i wouldn't say it's a scam... if you're smart and good at maths and think you could make it through an engineering program (or some hard science, or medicine, that sort of thing) you should definitely go for it. those careers are always well paid and people will respect you just for having the degree. plus you might meet people in college, form a social circle, and who knows you might even get into a relationship!
if you're not smart stay away from college. yes it's true that sometimes hard work can make up for low intelligence. but the risks are huge. you might not realize this right now, but you're gambling the best years of your life away. if you spend your late teens/early 20s trying to get a degree and fail, you will have wasted your best years, a lot of time, and a lot of energy, as well as $$$, for nothing. and your family will always look down on you for failing. a lot of people are probably better off going for a short two year degree or pursuing a trade. Btw some careers like the military, law enforcement and some trades have age limits (this depends on your location) so again if you waste your early 20s trying to get a degree you will miss your chance to go into other, non conventional careers that you might have been better suited for.
whatever you do don't let people pressure you and make your decisions for you, not even your parents.