Doesn’t it grab your attention every time that you hear something that leads you to believe you are going to get something for nothing? We have been told since we were little that if it sounds too good to be true it most likely is. If it sounds too good there has almost always got to be a catch to it.

One instance of this type of scam caters to students. They offer free grants and scholarships but are nothing but a lie to steal the student’s money. There are actual legitimate scholarships and grants available, but make sure that you are not being taken advantage of before you sign up for anything.

We get junk mail every day. Some are innocent and some not. There are too many scams out there that look legit at first glance by using a name that you recognize but just change a couple letters in the name to make you trust them. Don’t do it.

Read the fine print and the wording of the text in each and every piece if mail you consider before signing up for a grant or scholarship that comes to you unexpectedly.

The easiest targets are students that don’t have a great GPA. They are looked at as the weak in the herd or victims. They seem to be the first to fall for these scams. Don’t ever believe “First come first served,” or you may be one of the first victims.

Another line to suck in victims of this type of scam is “You’ve Won.” Don’t believe it. If you win something, you most likely applied for it. This again falls under the rule of “If it sounds too good to be true it most likely is.”

Scams such as these may ask you for credit card information. They may even ask you for your bank account information “in order to hold your winnings.” Do not do this. This is a tell tale sign of a scam. No legitimate scholarship is going to ask for this information.

Also keep an eye out for the phrase “It’s guaranteed.” It’s probably not and you’ll be their next victim of their scam.

Besides email scams, this writer also frequently contributes articles regarding used wheel loaders.