While student loan forgiveness scams have been deceiving borrowers for as long as we can remember, Biden’s pending decision regarding student loan debt relief has created a new opportunity for scammers to take advantage of more borrowers.
As borrowers, we want to keep you and your families safe from student loan forgiveness scams. When looking online to find out which federal student loan forgiveness programs you qualify for, be sure to trust information that is offered by the U.S. Department of Education or reputable sites.
While real student loan forgiveness programs do exist, such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness and Borrower Defense to Repayment, there are a variety of common tactics used to convince you of other student loan forgiveness programs that ultimately don’t exist.
To avoid falling for student loan forgiveness scams, here are the red flags to look for and what to do if you’re a victim of one.
Common Student Loan Forgiveness Scams
If you receive a call, email, or text message with one of the following messages, you are dealing with a student loan forgiveness scam:
- “Act immediately to qualify for student loan forgiveness before the program is discontinued.” Note the aggressive language of the student loan forgiveness scam. Urgency is a major red flag and a straight giveaway of being a scam.
- “Your student loans may qualify for complete discharge. Enrollments are first come, first served.” To avoid falling for these student loan forgiveness scams, conduct your own research on the federal Department of Education’s website to see which student loan forgiveness programs you qualify for. Most student loan forgiveness programs require a certain number of loan payments and employment in specified fields for your debt to be wiped out. There is no broad federal student loan forgiveness program, meaning that not all borrowers’ student loan debt will be cleared.
- “Student alerts: Your student loan is flagged for forgiveness pending verification. Call now!” An urgent message is a dead giveaway that the solicitor is trying to conduct a student loan forgiveness scam.
The federal government will never ask you for an upfront or monthly fee to cancel your student loans in whole. It just doesn’t work like that.
You will also never be asked to provide personal information, like your FSA ID and FSA password, over the phone.
If the person reaching out to you says anything akin to what was mentioned above, end contact immediately.
Red Flags to Look Out For
Calling from Reputable Locations
Scammers may call you from Washington, D.C. to create a false impression that the call is coming from a federal agency.
One borrower reported that they received a call from Washington, D.C. from a scammer who made an exciting offer: “It looks like your student loan has been flagged eligible for the recent stimulus forgiveness and relief legislation, however, your application needs to be completed.”
The caller had even provided a name and agent number and emphasized the urgency of the loan discharge, saying it would be served on a first-come, first-served basis (red flag!).
Betsy Mayotte, president of the Institute of Student Loan Advisors, notes the location from where the call “came” from: “What’s interesting is that this number came in as a D.C. number, which I’m sure just adds credibility to their scam.”
If you receive a student loan forgiveness call from D.C. that doesn’t seem right to you, hang up.
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Asking for an Upfront Fee
This is the number one giveaway of a student loan forgiveness scam. The federal government cannot and will not ask you to pay an upfront fee to cancel your student loan debt.
Saying You Need to Make a Choice Quickly
Scammers employ the scare tactic of urgency to pressure borrowers into giving up their personal information or paying nonexistent fees quicker. Time-sensitive phrases like, “First-come, first-served,” “Act immediately” or “[We need this] now” are major red flags to look out for. If the federal government is contacting you, they will not urge you to do anything.
Asking for Access to Your Account
If a scammer asks for access to your FAFSA account or any other personal information, do not give it to them. This is the easiest way to have your identity stolen or be robbed of your money.
By accessing your sensitive information, scammers put themselves in between you and your student loan servicer, making it more difficult for you to decipher the scam before it’s too late.
Promising Immediate Loan Forgiveness
Hearing that all your federal loan debt will be discharged in a short amount of time sounds too good to be true. This is another tactic that scammers employ to encourage borrowers to pay any upfront fee or give up information about themselves.
If anything sounds too good to be true, it’s likely a scam. Your loan provider will be able to tell you whether or not you qualify for loan forgiveness, so reach out to them directly to obtain the correct information and not fall prey to scams.
