Is the Student Loan Forgiveness Scam real or a scam?

This is a confirmed scam. Do not click any links, do not provide personal information, and do not send money. This is a phishing scam.

What should I do if I received the Student Loan Forgiveness Scam?

Do not respond or click any links. Block the sender, report the message as spam, and delete it. If it came via text message, forward it to 7726 (SPAM).

What if I already fell for the Student Loan Forgiveness Scam?

Change your passwords immediately, contact your bank if you shared financial information, place a fraud alert on your credit, and file a report with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

How do I report the Student Loan Forgiveness Scam?

Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov, and your local law enforcement. If it impersonated a specific company, report it to that company as well.

Student Loan Forgiveness Scam: Is It a Scam?

High Prevalence Type: Phishing

Yes, this is a scam. Do not click any links or provide personal information.

Scammers exploit student loan borrowers by offering fake loan forgiveness, consolidation, or debt relief programs. They charge upfront fees for services that are available for free from the government, or they steal personal information used to drain accounts.

How This Scam Works

You receive a call, email, or text about student loan forgiveness from an official-sounding organization. They may reference real government programs to seem legitimate. They offer to handle your application for a fee of $500 to $1,000 or more, even though applying for federal loan forgiveness is always free. Some scammers ask for your FSA (Federal Student Aid) login credentials to 'submit the application for you.' With your FSA login, they can change your contact information and payment settings, redirect payments, or take out additional loans in your name.

Red Flags to Watch For

Upfront fee to apply for student loan forgiveness
Claims of a special connection to the Department of Education
Request for your FSA login ID and password
Pressure to act before a deadline that does not exist
Guarantee of complete loan forgiveness
Official-sounding but unofficial organization name

Example Scam Messages

Phone call: 'Congratulations, you've been pre-selected for the Biden Student Loan Forgiveness Program. We can eliminate up to $50,000 of your student debt. A one-time processing fee of $599 is required to finalize your application.' --- Text: 'STUDENT LOAN ALERT: You may qualify for full loan forgiveness under the new federal program. Apply before the March 15 deadline: studentloan-forgiveness-apply.com' --- Email: 'Dear Borrower, The US Department of Education has approved you for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. To complete enrollment, provide your FSA login at: education-loan-portal.com/apply'

What to Do If You Received This

Applying for federal student loan forgiveness is always free at studentaid.gov
Never pay anyone to submit forgiveness applications on your behalf
Never share your FSA login credentials with third parties
Verify programs at studentaid.gov or call 1-800-4-FED-AID
Delete suspicious emails and texts

What to Do If You Fell For It

Change your FSA login credentials immediately at studentaid.gov
Contact your loan servicer to check for unauthorized changes
If you paid a fee, contact your bank to dispute the charge
Monitor your credit reports for new accounts opened in your name
File a complaint with the Department of Education

How to Report This Scam

Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Report to the Department of Education OIG at ed.gov/oig
File a complaint with FBI IC3 at ic3.gov
Report to the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint
Forward scam texts to 7726 (SPAM)

Last updated: February 10, 2026