Last verified: 28 October 2026 · Free, no sign-up · 10 questions
Every scholarship season, young Nigerians and Ghanaians lose money to fake “processing fees”, Gmail “scholarship officers” and agents who promise a sure award. This free test shows whether you can spot those tricks before they cost you anything. It takes about four minutes.
You get 10 questions taken at random from a set of 20. After each answer you see why, with a link to the matching part of our scholarship scams guide. Your answers stay on your phone.
Ten quick questions on the tricks scammers use on Nigerian and Ghanaian students. After each answer you see why, with a link to the full guide.
Two sample questions, answered
Here are two questions in the same style as the test, with the answers explained, so you know what to expect. They are not part of the 20-question set.
1. A WhatsApp message says your Erasmus Mundus place will be cancelled unless you pay €200 “insurance” today. Is it real?
No. Erasmus Mundus scholarships are free, and the European Commission warns that EU scholarships are not granted for a fee. The deadline pressure (“today”) is a second red flag. Check your status only through the official university or programme website.
2. A vendor near your campus sells a ₦25,000 “scholarship application form” for a foreign government award. Should you buy it?
No. The major international scholarships publish their application on their own official websites, and applying is free. If a university charges its own admission fee, you pay it only on that university’s official portal, never to a vendor or agent.
What this test covers
- Fees: which scholarships are free to apply, and where a genuine admission fee is paid
- Fake senders: free email addresses, fake portals and people pretending to be embassy staff
- Pressure tricks: “pay within 24 hours”, “keep it secret”, “you have been selected”
- Your money and data: BVN, ATM PIN and card details, and fake “visa clearance” fees
- Reporting: where to report a scam in Nigeria and Ghana, and what to do if you already paid
What your score means
| Score | Result | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| 8 to 10 | Ready: scammers will struggle to fool you | Share the test with friends and family who are applying. |
| 5 to 7 | Almost there | Read the guide sections linked in your results, then retake. |
| 0 to 4 | Not ready yet: you are at risk | Read the full scams guide before you reply to any offer or pay anybody. |
Before you reply to any scholarship offer: the 5-point check
Your score matters less than what you do the next time a “scholarship” message lands on your phone. Run these five checks first:
- Find it yourself. Search the scholarship name and open the provider’s own website. Do not use the link in the message.
- Match the details. Is the scholarship open now, are you eligible, and do the amounts and deadline match the official page?
- Check the sender. Real emails come from the official domain, not Gmail, Yahoo or Outlook.
- Look for money. Any request to pay to apply, be selected or “process” an award is your answer.
- Protect your details. Never send your BVN, card number, PIN or passwords. No scholarship needs them.
This is the same method we use before we publish any scholarship. The full version, with official quotes and a marked-up scam message, is in our scholarship scams guide.
How to use your result
- Scored 8 or more? Share the test in your class, church, mosque or family WhatsApp group. Younger applicants and parents are often the first targets.
- Scored 5 to 7? Open “Review my answers”, read the guide section linked under each question you missed, and retake the test. You will get new questions.
- Scored 4 or less? Read the full scams guide before you reply to any offer. If you have already paid someone, follow the steps in what to do if you already paid today.
- Applying this season? Our Scholarship Calendar lists real, verified scholarships that are open now, so you never need an agent to find one.
The one rule to remember: real scholarships do not sell places. If anyone asks you to pay to “secure”, “process”, “release” or “guarantee” a scholarship, stop and check the official website yourself.
De Auditor’s note
James Christian Unya, founder of Scholarship Auditor
Scammers no dey rest, so you no suppose rest too. Take this test, check your score, and send am to your younger ones before dem fall mugu. Remember: real scholarship no dey sell slot. This test will show you how well you know the tricks scammers use.
Frequently asked questions
Do real scholarships charge application fees?
The big international scholarships, such as Chevening, Commonwealth, Erasmus Mundus and Stipendium Hungaricum, are free to apply. Some universities charge their own admission fee, which is paid only on the university’s official portal.
What should I do if I already paid?
Stop all contact, never pay a “refund fee”, call your bank if you shared card details, keep all evidence and report it. Our guide lists where to report in Nigeria and Ghana.
Can I take the test again?
Yes. Each attempt picks 10 new questions at random from 20.
Sources
Questions are based on official statements checked for our scams guide: the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, the European Commission (EACEA), the Mastercard Foundation, Stipendium Hungaricum, the UK Home Office, the US Federal Trade Commission, British Council Nigeria, the Nigeria Police National Cybercrime Centre, the EFCC and the Cyber Security Authority of Ghana. Sample messages in the test are invented for teaching. Read how we check information.
More tests: all free scholarship tests
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Yes, It is me. I’m the De Auditor
James, known as the De Auditor, is the founder and editor of Scholarship Auditor and the Founder and Group CEO of De Auditor Group Ltd, based in Benin City, Nigeria. He checks every scholarship against the provider’s official website before it is published, and corrects posts when providers change their rules. Contact: info@scholarshipauditor.com