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Student loan scams

You’ve probably heard the news — federal student loan repayments are starting again in October. But scammers might try and tell you they can help you avoid repayment, lower your payments, or get your loans forgiven for a price. Here’s how to spot and avoid these scams.

The most important thing to know is this: the best source of information on your federal student loans is Federal Student Aid. Also, you don’t need to pay to sign up for any programs to lower your payments or get forgiveness it’s all free at StudentAid.gov/repay. And you can do it yourself. (Again: for free.)

Worried about repaying your loans? The calls and texts that offer "help" might be tempting. But before you act, know how to spot the scams:

  • Don’t give away your FSA ID login information. Anyone who says they need it to help you is a scammer. If you share it, the scammer can cut off contact between you and your servicer — and even steal your identity.
  • Don’t trust anyone who contacts you promising debt relief or loan forgiveness, even if they say they're affiliated with the Department of Education. Scammers try to look real, with official-looking names, seals, and logos. They promise special access to repayment plans or forgiveness options — which don’t exist. If you’re tempted, slow down, hang up, and log into your student loan account to review your options.

As you get ready for repayment, here are some steps to take:

  • Update your contact information with FSA and your loan servicers. This way, you’ll get timely updates about your repayment plans.
  • Enroll in a repayment plan. Use FSA’s Loan Simulator to estimate your monthly payments and compare your repayment options. If you’ve defaulted on your loans, look into the Fresh Start program.

If you spot a scam, the FTC wants to hear about it:  ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.

  • We won’t post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions.
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  • We won’t post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity.
  • We won’t post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission.

Wonder
September 18, 2023

If your previous payments to your student loan are wiped out, why do loan servicers not disclose that fact? Thirty years worth of payments wiped out.

joel
December 19, 2023

i really like this article i wish i would reread it lots of times and Don’t trust anyone who contacts you promising debt relief or loan forgiveness, even if they say they're affiliated with the Department of Education. Scammers try to look real, with official-looking names, seals, and logos. They promise special access to repayment plans or forgiveness options — which don’t exist. If you’re tempted, slow down, hang up, and log into your student loan account to review your options.on’t give away your FSA ID login information. Anyone who says they need it to help you is a scammer. If you share it, the scammer can cut off contact between you and your servicer — and even steal your identity.

Jessica
January 02, 2024

I was not in college