Avoiding Student Aid Scams 
Avoid student aid scams and protect your identity while searching for scholarships, filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid FAFSA form, managing your loans, and giving information to schools and lenders. FREE help is available. Save Your Money Protect Your Identity Beware of Student Loan Debt Relief Companies Report Fraud and Identity Theft 

You Don t Have to Pay for Help Finding Money for College or Career School 
Commercial financial aid advice services can cost well over $1,000. Of course , simply charging for help or information that s available for free elsewhere is not fraudulent. However , if a company doesn t deliver what it promises , it s scamming you. If you re unsure whether to pay a company for help finding financial aid , stop and think for a minute : What s being offered? Is the service going to be worth your money? Do the claims seem too good to be true? You might have heard or seen these claims at seminars, over the phone from telemarketers, or online : Buy now or miss this opportunity. Don t give in to pressure tactics. Remember , the opportunity is a chance to pay for information you could find yourself for free. We guarantee you ll get aid. A company could claim it fulfilled its promise if you were offered student loans or a $200 scholarship. Is that worth a fee of $1,000 or more? I ve got aid for you ; give me your credit card or bank account number. Never give out a credit card or bank account number unless you know the organization you are giving it to is legitimate. You could be putting yourself at risk of identity theft. Here is some free information about ways to pay for college. 

You Don t Have to Pay for Help With the FAFSA Form 
Several websites offer help filling out the FAFSA form for a fee. These sites are not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education ED. We urge you not to pay these sites for assistance that you can get for free elsewhere. The official FAFSA form 

user: Hey there, I need some advice on how to protect my identity. Some of my information was leaked somehow and I'm very concerned.

assistant: Of course. Would you like to know how to reduce your risk of identity theft when applying for aid?

user: Yes, that'd be great.

assistant: Identity theft can occur when criminals access personal data such as names, Social Security numbers, and bank and credit card information. Using the stolen data, the criminal can illegally obtain credit cards, set up mobile phone accounts and more.

user: Interesting. And how exactly do student loan debt relief companies work?

assistant: Student loan debt relief companies are private companies that provide or claim to provide student loan management services for a fee. Often these companies are charging for services you can easily manage yourself.

user: What if I stopped paying my loans all of the sudden?

assistant: In that case your credit could be damaged and your loan balances could balloon.

user: I see. Do you have any other advice regarding the protection of my identity?

assistant: Yes. Keep your purse or wallet safe at all times; store it and other items containing personal information in a secure place at home, especially if you have roommates.