Federal investigators have more than 200 open cases probing these scams.

Scammers are using AI to fraudulently apply for colleges and collect financial aid, and they're doing it by stealing identities, leaving the victims on the hook to repay loans they didn't take out.

We are losing millions of tax dollars right now to what are known as "ghost students" -- online scammers who enroll in ...

In 2025, the Community College of Philadelphia said it had more than 600 fraudulent applications, which is roughly 5% of all ...

It's a sophisticated scheme and community colleges are often targeted because of their open enrollment policies.

・Intentionally providing false information on the FAFSA is considered federal financial aid fraud. ・Penalties can include up to $20,000 in fines, five years in prison, and repayment of aid received.

Last year, the U.S. Department of Education found tens of millions of dollars had been wrongfully awarded, including $30 million to dead people over three years. The largest community college in ...

Community colleges in California for years have been fighting a losing battle with fraudsters who have stolen millions of dollars in federal and state financial aid. But now state officials believe ...

Foothill College is one of a number of campuses across California that are using artificial intelligence to detect financial aid scammers. Photo by Magali Gauthier. Community colleges in California ...

California’s community colleges are dealing with a ghost problem, and it has nothing to do with haunted dorms. "Ghost ...