Target Audience:
Students,General Public
Description:
Scammers target individuals with student loan debt, claiming to offer loan forgiveness or reduction through government programs. They charge upfront fees for services that are actually free through legitimate government programs or simply take the money without providing any service.
Prevention Tips:
Contact your loan servicer directly with questions, never pay upfront fees for loan forgiveness, access federal student aid programs only through studentaid.gov, never share your FSA ID, and remember that legitimate loan forgiveness programs don’t require payment to apply.
Warning Signs:
Upfront fees for loan forgiveness, promises of immediate loan forgiveness, requests for FSA ID or personal login information, pressure to sign up quickly for “limited time” offers, and claims of affiliation with the Department of Education.