Exam and scholarship scams: how to spot them and protect yourself
“Guaranteed place”, “additional list”, “scholarship without an application”: the same scams come back every session. Warning signs and what to do.
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Every time an entrance exam opens or results are published, scammers contact candidates and their parents by phone, WhatsApp or Facebook. Their promise never changes: an admission or a scholarship in exchange for money.
Warning signs
- You are promised a guaranteed place, a spot on an “additional list” or a changed grade.
- You are asked to pay by Mobile Money to an individual, not at the bank named in the official notice.
- The message creates urgency: “only two places left”, “pay before tonight”.
- The person claims to be “close to the minister”, “on the panel” or “from the embassy”.
- The “scholarship” requires no application and no selection, only fees.
What to do
- Always go back to the official text: the exam notice or call for applications states the only authorised way to pay.
- Check the source of lists and announcements: official website, notice board at the school, public media.
- Never share your Mobile Money PIN or a photo of your ID card with a stranger.
- Talk to your parents, a teacher or the school concerned before paying anything.
Have you been scammed?
Keep the evidence (screenshots, phone numbers, transaction receipts), report the number to your mobile operator and file a complaint with the police or gendarmerie. Also warn the institution whose name was used.
On Minajobs Education, every exam and scholarship links to the official text. Find them in the Competitive exams and Scholarships sections.
Never send money to a stranger for an exam or a scholarship: official fees are paid at the bank or office named in the official notice.