Spring Break
Don't fall into a scholarship scam
Students seeking help should go to campus
Jessica Leggin / Campus Editor
Issue date: 3/3/09 Section: News
Students use the benefits of financial aid and scholarships to attend college, but some students and their parents still run into scammers who try to make a quick dollar on something that is free.
A common scam is when a Web site or person requests students and their parents to pay for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
FAFSA online is a Web site governed by the U.S. Department of Education that allows students to fill out their official electronic application for federal student aid for free.
Dianna Ensign, associate director for the Office of Financial Aid, said if the application does not come from the government Web site then students more than likely will pay for the free application.
"If it does not have '.gov' on the link then it is not a federal government agency," she said. "There are just all sorts of things out there, and it is important for students to know what they are getting into."
Ensign said these scam Web sites receive the free application from the government and then charge students at least $100 to fill out the application for them.
"They have to get the applications from the government or it would be considered fraud, but they are just charging a student something they can do themselves," she said. "They are just staying above the law by providing a service when it's free through the government Web site."
Ensign said when students and their parents have someone else fill out their FAFSA application, personal information is given out that should not be.
"They are giving someone their pin numbers, and they are giving their electronic signature which can be used for promissory notes," she said. "No one should give out this information to anyone."
Ensign said these people cannot guarantee a student financial aid.
"They are paying someone that is guaranteeing that they can come up with some financial aid," she said. "They can't guarantee you anything."
Ensign said if someone does not want to fill out the application themselves, they should go to the financial aid office for help.
"Any financial aid office would help," she said. "There is a big commitment in the state of Illinois to provide services to those who need it when it comes to financial aid and scholarships."
Ensign said another scam students should be aware of is receiving a phone call from someone acting as the federal government who tells them they are eligible for a scholarship.
"They end up asking you for all of your personal information for identity theft," she said.
Ensign said the federal government would never call a student directly.
"Only the financial aid office will call a student directly," she said. "Plus we already have the information, so we don't need to ask for it."
Ensign said when financial aid calls a student, the financial aid personnel identify themselves.
"We identify ourselves when we call and through e-mail, and we allow the students to call us back," she said.
Ensign said if a student receives a phone call he or she is unsure about, the student should ask for a number to call them back.
"If students are unsure, they can also call the financial aid office," she said.
Ensign said the Office of Financial Aid makes sure students are informed about scams as soon as they step on Eastern's campus.
"It is our responsibility to get that word out," she said. "During open houses, we talk about scams, and when we have transfer students come out, we talk to them as well."
Ensign said overall, students need to be careful when going on certain Web sites to search for scholarships and financial aid.
"I would not search for a scholarship if it was not on the (Illinois Student Assistance Commission) Web site, a federal government Web site or FastWeb," she said. "You just have to feel confident before you go on a Web site and spill out your information."
Ensign said if someone needs help filling out an application, then the financial aid office is there to help.
"Ask somebody," she said. "Just don't fill it out."
Jessica Leggin can be reached at 581-7942 or at jmleggin@eiu.edu.
A common scam is when a Web site or person requests students and their parents to pay for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
FAFSA online is a Web site governed by the U.S. Department of Education that allows students to fill out their official electronic application for federal student aid for free.
Dianna Ensign, associate director for the Office of Financial Aid, said if the application does not come from the government Web site then students more than likely will pay for the free application.
"If it does not have '.gov' on the link then it is not a federal government agency," she said. "There are just all sorts of things out there, and it is important for students to know what they are getting into."
Ensign said these scam Web sites receive the free application from the government and then charge students at least $100 to fill out the application for them.
"They have to get the applications from the government or it would be considered fraud, but they are just charging a student something they can do themselves," she said. "They are just staying above the law by providing a service when it's free through the government Web site."
Ensign said when students and their parents have someone else fill out their FAFSA application, personal information is given out that should not be.
"They are giving someone their pin numbers, and they are giving their electronic signature which can be used for promissory notes," she said. "No one should give out this information to anyone."
Ensign said these people cannot guarantee a student financial aid.
"They are paying someone that is guaranteeing that they can come up with some financial aid," she said. "They can't guarantee you anything."
Ensign said if someone does not want to fill out the application themselves, they should go to the financial aid office for help.
"Any financial aid office would help," she said. "There is a big commitment in the state of Illinois to provide services to those who need it when it comes to financial aid and scholarships."
Ensign said another scam students should be aware of is receiving a phone call from someone acting as the federal government who tells them they are eligible for a scholarship.
"They end up asking you for all of your personal information for identity theft," she said.
Ensign said the federal government would never call a student directly.
"Only the financial aid office will call a student directly," she said. "Plus we already have the information, so we don't need to ask for it."
Ensign said when financial aid calls a student, the financial aid personnel identify themselves.
"We identify ourselves when we call and through e-mail, and we allow the students to call us back," she said.
Ensign said if a student receives a phone call he or she is unsure about, the student should ask for a number to call them back.
"If students are unsure, they can also call the financial aid office," she said.
Ensign said the Office of Financial Aid makes sure students are informed about scams as soon as they step on Eastern's campus.
"It is our responsibility to get that word out," she said. "During open houses, we talk about scams, and when we have transfer students come out, we talk to them as well."
Ensign said overall, students need to be careful when going on certain Web sites to search for scholarships and financial aid.
"I would not search for a scholarship if it was not on the (Illinois Student Assistance Commission) Web site, a federal government Web site or FastWeb," she said. "You just have to feel confident before you go on a Web site and spill out your information."
Ensign said if someone needs help filling out an application, then the financial aid office is there to help.
"Ask somebody," she said. "Just don't fill it out."
Jessica Leggin can be reached at 581-7942 or at jmleggin@eiu.edu.
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