**Watch Out for Student Loan Scams as Collections Resume**

As the resumption of involuntary collections looms over student loan borrowers, it's essential to be aware of potential scams that may target vulnerable individuals. "Whenever there's uncertainty, which is what we have right now because of the changing policy situation, scammers see opportunities to pounce," warns Ian Bednowitz, general manager of identity and privacy at LifeLock.

**The Scam Artists' Tactics**

Malicious actors routinely prey on people who are struggling to make their loan payments or may be facing collections and wage garnishment. A scammer may pose as a debt relief agency or as a loan servicer to lure a student loan borrower into thinking they can get some help, only to find more financial turmoil through a scam. "It's easy to fall victim to when you are desperate to find forgiveness, find some option [to improve your situation]," Bednowitz says.

**How Scammers Get Your Information**

Scammers may call, text or email you with some claim to try to get you to engage with them, Bednowitz explains. The messaging may say you qualify for loan forgiveness or offer you some kind of repayment assistance, but in reality, responding to the message or clicking a link included could harm you financially. "[Scammers] might ask for sensitive information, such as your Federal Student Aid ID, your Social Security Number or account log in," he says. "They can use that information to steal your identity, to hack your accounts."

**Red Flags to Watch Out For**

Federal Student Aid and its partners — including your loan servicer — will never ask for your FSA password or call you directly to request information. Official emails will come from noreply@studentaid.gov, noreply@debtrelief.studentaid.gov or ed.gov@public.govdelivery.com. You can log in to studentaid.gov to find out which servicer you have and how they may contact you.

To avoid falling for a potential scam, Bednowitz advises:

* Verify anyone reaching out to you, no matter what organization they claim to be from. * Do a quick search to see if the number or email address matches your servicer or entity. * Be wary of AI-generated messages that try to make you think they are credible organizations.

**The Pressure Trap**

Scammers often use urgent language like "act now" or insist an offer is only available for a limited time. Any kind of pressure like that should be a red flag, Bednowitz says. If you do find yourself in a conversation or text thread with one of these fraudulent companies and you have some questions about it, stop and take your time.

**Free and Legitimate Help**

If you're struggling to manage your student loans, there are free and legitimate services available to help. Talk to your loan servicer to see what options may be available if you're behind on payments. Additionally, organizations like The National Foundation for Credit Counseling offer free financial counseling to help you get back on track.

**Protect Your Identity**

Start by taking steps to protect your identity:

* Invest in products that can help safeguard your information. * Take advantage of free resources from reputable organizations. * Stay informed about the latest scams and tactics.