untrappable

Student loan forgiveness scam call: is it real?

Editorially reviewed · Last updated July 12, 2026

Yes — this is a scam. Real student loan relief is free and never comes as a surprise call demanding you act today.

Incoming call
Scam Likely
(800) 555-0182
maybe: Student Loan Forgiveness Program
Voicemail transcript

“This is the Student Loan Forgiveness Program. You have been pre-approved to have your federal student loans erased under a new relief program, but your enrollment expires today. To lock in your forgiveness and avoid losing your spot, press 1 to speak with your loan advisor and confirm your details now.”

The Phone call, as received

Other versions you might get: The same pitch arrives as a text or email about "loan relief enrollment," or a live "advisor" who asks for your StudentAid.gov FSA ID, your Social Security number, or an upfront "processing" or "enrollment" fee.

What to do right now

  1. Hang up. Don't press 1, don't call back, and don't give your name, FSA ID, or Social Security number.
  2. Never pay to enroll. Applying for federal forgiveness is free — a fee, gift card, or "processing" charge is always a scam.
  3. Check it yourself. Log in at StudentAid.gov or call your loan servicer on the number from their official site to see your real status.
  4. Report it. File at reportfraud.ftc.gov and the CFPB, and block the number (scammers spoof and rotate, so it may not stop all of them).
  5. If you already shared or paid: change your StudentAid.gov password and turn on two-factor, call your bank or card to stop or reverse the payment, and watch your accounts for new activity.

How to make sure it never bites you

These calls reach you because your number is on sold lists, and the script preys on real worry about debt. Cut the volume and tighten your accounts — see how to stop spam calls and protect yourself.

Untrappable · Public service advisory

Stop the next one at the source

The calls keep coming because data brokers sell your number. Cutting that off is the only thing that reduces the volume — blocking one number won't, they just rotate. Start with the free steps.

Optional — if you'd rather it was handled for you

To actually cut the volume, a data-removal service files opt-out requests across the brokers selling your number and keeps you off their lists. You can do this by hand for free — the service is worth it because the removals don't stay put.

See data removal →

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Frequently asked

Is student loan forgiveness real, or is it always a scam?
Forgiveness is real — but the government never cold-calls to sell it, and it's always free. Federal Student Aid runs real programs like Public Service Loan Forgiveness and Teacher Loan Forgiveness, and you can “work with your loan servicer to explore which options may be right for you—free of charge.” The scam isn't forgiveness; it's anyone who calls, texts, or emails promising to get it for you fast, for a fee. Real programs “require years of qualifying payments and/or employment,” so a caller promising “immediate and total” cancellation is lying.
How do I know if a forgiveness offer is a scam?
Two tells give it away every time, per Federal Student Aid: a demand for money up front and a fake deadline. Scammers “guarantee immediate results or request money up front for services they can't provide,” with lines like “Act immediately to qualify for student loan forgiveness before the program is discontinued” or “Your student loan is flagged for forgiveness pending verification. Call now!” And if anyone asks for your StudentAid.gov username and password, stop: “We and our partners… will never ask for your password. That's a guarantee.”
I paid a company or gave my FSA ID — can I fix it?
Change your StudentAid.gov password right away and turn on two-factor — your FSA ID controls your federal aid. Call your bank or card issuer to stop or dispute any payment or recurring fee you set up. Then check your real loans and options for free by logging in at StudentAid.gov or calling your loan servicer, and report the scam at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Sources

A public service

Help protect someone else

Scams spread because people stay quiet about them. If this could have fooled you, it can fool someone you know — a parent, a friend, the family group chat. Passing it on is the easiest good thing you'll do today. It's safe to forward, and stands on its own as a record for a bank or the police.