Avoiding Fake Scholarship Scams

Core safety rule

Use the official address you verified, not a link in a message

If a notice claims to be associated with bursverenler.org, type bursverenler.org into your browser and search for the scholarship on the site. Do not continue if the name, criteria, institution details or dates do not match the listing.

Check the domain character by character for extra letters, hyphens, different extensions and look-alike characters.
A social media account, WhatsApp number or logo alone does not prove an institution is genuine.
Confirm the notice through the institution’s official website and verified contact channels.
Do not upload documents or pay before reading the application criteria.

Stop the application if you are unsure

You do not need to rush verification. Use contact details published on the institution’s official site, not the number supplied by the sender, or email info@bursverenler.org.

Warning signs

Methods commonly used in fake scholarship notices

You are told you won without applying

Treat messages claiming that you won a scholarship you never applied for, or promising a definite award without evaluation, as suspicious.

You are asked to pay immediately

You may be asked to send a “file”, “approval”, “insurance”, “tax”, “deposit” or “scholarship activation” payment to a personal bank account or digital wallet.

You are asked to send and receive money

You may be told to send a small amount and receive it back to verify your account, or to forward money sent to you. Do not carry out these transactions.

A bank or electronic-money account is opened

You may be told to open an account, hand over its control or transfer incoming funds. Never allow another person to use your account.

A password or verification code is requested

A password or SMS code for your bank, e-government, email, bursverenler.org or another account may be requested. Never share these details.

Excessive personal data is collected

You may be asked for both sides of an identity card, a blank signed document, banking passwords, card details or relatives’ account information without a stated scholarship-related need.

Urgency and secrecy are imposed

Statements such as “act now or lose the scholarship”, “tell no one” or “we only communicate on WhatsApp” may be intended to prevent verification.

The address and materials imitate an institution

Logos, names, fake documents and look-alike domains may be used. Professional design does not prove authenticity.

Application service fee

Distinguish the TRY 10 fee on bursverenler.org from suspicious payment requests

Scholarship applications on bursverenler.org have a TRY 10 application service fee intended to encourage applicants to read the criteria and reduce indiscriminate applications to every scholarship. The fees collected are accumulated in the Kumbara fund and awarded to students again as scholarships.

The official payment occurs only in the platform’s application flow

The TRY 10 fee is paid through the system while applying to the relevant scholarship on bursverenler.org. It is not sent to a personal bank account through WhatsApp, social media or telephone. The application service fee is non-refundable.

Confirm that the listing and payment screen use the bursverenler.org domain.
Do not make separate later payments described as “confirming”, “opening” or “transferring” the scholarship.
If someone claims a different payment request comes from bursverenler.org, stop and ask the support team first.

Review the application service fee

Step by step

How can you apply for a scholarship safely?

Verify the source

Find the scholarship on bursverenler.org and the provider’s official channels. Confirm that dates, criteria and institution details match.

Check the link

Type the address yourself instead of following a shortened link in a message. Check the domain at every stage.

Read the criteria and data request

Consider whether each requested item is relevant to evaluation. Do not provide sensitive data without a stated reason.

Control your own account

Only you should use your password and verification code. Do not allow anyone to manage your account by screen sharing or remote-access software.

Follow the application in your account

Check completion, document requests and results through the record in your bursverenler.org account.

Account and data security

Information and access you must never share

Your bursverenler.org, email, e-government, bank or electronic-money account password
A one-time verification code received by SMS
The full card number, expiry date and CVV/CVC
Online or mobile banking credentials
Remote access, screen sharing or device-control permission
A blank signed document, signature sample or identity image unrelated to a stated scholarship need

bursverenler.org support does not request these details

The support team may request your name, registered email, transaction time or a screenshot of an error, but will not ask for your password, verification code, card security code or access to your bank account.

Suspicious message or notice

What should you do when you encounter suspicious content?

Do not click the link, open the attachment, reply or pay.
Preserve the link and screenshots showing the sender account/number, date and time.
If bursverenler.org is named, report it to info@bursverenler.org.
Report the impersonating account or listing to the social media or messaging platform.
If there may be financial loss, account compromise or misuse of personal data, immediately contact your bank and relevant service provider, then the competent law-enforcement or judicial authority.

Report a suspicious notice

If you shared information

Take security measures without delay if fraud is suspected

From a safe device, change passwords for accounts that may be exposed and every account using the same password.
Enable two-step verification where available and close active sessions.
If card or banking information was shared, call your bank immediately and follow its directions for card closure, account protection and disputing suspicious transactions.
If you opened a bank or electronic-money account at another person’s direction, notify the provider through its official support channel.
Do not delete messages, receipts, usernames, telephone numbers or links. Do not reset or format the device before receiving guidance from the competent authority.
You may apply with your records to a police station, public prosecutor’s office or Cybercrime Branch Directorate in Türkiye.

Turkish Police cybercrime FAQ KVKK public notice

This section provides general safety information and does not replace incident-specific directions from your bank, provider or a competent authority.

Frequently asked questions

What to know about fake scholarship notices

Can a scholarship message received on WhatsApp be genuine?

The channel alone does not prove that a message is genuine or fake. Verify the notice independently through the institution’s official site and bursverenler.org.

Does a TRY 10 request mean the notice is fake?

No. The official application flow on bursverenler.org has a TRY 10 service fee. It is not sent to a personal bank account, and no password, verification code or card security code is requested.

May I be asked to open a bank account for a scholarship?

A successful applicant may be asked for details of an account in their own name so that scholarship payments can be made. You should not be asked to hand over control, share a password, move money for others or allow another person to use an electronic-money account.

Is a request for identity or student documents evidence of fraud?

Such documents may be necessary to assess eligibility. Verify the reason, data controller and secure upload channel; do not send documents to unknown individuals through messaging apps.

Does bursverenler.org guarantee that I will receive a scholarship?

No. Applying does not guarantee an award. Applications are reviewed by the authorised institution or evaluation process, depending on the scholarship type.

Where can I report a suspicious notice?

Send content using the bursverenler.org name or a listed scholarship to info@bursverenler.org with its link and screenshots. If crime or financial loss is suspected, also contact your bank and competent authorities.