Avoiding Scams Avoiding Scams

Avoiding Scams

Student Loan Scams

Beware of scams! Borrowers have reported receiving phone calls, emails, letters, and texts offering them relief from their federal student loans or warning them that student loan forgiveness programs would end soon. Usually, the so-called student loan debt relief companies offering these types of services don’t offer any relief at all. Often, they’re just fraudsters who are after your money.

View the FTC’s list of companies and people banned from debt relief.

Frequently Asked Questions

Avoiding Student Aid Scams

Student aid scams are on the rise, especially since the loan payment pause is set to expire soon. Illegitimate companies may trick students into believing they can receive free scholarship money for a fee. You never have to pay money to get money!

Learn More

Tips to Identify Scams

  • They require you to pay up-front or monthly fees for help.
  • They promise immediate and total loan forgiveness or cancellation.
  • They ask for your FSA ID username and password.
  • They ask you to sign and submit a third-party authorization form or a power of attorney.
  • They claim that their offer is limited and encourage you to act immediately.
  • Their communications contain spelling and grammatical errors.


Listen to scam calls on the NPR website to see how they may sound.

What to Do if You Are Conned

Remember that you are not alone. Scammers hope that their victims are embarrassed and won't report them.  
  • The first thing to do, if you have given them payment information, is to contact your bank and have a hold put on your account, so they cannot get more payments from you. 
  • The next thing is to call your student loan servicer and let them know what happened. 
  • You may also want to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.
Contact Information

Phone Icon301.846.2620 (option 1)

Mail Icon[email protected]

Location IconJefferson Hall, 3rd floor

Office Hours

Monday: 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday-Friday* 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

*January - July and August
Available until 6:00 p.m. on Thursdays