<p>A friends daughter received a call from a group called Helping Hands Mininstry from down South - I believe GA. saying she had one a Scholarship. She doesn’t remember applying for anything with them, when asked they said someone referred her, but the person who would know was out of the office, and couldn’t tell her who it was. We live up in WA State so it seemed odd coming from a place so far away.</p>
<p>When the mom called they were very nice and said they just needed confirmation of her attendance at a college/university and a copy of their tax return to verify need. Is that normal for scholarships to ask for a parents tax return? They did file a fafsa. </p>
<p>The family has had a strong income the past few years but the company the dad work’s for went out of business last year so he is out of work for now. So it could be that someone in their church knew of his unemployment and her going to a private college and recommended the daughter, but the dad is a bit suspicious. </p>
<p>I would be very very worried about sending a tax return to someone who called out of the blue. Could be legitimate, and it could be an identity fraud waiting to happen. A fast Google search turns up dozens of Helping Hands ministries, most seem very local. Why would a GA based charity need to look all the way up in WA to find kids to help, especially for a kid whose parents have just become needy instead of a kid who has had to battle poverty all their lives?</p>
<p>Thanks - I was sort of thinking along the same lines. I talked with a college counselor and she thought it was strange they wanted to see the tax return after the fact. She said most of the time they request a copy when the student applies. I’ll pass this on and let them make the call. If anything comes of all this I will be sure to share.</p>