Be wary of any scholarship that asks you to pay an application fee. Legitimate scholarships are free.

Watch out for guarantees. No one can guarantee that you'll win a scholarship.

Look for signs of a phishing scam, such as unofficial email addresses and suspicious links.

Be skeptical of scholarships that ask for sensitive personal information, like your Social Security or bank account number.

Check for professional web design and look for contact information and a physical address.

Use online search engines to see if others have reported the scholarship as a scam.

Trust your instincts. If a scholarship offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.

This guide provides a checklist of red flags to watch out for.

Protect yourself and your personal information while hunting for scholarships.

Don't let a scam derail your dream of a debt-free education.