Asking for your FSA ID Password
Your FSA ID password is on the same legal status as a legally binding signature. If you share your FSA ID or a Power of Attorney, you are giving the petitioner the power to take any actions they choose and act on your behalf. Never give your FSA ID password to anyone except yourself and family members that you trust.
What to Do If You Were a Victim of a Student Loan Forgiveness Scam
If you were a victim of a student loan forgiveness scam, take the following steps as soon as possible.
Contact Your Federal Loan Servicer
If you were a victim of a student loan forgiveness scam, contact your federal loan servicer as soon as possible. Make sure that no unauthorized actions were taken on your loans, and request to annul any authorization agreement that’s on file.
Source: studentaid.gov
Contact Your Bank or Credit Card Company
If you provided any banking or credit card information to the student loan forgiveness scammer, contact your bank or credit card company immediately. You’ll want to dispute any payments that have been made to the company that is scamming you and cancel any payments that are scheduled to process.
Submit a Complaint to StudentAid.gov
Report the scam to the U.S. Department of Education so you can prevent any more scams from happening. You can submit a complaint at studentaid.gov and manage your cases through the portal they provide.
File a Complaint with the Federal Trade Commission
If you believe that your identity has been stolen by a student loan forgiveness scam, report this immediately to the Federal Trade Commission at identitytheft.gov. Identity theft is a dangerous, scary thing, so you’ll want to remedy the issue before matters worsen.
File a Complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is in charge of handling all complaints about questionable financial products and services. You can submit a complaint at consumerfinance.gov.
Student loan rates from our partners
Ascent
Ascent’s undergraduate and graduate student loans are funded by Bank of Lake Mills, or DR Bank, each Member FDIC. Loan products may not be available in certain jurisdictions. Certain restrictions, limitations; and terms and conditions may apply. For Ascent Terms and Conditions please visit: www.AscentFunding.com/Ts&Cs. Rates are effective as of 11/1/2024 and reflect an automatic payment discount of either 0.25% (for credit-based loans) OR 1.00% (for undergraduate outcomes-based loans). Automatic Payment Discount is available if the borrower is enrolled in automatic payments from their personal checking account and the amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month. For Ascent rates and repayment examples please visit: AscentFunding.com/Rates. 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward subject to terms and conditions. Cosigned Credit-Based Loan student must meet certain minimum credit criteria. The minimum score required is subject to change and may depend on the credit score of your cosigner. Lowest rates require full
principal and interest payments, the shortest loan term, a cosigner, and are only available for our most creditworthy applicants and cosigners with the highest average credit scores. Actual APR offered may be higher or lower than the repayment examples above, based on the amount of time you spend in school and any grace period you have before repayment begins.
Ascent’s undergraduate and graduate student loans are funded by Bank of Lake Mills, or DR Bank, each Member FDIC. Loan products may not be available in certain jurisdictions. Certain restrictions, limitations; and terms and conditions may apply. For Ascent Terms and Conditions please visit: www.AscentFunding.com/Ts&Cs. Rates are effective as of 11/1/2024 and reflect an automatic payment discount of either 0.25% (for credit-based loans) OR 1.00% (for undergraduate outcomes-based loans). Automatic Payment Discount is available if the borrower is enrolled in automatic payments from their personal checking account and the amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month. For Ascent rates and repayment examples please visit: AscentFunding.com/Rates. 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward subject to terms and conditions. Cosigned Credit-Based Loan student must meet certain minimum credit criteria. The minimum score required is subject to change and may depend on the credit score of your cosigner. Lowest rates require full
principal and interest payments, the shortest loan term, a cosigner, and are only available for our most creditworthy applicants and cosigners with the highest average credit scores. Actual APR offered may be higher or lower than the repayment examples above, based on the amount of time you spend in school and any grace period you have before repayment begins.
