Millions of student loan borrowers have flocked to the Biden administration’s newly unveiled application for broad-based debt relief since it was released earlier this month.
But federal officials want you to know there are others “on the move,” too.
In recent weeks, federal agencies have been warning of the threat of student loans scams, and even the White House is spreading the word about fraudsters targeting borrowers.
Here are a few ways to spot some of those scams, and how to stay safe.
The Education Department will likely never call you
A common tactic among student loan scammers is to call an individual and pretend to be a government official from the Education Department.
However, borrowers can be assured they won’t receive calls from the Education Department because officials won’t contact individuals directly about repayment programs or their loans, according to Student Debt Crisis Center (SDCC) President and Founder Natalia Abrams.
“The Department of Education and your federal student loan servicer will never call or email you asking for this information,” the department said in a statement at the beginning of October, referring to a person’s Federal Student Aid account ID or password.
The department also emphasized the new student relief program is free for applicants to apply and get loan forgiveness.
Abrams told The Hill that individuals have lost thousands of dollars from these scams and…
