Financial Aid-Related Identity Theft & Fraud
Identity theft and identity fraud happen when someone wrongfully obtains and uses another person’s Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in a fraudulent or deceptive manner, typically for economic gain.
Financial aid-related identity theft and fraud happen when one person uses another person’s PII, without their permission, to get admitted to college, enrolled in courses, and approved for grants, scholarships, benefits, and/or loans administered at a postsecondary institution.
The Warning Signs of Financial Aid-Related Identity Theft & Fraud
You may not know that you are a victim of financial aid-related identity theft until long after your Personally Identifiable Information (PII) was used without your permission. Know the warning signs:
- You receive notification of a delinquent loan from a Department of Education loan servicer, referencing student loans that you did not apply for.
- You receive notification from the Department of Education stating that you owe money for a federal student aid “overpayment" related to financial aid you did not receive.
- You receive notification of an unpaid debt from a collection agency, for debt you did not incur.
- You receive notification from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR) stating that your wages or tax refund will be garnished.
- You cannot complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) because of a duplicate Social Security number.
- You cannot complete an Admissions Application for a Maricopa Community College because of a duplicate Social Security number.
- Your credit report indicates that you owe money to a postsecondary institution that you did not attend.
- Your credit report indicates that you owe money for student loans that you did not apply for.
What Should You Do If You Are a Victim of Education-Related Identity Theft & Fraud Within the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD)?
What Should You Do If You Are a Victim of Education-Related Identity Theft & Fraud Within the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD)?
Contact your local county or city law enforcement jurisdiction and file a police report for education-related identity theft and/or identity fraud. Obtain a copy of the police report number and request a copy of the report for your records. Note: You may be required to complete an identity theft packet.
Contact MCCCD’s PD at 480-784-0900 and file a police report for education-related identity theft and/or identity fraud within the MCCCD; in order to submit the MCCCD Police report, you will need to provide the police report number from your local jurisdiction. Obtain a copy of the police report number and request a copy of the MCCCD Police report for your records at https://police.maricopa.edu/general-information/request-report.
Contact the District Office (DO) of Financial Aid Services (FAS) and file a claim of identity theft at 480-784-0500 or email [email protected].
Equifax: www.Equifax.com/CreditReportAssistance, 1-888-766-0008
Experian: www.Experian.com/fraudalert, 1-888-397-3742
TransUnion: www.TransUnion.com/fraud, 1-800-680-7289
Submit a report to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at www.identitytheft.gov or call 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338).
- U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General at 1-800-MIS-USED (1-800-647-8733), oig.ed.gov/oig-hotline
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS): www.irs.gov
- U.S. Postal Inspectors: www.uspis.gov/tips-prevention/identity-theft
- Internet Crime Complaint Center (Federal Bureau of Investigation): www.ic3.gov
- AZ Attorney General: www.azag.gov/consumer/data-breach/identity-theft
- State and Local Officials: www.usa.gov/identity-theft
Locate the student loan servicer at studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/servicers, and contact them to report education-related Identity Theft and/or Identity Fraud.
Regulatory Resources
Maricopa Community Colleges take identity theft very seriously. Students and staff who knowingly submit fraudulent information concerning enrollment or financial aid information could be subject to local and federal legal actions, including, but not limited to, the application of civil and criminal penalties at the state and federal level. Additional action may also be taken for violations of applicable regulations and/or laws.
For more information, please refer to:
- MCCCD Administrative Regulation 6.11 Identity Theft Red Flag and Security Incident Reporting
- MCCCD Administrative Regulation 2.5.1 Disciplinary Standards, and 2.5.2 Student Conduct Code
- MCCCD Administrative Regulation 4.22 Statement on Privacy
- MCCCD Administrative Regulation 4.23 Written Information Security Program
- MCCCD Administrative Regulation 4.24 Information Security Incident Response Plan