All federal, state, and private education loan programs deduct loan fees from the disbursement check. No legit program requires the fees in advance. No sponsor will guarantee that you will win the award, and scholarship search services cannot guarantee that you will win an award. If no telephone number is listed, call directory assistance to see if they have a listing. A Washington, DC, address does not mean that the organization is a federal agency.
Many scams also seem to originate from Florida or California.
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you suspect a scam, bring a copy of all literature and correspondence to your school's financial aid office. If you're still in high school, ask your guidance counselor or the financial aid administrator at a local college for advice. All rights reserved.