Tips on how to avoid federal student loan schemes

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WWLP) – Millions of students will be heading to college in the next few weeks, many of whom are paying for that education with federal student loans.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is issuing a warning to students and their parents that thieves are looking to take money and personal information through false emails that look very convincing.

By now, recipients of federal student loans will have received a letter from Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona with information about options for loan forgiveness. Proof of this is the legitimate address that it comes from: noreply@studentaid.gov.

Some signs that the email is fake include email addresses that look similar to the real address, and using official-looking names, seals, and logos; asking to verify your account by asking for your username and password and banking information; requesting payment to help manage your student loans.

Also, when applying for student loans, be sure you’re working with a contracted federal student loan servicer listed on the U.S. Department of Education’s website.

According to the Department of Education, true emails from them are only from these three email addresses:

• noreply@studentaid.gov
• noreply@debtrelief.studentaid.gov
• ed.gov@public.govdelivery.com

If you’re not sure if an email is real or fake, or if you have any questions about your federal student loan, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243 (1-800-4 FED AID) to confirm.

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