requests for personal data

Immediately report the activity to the concerned scholarship authority or government portal.

What We Do at StudyHorn.com

At StudyHorn.com, we aim to:

  • Provide verified and accurate scholarship information
  • Warn students about common fraud types
  • Share only official links
  • Guide students with safe application practices

We never ask for money, documents, or personal details. Your safety is our priority.

Final Reminder

Staying aware is the best defense against fraud.
Always double-check before sharing information or making decisions.

If you ever feel confused or suspect any fraud, StudyHorn.com is here to help you with safe and reliable guidance.

🔔 If you face any problem, you can visit our Contact Us page and share your issue with us.