How to spot student loan scams: 2024 guide

As long as student loans exist, there will be student loan scams. Because student loan debt can feel like a never-ending burden, borrowers are often prime targets for scammers promising easy relief.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) have sued many dishonest student loan debt relief companies. This doesn’t mean that every company offering student loan relief services is a bad actor, but it’s important to know the warning signs.

Borrowers can educate themselves about the common hazards that may indicate a student loan scam, thus learning to avoid the dangers that can cost time and money.

Common student loan scam signs

Student loan scams often follow a common pattern or playbook, so knowing the red flags can go a long way toward helping you avoid becoming a victim.

1. Demanding upfront fees

There’s nothing wrong with paying for a service that takes care of something you don’t want to handle on your own. Many people pay others to settle their debts, repair their credit or file taxes instead of using the DIY approach. But if a company tries to charge you advance fees before it consolidates your loans, settles your debt or lowers your payments, that’s illegal.

A debt relief company can’t do anything for you that you can’t do for yourself. With or without professional help, you have the right to:

• Contact your loan servicer.
• Try to change your repayment plan.
• See if you qualify for loan forgiveness.
• Discuss options to get your loans out of default.

Upfront fees, especially before you receive a service you could realistically manage on your own, can be a red flag.

The U.S. Department of Education provides a free loan simulator to help you discover your options regarding federal student loans. You can use the website to review repayment strategies (including potentially lower payments), learn about loan forgiveness and understand your choices if you’re having trouble making payments.

2. Requesting FSA ID password or a signed power of attorney

A legitimate company may need some of your personal information to help you with your student loans. But if a student loan relief company requests your Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID) password or asks you to sign a power of attorney agreement, it’s a red flag.

If you give a company your FSA ID or power of attorney, you’re giving the company permission to legally change your student loan agreement — including new payment arrangements. Someone else is in control of your account.

If a debt relief company collects money to pay your student loans but doesn’t keep its word, you’ll still be on the hook with your student loan servicer for those payments, plus any late fees or interest you owe.

Your FSA ID password is private and should remain that way. It’s also best to avoid signing a power of attorney that gives someone else the power to act on your behalf except in specific circumstances. If you’ve already signed a POA or shared your FSA ID, contact your student loan servicer to revoke third-party authorization agreements on your account. You can log into your account with Federal Student Aid to change your FSA ID or password.

3. Promising instant loan forgiveness

Legitimate federal and state programs offer to reduce or forgive student loans for certain borrowers. Public Service Loan Forgiveness is one example. Still, eligible borrowers can take years to qualify for most government student loan forgiveness programs.

A student loan relief company that offers immediate student loan forgiveness or is overly enthusiastic about your chances of qualifying for such programs may be trying to take advantage of you. You should be especially concerned about big promises from a salesperson pressuring you to sign up for a service or provide your payment information or someone calling about forgiveness for private student loans.

You can review the different types of student loan forgiveness, cancelation and discharge available on the Federal Student Aid website. You can also contact your loan servicer for more information and to see if you qualify for a specific program.

4. Guarantees credit repair

If you’ve fallen behind on student loan payments and it’s taken a toll on your credit report, you can work with a reputable company that will help you work on repairing your credit. However, not all credit repair companies are helpful or legitimate. Companies that promise to get bad marks removed from your credit report but don’t say how should give you some pause.

Companies cannot remove a debt from your credit report that you legally owe. If a company reaches out to promise this, it’s a major red flag.

5. Showing fake Department of Education credentials

It’s easy for scammers to steal the likeness and logos of official federal departments. You might get emails or notices that seem like they’re from your student loan servicer but contain typos, inaccurate information or advertisements for limited-time programs.

If a company claims it is from the Department of Education or a loan servicer, research before responding. Contact your loan servicer directly to assess the legitimacy of email communications, or hang up and call the servicer directly if you get a phone call.

If you’re interested in consolidating your loans or changing repayment to a more affordable amount, take action yourself through the federal government website, not through a letter, phone call or email you get offering it.

How to report a student loan scam

Additional signs of a student loan scam include being pressured by a salesperson to sign up for their program, and overly aggressive advertising language that makes it seem as though you need to act very quickly. Email communications with unusual capitalization or typos can also be a sign that the message is from a scammer.

If a scammer contacts you, it’s important to report the incident. Even if no money leaves your pocket, alerting the appropriate authorities can protect other student loan borrowers from becoming a scam artist’s next victim.

You can report a scam to:

• The Federal Trade Commission.
• The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
• Your state’s attorney general.

It’s also important to report the scam to your student loan servicer. This is especially true if the scammer is impersonating the servicer.

You should also report scams via the Federal StudentAid website, which provides instructions on the process for submitting complaints about suspected scams using their platform.

In addition, The Institute of Student Loan Advisors may be able to provide assistance to borrowers who have questions about their loans. This organization provides information about forgiveness opportunities and provides student loan advice. You can find an attorney directory through the National Association of Consumer Advocates.

What to do if you’ve been scammed

Finding out you’ve been scammed is hard, especially if you’ve already paid money to the scammer. But you’ll need to act fast — your personal information is at risk. Here’s what to do next:

1. Change your FSA ID password. Log into your account and change your credentials as soon as possible. Do not share your new password with anyone.
2. Contact your loan servicer. Tell your servicer to remove any power of attorney or third-party authorization you’ve given to a scammer. Then request to see if anything malicious has been done on your account.
3. Reach out to your bank. If you’ve handed over credit card information or made a payment, start a claim to cancel that payment. You should also freeze your card and request a new one. Your bank can advise you on any next steps for recouping the money you lost.

If you need help with your student loans, thoroughly vet any company you’re considering. Student loan scams can cause lasting financial problems and sometimes credit damage, too. It’s critical to learn how to avoid student loan scams yourself.

Finding reputable student loans and student loan help

There are several ways to identify a reputable student loan lender. One way to determine if a lender is legitimate is to check the U.S. Department of Education’s website. The Department of Education provides a list of all the student loan servicers it contracts. You can also browse Bankrate’s student loan lender reviews. Try checking the Consumer Complaint Database to see complaints lodged against a loan company.

If you are in default, are considering refinancing or have questions about relief options, start by reaching out to your current loan servicer to see if they can help. Borrowers who have federal student loans can log into their My Federal Student Aid to find the name of the loan servicer.

Non-profit credit counselors and organizations are another avenue to pursue help. These organizations have certified counselors who can help you navigate financial challenges, including managing debt such as student loans and repairing your credit. Reputable credit counseling agencies will provide information about their services for free and will not require that you provide any personal information upfront.

The bottom line

While promises of fast relief may be tempting, student loan borrowers should approach any offer involving their debt with extreme caution. If you struggle to make timely payments or need assistance, it’s generally best to work with your loan servicer directly.

If you suspect you’ve fallen prey to a scammer, it’s a good idea to change your login information, contact your bank and loan servicer, and, when applicable, file a report with the FTC, CFPB, and your state’s attorney general.