Nelnet Scholarship Question? Come here, please. C'MERE!?

Question

I've been applying online for this Nelnet scholarship and yesterday in the mail I received a packet of papers that informed me I'm a potential winner and will receive the $1,000 as long as I complete, sign and notarize the enclosed Affidavit of Eligibility/Liability and Publicity Release.. so, as long as I do all that I'm guaranteed the money, right?!?! Also, on one of the pages, they ask me for my social security number. Is it necessary for me to provide them with that information? They won't take the scholarship away if I decide to withold it?

Answer 1

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Not so quick!

Nelnet is a well established student lending company - they manage $26.3 billion in student loan assets, and unlike the scam companies that abound, Nelnet is SEC regulated, and files routine documents with the Commission. I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss their scholarship giveaway as fraudulent, unless you know something that the SEC doesn't know about this well-known company.

While some of the information on the Nelnet Scholarship giveaway page refers to a "1st drawing" that was held some months ago, it is also clear that there are/were other drawings scheduled now, and in the future.

It makes perfect sense that you would be required to provide your SSN to Nelnet if you were, in fact, awarded a scholarship, as Nelnet would be required to submit the appropriate tax forms to the Internal Revenue Service. Though academic scholarships are often not taxed, any scholarship money that is "won" in a "contest" IS taxable income.

While it is true that there are many scams out there - and that a careful student is a skeptical student, I completely disagree with the previous respondent's suggestion that you should throw this information away. Rather, I would recommend that you call Nelnet at this number: 1.888.402.4001, and ask them for more information about the scholarship that you have supposedly won.

Good luck to you!

Answer 2

There is no "guarantee" when it comes to free money.  This sounds like mail SPAM to me.... disguised as being legit by making you go and pay a notary to mark it.  NelNet is using it to solicit you so you will use them to take out loans... it's a way to get your money... not to give you money.  Throw it away... I'm sure you will get another tomorrow.

If you go to the promotional site the grand prize drawing occurred already on Nov 9th 2007.

Answer 3

Congrats! and DO NOT THROW IT AWAY. Nelnet is real. I've been applying to their scholarship giveaway for months and have yet to win. Do not listen to others who say that this is a scam and should throw away because the fact of the matter that it is not. Usually there are fake scholarship giveaways so it is normal for you to feel like this. But as the previous commenter mention, Nelnet is a professional lending company. I personally use Nelnet as my sole borrower for my subsidized and unsubsidized loan in order to fund for my college tuition. I believe the reason they ask you for your SSN is to verify that you are indeed a U.S. Citizen. So do not hesitate to not give them your SSN. Again, congratulations on winning the $1000 scholarship.