Student Loan & Debt Relief
Fake 'debt relief companies' charge upfront fees to enroll you in programs that are either free through the government or don't exist at all. They target borrowers whenever loan forgiveness is in the news.
How it worksThe anatomy of the scam
Every case follows roughly the same playbook. Recognize the pattern, stop it early.
1. The official-looking outreach
Email, call, or letter claiming to be from 'Department of Education' or 'Federal Student Aid'.
2. A promise of forgiveness
'You qualify for full loan forgiveness under a new program.'
3. The processing fee
'Just pay $499 upfront and we'll handle the paperwork.'
4. The document grab
They harvest your FSA ID, birthdate, and SSN — enough to take over your account.
Warning signsRed flags to watch for
If you're seeing two or more of these, assume it's a scam until proven otherwise.
Any upfront fee
Applying for real federal forgiveness programs is always free.
Asked for your FSA ID password
Never share it — with anyone, ever.
Pressure to sign up immediately
Real federal deadlines are published years in advance.
Protect yourselfDo this. Not that.
✓ Do
Apply directly at StudentAid.gov for any federal forgiveness program.
✗ Don't
Never pay a third party to apply for federal forgiveness.
✓ Do
Contact your loan servicer directly for free help.
✗ Don't
Don't share your FSA ID password.
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