Avoiding Financial Aid Scams

Getting help to find money for college doesn’t have to cost you anything. Applying is 100% FREE and the Mt. SAC Financial Aid Office offers FREE assistance and guidance with the financial aid application process. You don’t have to pay to get help finding money for college.

Be cautious about paying for any service that will assist you with applying for financial aid, submitting appeals, or requesting additional financial assistance.

Protect your identity and be careful about sharing sensitive information such as your:

• Social Security Number (SSN)
• Username and Passwords
• Debit/Credit Card
• Banking Information
• Home Address
• Personal Identifiable Information

The Mt. SAC Financial Aid Office offers FREE assistance with the financial aid application process. Students can always contact the Financial Aid Office for questions regarding their status, appeals, and opportunities to receive other financial aid resources.

For more information and resources on avoiding financial aid scams visit the Department of Education website here.

• • FAFSA

    Several websites offer help filling out the FAFSA form and other opportunities to receive other financial aid resources for a fee. These sites are not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) or the Mt. SAC Financial Aid Office. We highly urge not to pay for such services that are offered for FREE by the Mt. SAC Financial Aid Office. The official FAFSA form is available from fafsa.gov, and you can get free help from

    • The Mt. SAC Financial Aid Office;
    • the FAFSA form’s online help; and
    • the Federal Student Aid Information Center.

     If you are asked for your credit card information while filling out the FAFSA form online, you are not at the official government site. Remember, the FAFSA site address has .gov in it!

  • CADAA

    Completing and submitting the CA Dream Act Application (CADAA) is free, whether you file electronically or on paper.

    The official CADAA form is available from dream.csac.ca.gov, and you can get free help from

    • The Mt. SAC Financial Aid Office; and
    • the Resources for California Dream Act Application.
  • Student Loans

    Many student loan debt relief companies charge a fee to provide services that you can take care of yourself for free by contacting your loan servicer. At no cost, the U.S. Department of Education and our federal loan servicers can help you

    • lower your monthly loan payment;
    • change your repayment plan;
    • consolidate multiple federal student loans;
    • postpone monthly payments while you’re furthering your education or are unemployed;
    • see if you qualify for loan forgiveness or other programs; and
    • get your loans out of default.

    Have questions or need help with your student loans? Contact your loan servicer or lender for FREE assistance.

  • Report Fraud and Identity Theft

    For more information about financial aid fraud or to report fraud, contact the Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

     If you suspect that your student information has been stolen, it is important to act quickly. These offices will help you determine what steps to take depending on your situation:

    • ED’s Office of Inspector General Fraud Hotline
    • Federal Trade Commission
    • Social Security Administration 
    • Equifax Credit Bureau
    • Experian Information Solutions
    • TransUnion Credit Bureau