Financial Aid Scheme Targets Students

Another scheme designed to part people from their hard-earned cash is targeting students seeking financial aid. A flyer from the "Student Financial Resource Center" is currently circulating on college campuses. The company requires $65 to search for financial aid programs for college students--a service that is usually provided at no cost from university financial aid offices. The program also requests sensitive information from the student, putting them at potential risk for identity theft.

"These are the types of schemes that we warn students about," says Kelley Christianson, Central Washington University associate director of financial aid. “Students should never pay to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or apply for scholarships, but needy students will try anything to get through school. And these are the people who can least afford to lose their money.”

Students who receive the flyer should not respond in any way, advises Christianson.

If students have any questions about financial aid offers, they should contact their university’s financial aid office to determine if the offers are legitimate. It’s also good to check with the Better Business Bureau to see if there are complaints about the company.

Media Contact: Valerie Chapman-Stockwell, Public Affairs, 509-963-1518, valeriec@cwu.edu