Hi Audrey, welcome!

I know how frustrating it is when you keep applying for jobs but never hear back. It's not likely that they're scams, because in all honesty a scammer would be VERY good about following up because they would want the scam to continue until they steal your money! More likely is that you're just getting lost in the shuffle, perhaps your applications don't include the keywords that the companies use to filter the first round of resumes, or just that they have received too many applications and don't have the capacity to reply to each one.

What I'd recommend is two things: first is to make sure that in all your applications you use the same keywords that they use in their job description (for example, if they describe the place as fast-paced, make sure that you cite a specific experience you've had in a fast-paced environment!)-- the second is to follow up after you apply. Keep a running list of apps you're putting in, plus their locations and phone numbers. A few days after you've applied you can call them up and both make sure your app was received, and also see if there's anything else you need to do to be considered. This might help you stand out as a motivated and organized individual.

You are definitely not alone!