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Stay Vigilant Against Student Loan Forgiveness Scams

The Biden administration recently announced the student loan forgiveness program of up to $20,000. In the wake of the announcement, scammers have been more active than ever at preying on vulnerable college graduates. If you or your loved ones are contacted by someone from a government agency or the U.S. Department of Education, think twice before acting on anything they say.

When in doubt, here is a couple key points to keep in mind:

• Do not pay for anything promising quick debt relief
  The borrowers are not required to take any action at this time in order to qualify for debt forgiveness. The Department of Education will have further announcements of how to apply for the program in the coming weeks. Any message claiming to guarantee eligibility for the program, offering an early spot, or immediate debt relief, is a scam.
  There are already a number of legitimate and free-to-apply student loan forgiveness programs offered on the Department of Education website with varying eligibility requirements.

• Check with your federal loan servicer
  Your loan servicer will have accurate and updated information about the loan payment pause and the new government forgiveness program. When in doubt, stick with your trusted loan servicer to discern which action to take. Keep in mind that the Department of Education and your loan servicer will never ask for your Federal Student Aid ID and password.