Identity Theft
There are many ways identity thieves can use your stolen information to commit acts of fraud.
Some types of fraud can include:
Government documents fraud
Utilities fraud
Credit card fraud
Financial or bank fraud
Phone impersonation fraud
Each of these, if committed against you, can result in serious financial and even legal issues for you. If you suspect that your personal information has been stolen, please try to act quickly and accurately to gather the information you know so far.
If you believe you have been a victim, there is assistance for these financial aid matters through the Department of Education and you can start your claim with the Office of Inspector General (OIG). This is the federal office which works with financial institutions and aid offices to look into potential fraudulent activity. The officer should follow up with our office after a claim has been filed to securely provide necessary information for the claim.
Get started on the government website here:
https://www2.ed.gov/about/
Other tips that may reduce the risk of identity theft when you apply for federal aid:
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Use fafsa.gov specific site when filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. As you exit the FAFSA site, close the browser so cookies from the session can be deleted
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Make sure to not give your FSA ID information and password to anyone, even if that person is helping you fill out the FAFSA form.
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Please do not give personal information over the phone or internet unless you initiated the contact session. If you have questions about your financial aid, ask your college’s financial office or contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at customerservice@studentaid.gov or 1-8004-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).