Phone and text scams are currently underway targeting Erie residents and possibly other Pennsylvania residents offering “Pennsylvania Loan Forgiveness”. If you are contacted from someone stating:
“We are reaching out to you because your student loan has been flagged for the Pennsylvania forgiveness program. You are eligible to receive full forgiveness. This applies to all Pennsylvania residents. Please call our office back at (717) 573-8721 to be connected to your loan counselor. Again, that number is (717) 573-8721. Thank you.”
This is a scam! You should contact your loan servicer directly for any questions about legitimate loan forgiveness programs. Additionally, if you have been contacted about a loan forgiveness scam, a complaint may be filed with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General.
Students can begin to apply for financial aid for 2024-25 by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) starting December 31, 2023. Usually, the FAFSA is available to complete as of October 1. This year, the application was delayed until December 31.
To prepare, check to see if your FSA ID account is ready. Existing customers may also need to set up two-step verification during the login process.