FAFSA Senior Scam
Seniors and their parents need to be aware of scholarship and financial aid scams. These scams fall into two categories: college preparation/financial aid advice services, and for- fee FAFSA services. These services typically send letters to high school students, inviting them and their parents to “seminars.” At the seminar, a representative of the company implies that families will not be able to navigate the financial aid search process on their own. Families are then urged to sign a contract with a cost of up to $3000 in order to gain access to such services. Other services provide assistance in completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The FAFSA is a federal financial aid form that may be found at www.fafsa.ed.gov and is free of charge. While these services may not be illegal, students and parents are urged to use good consumer caution when contracting services. There is no need for any student to pay for college preparation advice. Instead, students and their parents are encouraged to speak with their high school counselor and/or college financial aid advisor about paying for college. The CCSD Guidance and Counseling Department provides free information online at http://ccsd.net/cpd/guidance/guidance.html.
