Avoiding Student Loan Forgiveness Scams
October 24, 2025
As student loan forgiveness programs gain attention, scammers are increasingly targeting borrowers with fraudulent schemes designed to steal personal information and money. These criminals pose as government officials or loan servicers, creating convincing scenarios that prey on borrowers' hopes for debt relief. Understanding how to identify these scams is crucial to protecting yourself from financial loss and identity theft. The U.S. Department of Education has identified several common tactics scammers use—here's what you need to know to stay safe:
Phone Calls
If you receive a phone call regarding student loan debt relief, it's probably a scam. Borrowers will never receive a call from the U.S. Department of Education regarding their student loan debt. If you receive a call from your loan servicer, return the call using their official phone line.
Email Scams
Email scams are harder to spot, but scammers usually leave a clue, such as misspellings or incorrect grammar. According to the U.S. Department of Education, there are only three email addresses it uses when contacting borrowers:
Text Messages
Be wary of links sent through texts. The U.S. Department of Education's messages will come from only these two numbers: 227722 or 51592.
Requests for Fee Payments or Form Signatures
If you are asked to pay upfront fees or asked to sign an authorization form permitting a third-party to negotiate on your behalf, it is likely not legitimate.
For more information on Student Loan Forgiveness scams, visit https://studentaid.gov/articles/avoid-student-loan-forgiveness-scams/