BBB Tip: New college grads should be wary of student loan repayment scams

Milwaukee, Wis. – Traditionally, this is the time of year when aspiring graduates are planning their walk across the stage to claim their diplomas.  Shortly thereafter, the student loan repayment process begins. However, scammers are taking advantage of recent changes to student loan repayment programs in order to confuse borrowers, tricking them into falling for a variety of schemes.

Currently payments are paused on virtually all federal student loans through Aug. 31, 2022, and no interest is accruing. But just because student loan repayment is on pause, doesn’t mean that scams are. Better Business Bureau encourages graduates to carefully research trustworthy sources related to federal repayment plans before giving any personal information.

Watch out for companies promising to reduce debt by lowering payments through enrollment in student loan forgiveness or other programs. They may also falsely promise to apply monthly payments to consumers’ student loans and to improve credit scores- all you have to do is pay a small fee so they can negotiate with the lender on your behalf. In another version, dishonest collectors claim they can save money by consolidating loans – if a minimal fee is paid. Keep all of your personal information private and never give it to an unsolicited source.

Protect yourself from student loan scammers:

• Research the lender.  Visit BBB.org to read business profiles and check out companies before working with them. The FTC has consumer education related to student loan debt relief scams at ftc.gov/StudentLoans.
• Report it. If you have been a victim of a suspected scam, report it at BBB.org/ScamTracker.
• Empty promises lead to an empty wallet and more debt. Only scammers promise fast loan forgiveness.  Scammers often pretend to be affiliated with the government. Never pay a fee upfront for help. Never share sensitive information, such as your FSA ID.
• Find a reliable source. Consumers can apply for loan deferments, forbearance, repayment and forgiveness. Or, they can discharge programs directly through the U.S. Department of Education or their loan servicer at no cost, and do not require a third party.

For more information:

Visit StudentAid.gov for federal student loan repayment options. Student loans can be forgiven only under specific circumstances, so contact your lender directly to see if any options are available to you.

If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. A company that claims it can erase student loan debt in minutes is not being honest. This type of scheme is similar to a government imposter scam, watch for the warning signs.

For more information or further inquiries, contact the Wisconsin BBB at www.bbb.org/wisconsin, 414-847-6000 or 1-800-273-1002. Consumers also can find more information about how to protect themselves from scams by following the Wisconsin BBB on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

ABOUT BBB: For more than 100 years, the Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. In 2020, people turned to BBB more than 220 million times for BBB Business Profiles on 6.2 million businesses and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free at BBB.org. There are local, independent BBBs across the United States, Canada and Mexico, including BBB Serving Wisconsin which was founded in 1939 and serves the state of Wisconsin.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.