Scholarship or education loan processing fee
You are told a scholarship or education loan is approved and only a processing fee stands in the way.
Community reports: 0
How it works
- An SMS, WhatsApp message or call says you or your child has been selected for a scholarship, or that an education loan is approved.
- The caller knows your name, college or course, and says only a small processing, registration or insurance fee is pending.
- After you pay, more charges follow, or you are asked for an OTP to "credit" the amount, and nothing ever arrives.
What it looks like
Example messages. Numbers and links are masked.
Dear student, your scholarship of Rs 48,000 is approved. Pay Rs 1,250 processing fee to release the amount: scholarship-release-portal[.]in
Madam, your education loan of Rs 6 lakh is sanctioned. Just pay the Rs 4,999 insurance charge today and the money will be in your account tomorrow.
Red flags
- Approval for something you did not apply for
- A fee to receive money
- Payment to a personal UPI ID
- An OTP needed to "credit" money
- Pay today or lose it
The one question to ask
Why would anyone need a fee or an OTP to give you money?
Already paid or shared details?
Call 1930 at once: in the first hour the money can often still be frozen before it moves on. Then call your bank on the number printed on your card, and file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in with screenshots of every message and payment.
1930 · cybercrime.gov.in
Also seen as
- Fake free laptop or tablet scheme for students
- Study abroad agent asking for a "file charge"
- Scholarship exam with a registration fee and no real exam