8 Common Signs You’re the Victim of a Student Loan Forgiveness Scam

By Kassondra Cloos | Published on March 6, 2026

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Student loan forgiveness scams have been surging over the last few months as federal student loan payments kick back in. Keep yourself and your finances safe by looking out for these common signs of phony student debt relief.

1. They reached out to you first

One of the most blatant red flags of a student loan forgiveness scam is receiving unsolicited communication. Scammers often reach out via email, phone, or text message, claiming to be able to provide student loan forgiveness and asking for personal information or payment.

Legitimate forgiveness programs do not typically reach out to individuals without being contacted first. If you’ve gotten an unsolicited message from a company claiming to offer forgiveness, you may be dealing with a scammer.

2. They asked for sensitive personal information

If someone reaches out to you and asks for your social security number, bank details, date of birth, or any other information that could leave you vulnerable to identity theft, stop and think before you answer those questions.

It’s normal to share personally identifying information with a legitimate company if you’re applying for student loan refinancing, or contacting your student loan servicer about your account. However, you should never have to give that information simply to get information about a company’s services – especially if they called you. And no matter who they are, no one legitimate should ever ask you for your account login details.

3. They asked you to pay for student loan forgiveness

The U.S. Department of Education will never charge you for student loan forgiveness or to answer questions about your account. If someone asks for a processing fee or upfront fee to help you get forgiveness or access federal student aid, that’s a red flag.

You can access a wealth of information about help available to you at StudentAid.gov and by calling your federal loan servicer directly. Earnest’s Client Happiness Team can also help you find resources to assess your options if you give us a call — and we’ll never charge you for that advice, either.

4. They guaranteed immediate student loan forgiveness

Legitimate student loan forgiveness programs don’t offer immediate or total forgiveness without any requirements. There are lots of ways to get your loans forgiven, but none involve erasing your debt instantly with no strings attached.

If a program promises to eliminate all your student loan debt quickly or with no effort on your part, it’s probably a scam. Programs that promise immediate forgiveness may ask for upfront payment, or they might use the promise of forgiveness to collect your information and then use it to commit fraud.

5. They flaunted official seals

If you’re like most consumers, you probably use badges on a company’s website as a shortcut to determine if it’s safe, legitimate, and secure. Scammers know this, though, and they’ll often use official-sounding names or seals to make their offers appear more legitimate.

Before you do business with an organization offering debt relief, make sure you do your due diligence. Don’t just look at the company website – look for third-party reviews and references to see what other people are saying about them. Chances are you’re not the first person to come in contact with this company.

6. They impersonated the federal government

In just two weeks in September, potential scammers made 350,000 robotic phone calls to Americans about student loan forgiveness, according to CBS News.

Always be cautious about unsolicited phone calls. If you’re unsure if a call is legitimate, you can hang up and call back via publicly listed contact information for the Department of Education, or your loan servicer, so you can be sure you know who you’re talking to.

7. They asked for power of attorney

If a company sends you a contract asking for power of attorney, that’s an immediate sign that they’re a fraudster operating a student loan debt relief scam. You don’t need someone else to act on your behalf to enroll in income-driven repayment plans or seek Public Service Loan Forgiveness, or any other kind of debt forgiveness for that matter.

8. They pressured you to act fast

The federal government and your loan servicer will never use pressure tactics to force you into making a decision. If someone tries to push you into making a fast decision to sign up for their services, walk away — it’s a sign something isn’t right.

What to do if you think you’ve been scammed

1. Stop communicating: If you’ve been in contact with people you suspect to be scammers, stop communicating immediately. Don’t respond to their messages, provide any further personal information, or initiate any financial transactions.

2. Document everything: Gather all evidence related to the scam. Save copies of emails, text messages, or any other form of correspondence exchanged with the scammers. This documentation will come in handy when you report the scam later.

3. Report the scam: Report the incident to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and your state attorney general’s office. You may want to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), too. You can report scams by calling 1-877-382-4357 or visiting reportfraud.ftc.gov.

4. Notify your loan servicer: Contact your student loan servicer and let them know about the scam. They can advise you on how to protect your loan and provide guidance on next steps.

5. Monitor your financial accounts: Be on the lookout for any suspicious activity in your bank and credit card accounts.

6. Review your credit reports: Request a free copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. If you find anything suspicious, contact the credit bureau to initiate a fraud alert or credit freeze.

7. Educate yourself: Use this experience as an opportunity to become better informed about federal student loan forgiveness programs and how they operate. Familiarize yourself with legitimate options so that you can differentiate between real opportunities and scams in the future.

How to get debt relief without student loan forgiveness

Look into income-driven repayment plans

If you have federal student loans, you may be eligible for income-driven repayment plans that can lower your monthly payments. There are four different types, including the new SAVE plan.

Consider student loan consolidation

If you have federal student loans, consolidating them into one loan can simplify repayment, making it easier to stay on top of monthly bills.

Refinance your loans

Refinancing allows you to take out a new private loan to pay off your old private and/or federal student loans.

Request deferment or forbearance

Deferment and forbearance are both pauses in your student loan payments granted for special circumstances.

Lower your monthly payments with Earnest Student Loan Manager

If you’re struggling with student loan payments now that they’re resuming, Earnest can help. Our Student Loan Manager can help you explore and compare options to lower your payments through plans offered by the federal government.