Student loan forgiveness scam call: is it real?
Editorially reviewed · Last updated September 8, 2026
Yes — this is a scam. Official federal student-loan help is free. An unverified caller promising immediate cancellation for a fee is a scam warning.
Exhibit · Phone call
“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.”
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
- Hang up. Don't press 1, don't call back, and don't give your name, FSA ID, or Social Security number.
- Use the free official route. Apply or ask about relief through StudentAid.gov or your servicer. Do not pay an unverified caller for promised approval, faster results, or access to a government program.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
Reduce the risk of another scam
Hang up and verify the claim through a number you find independently. If you paid or shared account details, start with what to do after a scam. Blocking and reporting can reduce unwanted contact, but they cannot stop every attempt or tell you how the sender found you.
● Public service · free steps first
Reduce unwanted calls
Start with call blocking and your phone or carrier's filtering options. The Do Not Call Registry covers sales calls from companies that follow the rules; it does not block scammers.
- Add your number to the Do Not Call RegistryFree registration tells telemarketers not to call, with exceptions. It does not stop illegal scam calls or prevent the sale of your number.
- Report the call to the FTCHelps regulators go after the operations behind the robocalls.
Decide what protection you need
Start with the free controls above. Compare what a paid service would add only after deciding which problem remains.
No purchase needed. How we use evidence.
Frequently asked
Is student loan forgiveness real, or is it always a scam?
How do I know if a forgiveness offer is a scam?
I paid a company or gave my FSA ID — can I fix it?
Sources
- 01How To Avoid Student Loan Forgiveness Scams— Federal Student Aid (U.S. Department of Education)
- 02Avoid Scams While Paying for College— Federal Student Aid (U.S. Department of Education)
- 03Official security and fraud guidance— studentaid.gov
- 04What To Do if You Were Scammed— consumer.ftc.gov
Pass it on
Help protect someone else
If this could have fooled you, it can fool someone you know — a parent, a friend, the family group chat. It's safe to forward, and stands on its own as a record for a bank or the police.