Recognize and Avoid Student Loan Forgiveness Scam in Seconds

Since the release of President Biden’s announcement about the Student Debt Relief Plan, scammers have been active as well. To protect from being scammed with the name “Student Loan Forgiveness”, it’s quite necessary to recognize and avoid such scams.

Scam Alert! What is a Student Loan Forgiveness Scam Like?

Knowing what exactly student loan forgiveness is can effectively stop you from being scammed.

Sign#1. You’re asked to pay an upfront fee or a monthly fee.

A student loan forgiveness scammer is probably from a debt relief company claiming to do ANYTHING to enable you to get your loans paid off. However, such a service is not FREE, and you must pay upfront or a monthly fee.

It’s worth noting that the Education Department (ED) can help students with difficulties in a loan paying off by switching to a new loan plan without any charge.

In addition, the eligible debt service companies cooperating with the ED are limited to the following:

• FedLoan Servicing (PHEAA)

Tel: 1-800-699-2908

Fax: 717-720-1628

• Granite State – GSMR

Tel: 1-800-722-1300

Fax: 866-266-0178

• Great Lakes Educational Loan Service, Inc.

Tel: 1-800-236-4300

Fax: 800-375-5288

• HESC/Edfinancial

Tel: 1-855-337-6884

Fax: 800-887-6130

• MOHELA

Tel: 1-888-866-4352

Fax: 866-222-7060

• Navient
• Nelnet

Tel: 1-888-486-4722

Fax: 877-402-5816

• OSLA Servicing

Tel: 1-866-264-9762

Fax: 855-813-2224

Scam Alert Summary:

If you’re asked to pay for a loan relief service, it must be a scam.

Sign#2. Promise to relieve debt immediately.

NO ONE is able to promise to completely relieve or cancel student loans immediately. Some scam student loan service companies claim to quickly pay off student debt. That’s not true because the government’s debt relief calls for years’ eligible payments and/or high-rated records.

Scam Alert Summary:

If a promise is made to immediately pay off student debt, it must be a scam.

Sign#3. Your FSA ID passcode is asked to be provided.

Neither the ED nor a student loan service company will ever require you to provide an FSA ID passcode that is signed in a digital form. It has the same legal effect as writing a signature. Never provide your FSA ID passcode to anyone or allow anyone to create your FSA ID passcode.

If you provide your FSA ID passcode, the debt company will be eligible to deal with your student loan issues in a legal way.

Scam Alert Summary:

If your FSA ID passcode is required, it must be a scam.

How to Effectively Avoid a Student Loan Forgiveness Scam?

Scams are everywhere and it’s important and necessary to keep an eye on all scams, including student loan scams. Sometimes, a few tricks are enough.

Keep an eye on some common scams.

A ghost is scared because you know little about it. Likewise, a scam is terrifying just because you know little about scams. Nevertheless, if you are totally ready for common scams, they’ll be taken for granted.

Follow all the warnings released by the ED about student loan forgiveness scams and grasp the full eligible steps to apply for student debt forgiveness. If you know the right steps, the wrong steps will never make it.

Not just a student loan forgiveness scam, the rule applies to all scams. The more you know about scams, the less possible it is for you to suffer from scams.

Don’t pay for your debt service (at least NOT now).

Student Loan Forgiveness application calls for no cost, at least now immediately. But a scammer does.

Scammers targeting student debt forgiveness always lead victims to be trapped with some benefits or promises like “Helps you to apply for student debt forgiveness right away.” or some warnings like “Your student debt forgiveness application will go expire.” Never believe such sayings.

Clarify all the companies or student debt service providers working with ED.

The ED has been working with a couple of student debt service providers to provide enough loans to students in need. Therefore, it’s of top necessity to make a full list of all the companies or service providers. If a service provider not from the list calls you about student debt issues, just hang up and report.

“What Should I Do if I Got Scammed?”

Although that’s not expected, it still would occur. There are some measures to minimize your loss.

• Login to your account and change your FSA ID
• Contact your debt service provider to recall any of your authorization
• Contact your bank or credit card bank to halt the payment to the student loan forgiveness company
• Report to FTC

A List of Student Loan Forgiveness Scam Phone Numbers

FAQs about Student Loan

Do I have to do anything to continue my loan repayment pause?

No, the suspension through the end of this year is automatic. Payments won’t resume before January, according to the Federal Student Aid website.

How do I know if I am eligible for debt cancellation?

To be eligible, your annual income must have fallen below $125,000 (for individuals) or $250,000 (for married couples or heads of households).

If you received a Pell Grant in college and meet the income threshold, you will be eligible for up to $20,000 in debt cancellation.

If you did not receive a Pell Grant in college and meet the income threshold, you will be eligible for up to $10,000 in debt cancellation.