Beware of These Student Loan Forgiveness and Repayment Scams

September 12, 2022

Video Source: Federal Trade Commission

You've probably heard about the new government plan to forgive some federal student loans. Also in the news: the federal student loan payment pause has been extended to December 31, 2022. But know this - scammers are watching the news, too.

"Recently, there has been an increase of Internet ads promoting student loan forgiveness or a dramatic reduction in student loan rates or payments," says Steve McCullough, president and CEO of Iowa Student Loan. "Frankly, we have to remind individuals that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. However, legitimate options are available, and it is important that students and families know where to find reliable information."

The most important thing to remember is this: When it comes to your student loans, there is absolutely nothing that a so-called "student debt relief company" can do for you that you can't do yourself for free. In this article, we'll break down how to detect and avoid student loan scam calls and other student loan forgiveness scams.

Examples of Student Loan Scams

The U.S. Department of Education recently highlighted some examples of false claims that accompany many student loan scams:

• "Act immediately to qualify for student loan forgiveness before the program is discontinued."
• "You are now eligible to receive benefits from a recent law that has passed regarding federal student loans, including total forgiveness in some circumstances. Federal student loan programs may change. Please call within 30 days of receiving this notice."
• "Your student loans may qualify for complete discharge. Enrollments are first come, first served."
• "Student alerts: Your student loan is flagged for forgiveness pending verification. Call now!"

These warning signs, in particular, are red flags for potential student loan forgiveness scams:

• Direct solicitations: It's best to ignore student loan forgiveness offers received out of the blue through email, snail mail, by text message or by phone.
• Advance payment: Do not trust any company that requires an advance payment for loan forgiveness services.
• Guarantees: If an offer includes a guarantee that your loan will be forgiven, especially if it offers immediate forgiveness, it is likely a scam.
• Claims to act immediately: Often times, student loan scams create a false sense of urgency by citing "new laws" or programs that will be ending soon.
• Requests for your FSA ID: You should never give out your federal student aid ID or allow a company to create one on your behalf. Your FSA ID has the same legal status as a written signature, so anyone with your ID information could make changes to your account without your permission.

Are All Student Loan Forgiveness Calls a Scam?

In a short answer, yes. Many unethical companies will use a student loan relief helpline to manipulate individuals struggling with their loans. They will make offers and charge fees to enroll you in federal programs that were free in the first place. When it comes to your federal student loans, you should never need to pay a third-party company to receive assistance.

While there is certainly a difference between an illegal scam and simply paying for something you don't need, many so-called "debt relief" agencies additionally mislead people by wrongly claiming to work with the Department of Education, falsely promising to forgive loans and violating telemarketing and communications laws.

To combat these student loan scams, the Federal Trade Commission has even launched a nationwide initiative called "Operation Game of Loans " to file criminal complaints against companies who break the law. Sadly, people still fall victim to these student loan scam calls every day.

How to Avoid Student Loan Scams

To avoid scams and protect your online safety, follow these tips:

• Never pay a fee up front for help that you could otherwise get for free.
• The new federal student loan forgiveness program is NOT up and running yet, and may even face legal challenges.
• You don't need to do anything or pay anyone to sign up for the new federal student loan forgiveness program. Nobody can get you in early, help you jump the line, or guarantee eligibility.
• Don't share your Federal Student Aid ID with anyone.
• Don't respond to out-of-the-blue solicitations for student debt relief.
• Register for free with the National Do Not Call Registry, which was created by the FTC to block unwanted sales calls to your phone. To register, go to donotcall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you want to register. (If you continue to get unwanted calls, odds are they are from scammers and spammers).

Where Can I Get Real Help With My Student Loans?

• For free assistance with federal student loans, visit StudentAid.gov/repay.
• For help with private loans, contact your loan company directly. You can find the company's contact information on your original credit agreement or promissory note (these are documents you should always keep); or you can contact your college's financial aid office to help you track down this data.

How to Report Student Loan Scams

If you believe you have witnessed an attempted student loan forgiveness scam, you should file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and report the scam to your state attorney general. Meanwhile, if you believe you have fallen victim to a student loan scam:

• Contact your bank or credit card company immediately to stop payments on the charges.
• Monitor your financial accounts closely and report any suspicious activity to your bank.
• If you gave out your FSA ID, contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243 and report that your ID has been misused.

Did you find this article helpful? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to stay updated on the latest scams and ways to avoid them.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.