You're smart (you're on your way to college, aren't you?), but that doesn't mean you won't fall for scholarship scams.

"Many parents and students are stressed about how they'll pay [for college], so they're more apt to fall for scholarship scams," says Kelly Tanabe, co-founder of SuperCollege, a company that offers books, advice, and free workshops on obtaining money for school.

Scholarship Scammers are out there, and there are more than you think. According to the Federal Trade Commission, one of the largest complaints was filed against Deco Consulting Services, Inc., in Lauderhill, FL. Jesse Nieves and Dania Denis allegedly conned an estimated $8 million from 50,000 victims in three years by offering phony scholarship services.

Want to keep your pockets from getting pinched? Tanabe recommends looking out for these telltale signs of scholarship scams:

Scholarship Scams Sign #1: "You're invited to a free workshop on how to find money for college!"
"Unfortunately, you get there, and that's where the hard sell comes in," she says, adding that you could probably find the financial aid info on your own.

Scholarship Scams Sign #2: "We have access to thousands of hidden scholarships that go unawarded every year!"
There's no such thing as a hidden scholarship, says Tanabe. "Scholarship scammers will say they have access to scholarships, but in reality you can find them through a book, your counselor, or the Internet," she says. And as far as "unawarded" scholarships go, Tanabe says they're mainly specific awards for students in a certain region, or for those whose parents work for a particular employer.

Scholarship Scams Sign #3: "Pay us $500, and you're guaranteed to win a scholarship!"
"If an organization asks you to pay money rather than them giving you money, it's probably a scam," says Tanabe. Other things scholarship scammers may ask for that should raise your eyebrows: Your social security or credit card numbers, or a deposit.

Tanabe does say, however, that some legit scholarship applications may require a fee -- although never more than one or two dollars. "For some artistic competitions, there are fees because someone has to sit and listen to the music, etc.," she says.

If you're worried you may be dealing with scholarship scammers, Tanabe suggests contacting the organization and asking questions like, "Who are some of your past winners?" and "How much money do you distribute each year?"

Still worried? Show the information to your guidance counselor. But really, when it comes to scholarships, it's best to live by an old adage: "If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is," Tanabe cautions.

For more info on scholarship scams and how to avoid them, surf www.supercollege.com. To report a shady scholarship, go to the Federal Trade Commission's Web site: www.ftc.gov.

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