High riskGovernment & Tax

Student Loan Forgiveness Scam

This scam promises student loan forgiveness, cancellation, or reduced payments in exchange for an upfront fee or your loan account login, taking your money or hijacking your account while real programs remain free.

Quick verdict

Risk level
High risk
Scam type
Debt-relief impersonation (advance-fee/phishing)
Main red flag
An offer to forgive or slash student loans for a fee or your loan login.
What to do first
Do not pay or share your login. Manage loans only through your official servicer.

What to know first

This scam promises student loan forgiveness, cancellation, or reduced payments in exchange for an upfront fee or your loan account login, taking your money or hijacking your account while real programs remain free.

Government and tax scams impersonate tax authorities, police, or agencies, using threats of arrest, fines, or deportation to force fast payment, often via gift cards, transfers, or crypto. Real agencies do not demand instant payment this way or threaten arrest by phone.

The core pattern to watch for is clear: An offer to forgive or slash student loans for a fee or your loan login. Do not pay or share your login. Manage loans only through your official servicer.

Related tricks worth knowing: the Government Grant Scam and the Benefits Payment Scam. For the wider picture, browse the Government, Tax & Legal Scams guides or run the message through our scam checker.

Scam statistics

$2.7B
reported lost to imposter scams in the US in 2023
Source: US Federal Trade Commission
Gift cards
a top payment method scammers demand, which real agencies never use
Source: FTC Consumer Advice

Tell-tale red flags

  • An upfront fee to access loan forgiveness or relief
  • A request for your loan account login or personal ID
  • Promises of instant or guaranteed total forgiveness
  • Pressure citing a closing 'deadline'
  • Contact from an unofficial 'relief company'

Staying safe

  • Work only with your official loan servicer for any relief options
  • Apply for genuine programs directly, which do not charge fees
  • Never share your loan portal login or save it with a third party
  • Report fake relief offers to the relevant authority

How it usually reads

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'Act now: new program forgives your student loans! Pay a $199 enrollment fee and provide your loan portal login to apply before the deadline.'

This is a fictional, anonymised example used to illustrate the pattern. It is not a verified real message, and any names are used only to show how the scam typically reads.

What to notice: An offer to forgive or slash student loans for a fee or your loan login.

Steps if you already acted

  • If you paid, contact your bank or payment provider to dispute it
  • If you shared your login, change it and secure the account immediately
  • Watch for unauthorised changes to your loan account
  • Report the scam and keep your evidence

Common mistakes

  • Do not pay upfront fees for loan forgiveness
  • Do not give your loan login to a third party
  • Do not trust guarantees of total, instant forgiveness

Scams like this one

High risk Government & Tax

Government Grant Scam

This scam uses a message, call, or social media post claiming you qualify for a free government grant, then asks for a processing fee or your bank details to 'release' money that does not actually exist.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Government & Tax

Benefits Payment Scam

This scam claims you qualify for a benefit, grant, or cost-of-living payment and asks you to 'apply' by entering personal and bank details on a fake government-looking site that harvests the information.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Bank & Payment

Advance Fee Loan Scam

A lender guarantees approval for a loan regardless of your credit, then asks for an upfront 'insurance', 'processing', or 'first payment' fee before releasing the money. Once the fee is paid, the promised funds never arrive.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Your questions answered

Do real forgiveness programs charge a fee?
Legitimate student loan programs are applied for free through your official servicer. Companies charging upfront fees to 'enroll' you are typically scams.
Why do they want my loan login?
With your login, scammers can change your contact details, redirect payments, or lock you out. Never share it with a third party.
I paid and shared my login. What now?
Dispute the payment, change your login and secure the account, watch for unauthorised changes, and report the scam.
How do I get genuine help with loans?
Contact your official loan servicer directly and apply for any programs through official government channels, which do not charge fees.

Last reviewed June 2026 · Written & reviewed by the

Disclaimer: This page provides educational information only to help you recognise common scam patterns. It is not legal, financial, cybersecurity, or law enforcement advice, and it does not confirm whether any specific message, company, or person is genuine or fraudulent. When in doubt, contact the official organisation directly and report concerns to your local authorities.