LendKey
1 – Terms and Conditions Apply
Loan products, terms, and benefits may be modified or discontinued by participating lenders at any time without notice. Rates displayed are reserved for the most creditworthy consumers who enroll to make automatic monthly payments. Your initial rate will be determined after a review of your application and credit profile. Variable rates may increase after consummation. You must be either a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident in an eligible state and from an eligible school, and meet the lender’s credit and income requirements to qualify for a loan. Certain membership requirements (including the opening of a share account, a minimum share account deposit, and the payment of any applicable association fees in connection with membership) may apply in the event that an applicant wishes to apply with, and accept a loan offered from, a credit union lender. If you are not a member of the credit union lender, you may apply and become a member during the loan application process if you meet the lender’s eligibility criteria. Applying with a creditworthy cosigner may result in a better chance of loan approval and/or lower interest rate. Loans for exam preparation classes, including, but not limited to, loans for LSAT, MCAT, GMAT, and GRE preparation, are not available via LendKey.com.
2 – Cosigner Release
Some lenders participating on LendKey.com may offer the benefit of cosigner release. Cosigner release is subject to lender approval. In order to qualify, the borrower, alone, must meet the following requirements: (1) Make the required number of consecutive, on-time full principal and interest payments as indicated in the borrower’s credit agreement during the repayment period (excluding interest-only payments) immediately prior to the request. Any period of forbearance will reset the repayment clock; (2) The account cannot be in delinquent status; (3) The borrower must provide proof of income indicating that he/she meets the income requirements and pass a credit review demonstrating that he/she has a satisfactory credit history and the ability to assume full responsibility of loan repayment; (4) No bankruptcies or foreclosures in the last sixty months; and (5) No loan defaults.
3 – Autopay Rate Reduction
Subject to floor rate and may require the automatic payments be made from a checking or savings account with the lender. The rate reduction will be removed and the rate will be increased by 0.25% upon any cancellation or failed collection attempt of the automatic payment and will be suspended during any period of deferment or forbearance. As a result, during the forbearance or suspension period, and/or if the automatic payment is canceled, any increase will take the form of higher payments.
4 – AutoPay Discount & Lowest Interest Rate
Subject to floor rate and may require the automatic payments be made from a checking or savings account with the lender. The rate reduction will be removed and the rate will be increased by 0.25% upon any cancellation or failed collection attempt of the automatic payment and will be suspended during any period of deferment or forbearance. As a result, during the forbearance or suspension period, and/or if the automatic payment is canceled, any increase will take the form of higher payments. The lowest advertised APR is only available for loan terms of 10 years and is reserved for the highest qualified applicants, taking into consideration the applicant’s credit and other factors.
1 – Terms and Conditions Apply
Loan products, terms, and benefits may be modified or discontinued by participating lenders at any time without notice. Rates displayed are reserved for the most creditworthy consumers who enroll to make automatic monthly payments. Your initial rate will be determined after a review of your application and credit profile. Variable rates may increase after consummation. You must be either a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident in an eligible state and from an eligible school, and meet the lender’s credit and income requirements to qualify for a loan. Certain membership requirements (including the opening of a share account, a minimum share account deposit, and the payment of any applicable association fees in connection with membership) may apply in the event that an applicant wishes to apply with, and accept a loan offered from, a credit union lender. If you are not a member of the credit union lender, you may apply and become a member during the loan application process if you meet the lender’s eligibility criteria. Applying with a creditworthy cosigner may result in a better chance of loan approval and/or lower interest rate. Loans for exam preparation classes, including, but not limited to, loans for LSAT, MCAT, GMAT, and GRE preparation, are not available via LendKey.com.
2 – Cosigner Release
Some lenders participating on LendKey.com may offer the benefit of cosigner release. Cosigner release is subject to lender approval. In order to qualify, the borrower, alone, must meet the following requirements: (1) Make the required number of consecutive, on-time full principal and interest payments as indicated in the borrower’s credit agreement during the repayment period (excluding interest-only payments) immediately prior to the request. Any period of forbearance will reset the repayment clock; (2) The account cannot be in delinquent status; (3) The borrower must provide proof of income indicating that he/she meets the income requirements and pass a credit review demonstrating that he/she has a satisfactory credit history and the ability to assume full responsibility of loan repayment; (4) No bankruptcies or foreclosures in the last sixty months; and (5) No loan defaults.
