To avoid the scams stay local and look for opportunities offered by reputable organizations in your city and state. A good place to start is by searching for your state department of higher education's website for scholarships. It's also a good idea to search your local newspaper's website for "scholarship" to see if there's anything new you can apply for. You should also take a look at what scholarships are offered by your college (if you're a current college student) or your high school (ask your counselor, they typically post listings).