Avoid demands for a swift response
Many student loan forgiveness scammers will pressure borrowers by saying they must act immediately to receive forgiveness. They'll say a forgiveness program is about to end or that it's first come, first served. While the Department of Education will highlight temporary relief programs, its partners won't use aggressive language or sales tactics.
Don't give out sensitive information
Scammers often try to get sensitive information from a borrower, like their Social Security number, FSA ID, or password. Anytime someone asks for sensitive information via a phone call, text, or email, it should be a red flag. The Department of Education and its partners will never ask a borrower for their username and password for StudentAid.gov.
Keep away from programs requiring an up-front payment
Many student loan forgiveness scams require the borrower to pay an up-front fee to expedite forgiveness or to apply for a program. Legitimate student loan forgiveness programs don't charge a fee. Meanwhile, most student loan servicing companies will work with borrowers free of charge to lower the borrower's monthly payment, consolidate loans, or see if they qualify for a loan forgiveness program. Borrowers should start with their current student loan servicer before getting assistance from a private, unaffiliated company to reduce the risk of getting scammed.
