The FBI has published a Public Service Announcement (PSA) warning the public of the potential for fraudulent websites, e-mails, texts, or phone scams aiming to defraud individuals seeking federal student loan forgiveness. Threat actors will seek to solicit personally identifiable information, financial information, or payment from potential victims.

These potential scams are in relation to the 2022 Student Loan Debt Relief Plan, announced by the Biden administration in August. According to the PSA, “Cybercriminals and fraudsters may purport to offer entrance into the Federal Student Loan Forgiveness program, contacting potential victims via phone, email, mail, text, websites, or other online chat services. Cybercriminals and fraudsters use their schemes to receive payment for services they will not provide or collect victim information they can then use to facilitate a variety of other crimes.” It's important to note that the Department of Education will never require payment for gaining access to any federal student aid program. The PSA also provides tips for protecting yourself against potential scams. To report an incident or file a complaint, visit the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. Read the full PSA here.