01/18/2008 Back

ASA Security Alert

American Student Assistance^® would like to update you about scams that have been attempted on financial aid applicants.

Individuals claiming to represent the "U.S. Department of Education"

Recently, several applicants for financial aid received telephone calls and/or e-mails from people claiming to represent the U.S. Department of Education. These so-called representatives offered scholarships or grants for the price of a processing fee, or offered to pay off student loans. DO NOT give your financial or personal information to individuals making these types of claims! The Department of Education collects all of its award information when students fill out their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) found at www.fafsa.ed.gov and Stafford Loan Master Promissory Notes, or when their parents fill out Applications/Master Promissory Notes for PLUS loans. Additionally, the Department of Education never charges a processing fee to obtain federal education scholarships or grants. If you receive one of these calls or e-mails, please contact the Department of Education Office of Inspector General immediately (see 3 below). If you have already provided personal, bank, or credit card information to a person making a similar claim, we recommend that you take the following steps:

1. Contact your bank immediately, explain the situation, and request that the bank monitor or close the compromised account.
2. Notify the police about the incident; impersonating a federal officer, telemarketing fraud schemes, and identity theft are all crimes.
3. Report the fraud to the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General hotline at 1.800.MIS.USED (1.800.647.8733) or oig.hotline@ed.gov. Special agents in the Office of Inspector General will investigate the fraud involving federal education dollars.
4. Contact the Federal Trade Commission at 1.877.FTC.HELP or www.ftc.gov/scholarshipscams.

Individuals claiming to represent the "Financial Aid Office at American Student Assistance"

Recently, several applicants for financial aid received telephone calls and/or e-mails from people claiming to represent the Financial Aid Office at American Student Assistance. These so-called representatives wanted to obtain personal information and may have also discussed consolidation loans. DO NOT give your financial or personal information to individuals making these types of claims! If you are ever contacted by a company claiming to represent the Financial Aid Office at American Student Assistance, please immediately discontinue the contact and call 800.999.9080, Option 1. When you do call ASA, remember that we do not claim to be the financial aid office of any college, and for your security (and to make sure we are talking to the appropraite individual), we will ask you to verify personal info such as your address, date of birth, or last 4 digits of your Social Security Number. If you are unsure if you are talking to an ASA representative, please ask for the representative's name and extension and call back at 800.999.9080.