3 – Autopay Rate Reduction
Subject to floor rate and may require the automatic payments be made from a checking or savings account with the lender. The rate reduction will be removed and the rate will be increased by 0.25% upon any cancellation or failed collection attempt of the automatic payment and will be suspended during any period of deferment or forbearance. As a result, during the forbearance or suspension period, and/or if the automatic payment is canceled, any increase will take the form of higher payments.
4 – AutoPay Discount & Lowest Interest Rate
Subject to floor rate and may require the automatic payments be made from a checking or savings account with the lender. The rate reduction will be removed and the rate will be increased by 0.25% upon any cancellation or failed collection attempt of the automatic payment and will be suspended during any period of deferment or forbearance. As a result, during the forbearance or suspension period, and/or if the automatic payment is canceled, any increase will take the form of higher payments. The lowest advertised APR is only available for loan terms of 10 years and is reserved for the highest qualified applicants, taking into consideration the applicant’s credit and other factors.
Earnest
Student Loan Origination (Private Student Loan) Interest Rate Disclosure:
Student Loan Origination (Private Student Loan) Interest Rate Disclosure:
College Ave
College Ave Student Loans products are made available through Firstrust Bank, member FDIC, First Citizens Community Bank, member FDIC, or M.Y. Safra Bank, FSB, member FDIC. All loans are subject to individual approval and adherence to underwriting guidelines. Program restrictions, other terms, and conditions apply.
(1) All rates include the auto-pay discount. The 0.25% auto-pay interest rate reduction applies as long as a valid bank account is designated for required monthly payments. If a payment is returned, you will lose this benefit. Variable rates may increase after consummation.
(2) As certified by your school and less any other financial aid you might receive. Minimum $1,000.
(3) This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a freshman borrower who selects the Flat Repayment Option with an 8-year repayment term, has a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in one disbursement and a 7.78% fixed Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”): 54 monthly payments of $25 while in school, followed by 96 monthly payments of $176.21 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $18,266.38. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary.
Information advertised valid as of 11/1/2024. Variable interest rates may increase after consummation. Approved interest rate will depend on creditworthiness of the applicant(s), lowest advertised rates only available to the most creditworthy applicants and require selection of the Flat Repayment Option with the shortest available loan term.
College Ave Student Loans products are made available through Firstrust Bank, member FDIC, First Citizens Community Bank, member FDIC, or M.Y. Safra Bank, FSB, member FDIC. All loans are subject to individual approval and adherence to underwriting guidelines. Program restrictions, other terms, and conditions apply.
(1) All rates include the auto-pay discount. The 0.25% auto-pay interest rate reduction applies as long as a valid bank account is designated for required monthly payments. If a payment is returned, you will lose this benefit. Variable rates may increase after consummation.
(2) As certified by your school and less any other financial aid you might receive. Minimum $1,000.
(3) This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a freshman borrower who selects the Flat Repayment Option with an 8-year repayment term, has a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in one disbursement and a 7.78% fixed Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”): 54 monthly payments of $25 while in school, followed by 96 monthly payments of $176.21 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $18,266.38. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary.
Information advertised valid as of 11/1/2024. Variable interest rates may increase after consummation. Approved interest rate will depend on creditworthiness of the applicant(s), lowest advertised rates only available to the most creditworthy applicants and require selection of the Flat Repayment Option with the shortest available loan term.
Closing Thoughts From the Nest
At Sparrow, we want to help protect you from becoming a victim of student loan forgiveness scams.
With scammers taking advantage of people every day, it’s crucial to stay informed and take the necessary steps to prevent any student loan forgiveness scams from happening to you or your family members.