Fake Scholarship Portal Registration Scam

How Fake Scholarship Portal Registration Scam Works

Overview: In India, scammers are increasingly making duplicitous websites that look just like official government scholarship portals, tricking students and their guardians. These scams mainly target students applying for BC/EBC or minority/disability scholarships. The scammers exploit parents’ hopes for their children and students’ dreams of higher education, making the scam highly dangerous as it not only causes financial loss, but also puts personal data at risk. How It Works: Scammers set up websites that closely resemble the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) or state scholarship sites, using names and logos similar to the official portals. They buy online ads or create posts on social media to drive traffic. Victims—usually worried parents or students—are directed to fill in detailed personal information, upload documents, and then pay a “registration fee” or a processing charge, usually ranging from ₹100 to ₹1,000. These payments go to the scammer’s wallet or account. In some cases, applicants are also tricked into sharing OTPs, which can be exploited to drain bank accounts. India Angle: These scams frequently use UPI for quick and difficult-to-trace payments. Common platforms include WhatsApp, YouTube, Telegram, and Facebook—popular among students. Certain fake schemes specifically refer to state-level scholarships, especially from states like Bihar, UP, and Telangana where BC/EBC or minority scholarships have had disruptions or pauses. Victims are most often students in tier-2 and tier-3 cities with less digital awareness. Real Examples: Examples received by students include WhatsApp messages such as: “Congratulations! You are shortlisted for Govt. BC/EBC Scholarship 2026. Apply now at www.bcescholarship-portal.com. Pay ₹300 fee to confirm your seat. Offer ends soon!” Some receive calls claiming: “Sir, this is the BC Welfare office, you need to pay ₹500 as verification for the 2026 scheme. Please UPI now to this number.” Red Flags: - Website doesn’t end with .gov.in - Asks for registration or processing fee in advance - Only contact possible via WhatsApp or Gmail, no official helpline - Ads/promotions only appear on YouTube or Facebook, not government news portals - Urgent, time-bound language: “Only today”, “Hurry, limited seats!” Protective Measures: - Always verify the scheme on the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) or your State’s official website - Avoid entering details or making payments on sites ending in .com, .org, or other variants - Never share OTPs or banking information via WhatsApp or with unknown callers - Government applications are ALWAYS free. Do not pay any upfront fees - Look for DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) confirmation for genuine scholarship payments If Victimised: - Immediately contact your bank to stop or reverse the transaction - Report at cybercrime.gov.in and call national cyber helpline 1930 - Notify UPI or wallet provider about fraudulent payment - If bank data is shared, change passwords and enable extra security features Related Scams: - Fake college admissions portals collecting application fees - Bogus coaching centre scholarships - Imitation “government job” application portals requiring registration fees

Visual Intelligence:

BharatSecure's AI has identified this as a used in scams targeting Indian users.

Who Does Fake Scholarship Portal Registration Scam Target?

General public across India

Red Flags — How to Identify Fake Scholarship Portal Registration Scam

• The website domain does not end with .gov.in
• Demands payment for application or registration
• Only WhatsApp or Gmail provided for contact
• No mention of scheme on official NSP or state portal
• Messages urge immediate action or limited seats

What To Do If You Encounter Fake Scholarship Portal Registration Scam

1. Do not click any links or share personal information
2. Block and report the sender immediately
3. Report at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930
4. Inform your bank if financial details were shared

How to Report Fake Scholarship Portal Registration Scam in India

• Call 1930 — National Cyber Crime Helpline (24x7)
• File a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in
• Contact your bank immediately if money was lost
• Call RBI helpline: 14440 for banking fraud

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Fake Scholarship Portal Registration Scam?

Overview: In India, scammers are increasingly making duplicitous websites that look just like official government scholarship portals, tricking students and their guardians. These scams mainly target students applying for BC/EBC or minority/disability scholarships. The scammers exploit parents’ hopes for their children and students’ dreams of higher education, making the scam highly dangerous as it not only causes financial loss, but also puts personal data at risk. How It Works: Scammers set

How does Fake Scholarship Portal Registration Scam work?

Overview: In India, scammers are increasingly making duplicitous websites that look just like official government scholarship portals, tricking students and their guardians. These scams mainly target students applying for BC/EBC or minority/disability scholarships. The scammers exploit parents’ hopes for their children and students’ dreams of higher education, making the scam highly dangerous as i

How to protect yourself from Fake Scholarship Portal Registration Scam?

Do not click any links or share personal information Block and report the sender immediately Report at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930 Inform your bank if financial details were shared

How to report Fake Scholarship Portal Registration Scam in India?

Report to cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930 (National Cyber Crime Helpline). You can also contact your local police station's cyber cell.

Verify Any Suspicious Message

Check any suspicious message, link, or call for free at bharatsecure.app. BharatSecure uses AI to detect scams in real-time and protect Indian users.