Don't Pay for Help Finding Money for College

Commercial financial aid advice services can cost well over $1,000. You might have heard or seen these claims at seminars, over the phone from telemarketers, or online:

“You can't get this information anywhere else.” If you are patient and organized, you can find all the information you need yourself – free. Below, there are a list of sources.
“Give me your credit card or bank account number and I will hold financial aid for you.” Never give out a credit card or bank account number unless you know the company or organization you are giving it to is legitimate.
"Buy now or miss this opportunity." Don't give in to pressure tactics. Remember, the “opportunity” is a chance to give a company money for information you could find for free elsewhere.

Try these free sources of information:

The Student Loan Network
Your college's financial aid office
Your high school counselor
The U.S. Department of Education’s Web site: http://www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov
Other federal agencies (including the military, if appropriate): www.students.gov
The reference section of your school or public library
Free online scholarship searches
Foundations, religious organizations, community organizations, local businesses and civic groups
Organizations (including professional associations) related to your field of interest
Your employer or your parents' employers

Don’t Pay for the FAFSA

Several Web sites offer help filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for a fee. These sites are not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education. We urge you not to pay these sites for assistance that is provided free elsewhere. The official FAFSA is at www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov, and you can get free help from

FAFSA Online, from the Student Loan Network
the financial aid administrator at your college
the FAFSA’s online help at www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov

Remember, if you are asked for your credit card information while filling out the FAFSA online, you are not at the official government site.

Keep Your Information Safe

How Does Identity Theft Happen?

Criminals use their access to personal data such as names, Social Security numbers, and bank and credit card information. Using the stolen data, the criminal can fraudulently obtain credit cards, buy items over the Internet, and even establish cell phone accounts.

Reduce Your Risk

Apply for federal student aid by filling out the FAFSA at www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov.
After completing the FAFSA online, exit the application and close the browser.
Keep your Federal Student Aid PIN in a secure place. (Get your PIN at www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov.)
Don’t reveal your PIN to anyone, even if that person is helping you fill out the FAFSA.
Review your financial aid award documents and keep track of the amount of aid applied for and awarded.
Shred receipts and copies of documents with personal information if they are no longer needed.
Immediately report all lost or stolen identification (credit card, driver’s license, etc.) to the issuer.

Report Financial Aid Fraud

A company charging for financial aid advice is not committing fraud unless it doesn’t deliver what it promises. For more information about financial aid fraud or to report fraud, call the Federal Trade Commission toll free at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or go to www.ftc.gov/scholarshipscams.

Report Identity Theft

If you become a victim of identity theft or suspect that your student information has been stolen, contact:

U.S. Department of Education
Office of Inspector General Hotline
1-800-MIS-USED (1-800-647-8733)
complain online: www.ed.gov/misused

Federal Trade Commission
1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338)
complain online: www.consumer.gov/idtheft

Social Security Administration
1-800-269-0271
www.ssa.gov/pubs/idtheft.htm

Equifax Credit Bureau
1-800-525-6285
www.equifax.com

Experian Information Solutions (Formerly TRW)
1-888-397-3742
www.experian.com

TransUnion Credit Bureau
1-800-680-7289
www.transunion.com

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/us/