Financial Aid Letter Scams

Recently, fraudulent letters were mailed to parents of Wisconsin college students. They requested that $49 be paid in return for receiving information about financial aid and scholarships.

However, the information the letter claims to provide is available for free from financial aid offices, your local library, and Web sites such as www.fafsa.ed.gov.

The letters appeared official because they:

• Displayed a government-like seal.
• Contained personal information about the student.
• Looked similar to forms sent out by universities.
• Had a similar return deadline as official financial aid forms, March 31.

Students were also required to fill out an additional personal profile.

If you receive a letter you are unsure about, contact us.

Look for these commonly used phrases, determined by the Federal Trade Commission to protect yourself against financial aid scams.

• The scholarship is guaranteed or your money back.
• You can't get this information anywhere else.
• I need your credit card or bank account information to hold this scholarship.
• We'll do all the work.
• The scholarship will cost some money.
• You've been selected by a national foundation to receive a scholarship.
• You're a finalist in a contest you never entered.