ANCHOR INTRO:
Source: According to the Dept. of Education, the federal government gave out approximately $68 billion in grants and loans last year.
NEARLY 70-BILLION DOLLARS IN STUDENT LOANS AND GRANTS IS GIVEN OUT BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IN A SINGLE YEAR... BUT NOT ALL OF THAT MONEY IS MAKING IT TO STUDENTS IN NEED.
HERE'S ________WITH A HEADS UP! ON A FINANCIAL AID SCAM THAT MAY BE CUTTING IN ON YOUR CASH.

TRACK ONE Length: 06
FOR MANY STUDENTS, WHEN IT COMES TO CLASS AND CAMPUS LIFE...IT CAN BE TOUGH TO FOOT THE BILL WITHOUT FINANCIAL AID...

SOT
KEY @: 07 Gabriel Cheong, Student
"It pays for two-thirds of my tuition, actually."

SOT
KEY @: 10 Zoila Ayala, Student
"If I didn't have financial aid, I probably wouldn't be going to college."

TRACK TWO Length : 10
NOW...IT MAY BE GETTING EVEN TOUGHER TO SCORE CASH FOR COURSES THANKS TO THE LATEST TWIST ON IDENTITY THEFT -CRIMINALS STEALING STUDENTS' PERSONAL INFORMATION TO SCAM FINANCIAL AID.

SOT
KEY @: 24 Natalie Forbort, US Dept. of Education
"Identity theft, in general, is the fastest growing crime in the United States. Federal student aid is also being impacted."

TRACK THREE Length: 11
NATALIE FORBORT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SAYS WHILE THERE ARE NO HARD NUMBERS, THIEVES ARE BILKING MILLIONS IN AID ---THEY ATTEND COLLEGE JUST LONG ENOUGH TO NOT HAVE TO RETURN THE MONEY...THEN DROP OUT AND KEEP THE CASH.

SOT
KEY @: 41 Natalie Forbort, US Dept. of Education
"We find out about it through students calling and also through the financial aid community."

TRACK FOUR Length: 08
SOURCE: American Education Services
RESEARCH SHOWS IT TAKES AN AVERAGE OF 14 MONTHS TO UNCOVER ID THEFT...AND FORBORT SAYS DISCOVERING THE CRIME CAN BE ESPECIALLY TRICKY WHEN IT COMES TO STUDENTS.

SOT
KEY @: 55 Natalie Forbort, US Dept. of Education
"Often students aren't made aware of it until they actually apply for credit or they apply to get financial aid at an institution."

TRACK FIVE Length: 03
AND IT'S NOT JUST THOSE WHOSE IDENTITIES ARE STOLEN THAT SUFFER.

SOT
KEY @: 1:05 Natalie Forbort, US Dept. of Education
"It could hurt other students who might want financial aid in the future. There isn't an endless supply of money."

SOT
KEY @: 1:10 Laura Falardeau, Student
"I don't think its fair because somebody else is losing out on their financial aid."

TRACK SIX Length: 03
ONE REASON FOR THE GROWING PROBLEM-THE INTERNET.

SOT
KEY @: 1:19 Natalie Forbort, US Dept. of Education
"There is more applications being done online. People are sharing information online that makes them vulnerable."

TRACK SEVEN Length: 04
IN SOME CASES, UNIVERSITIES DON'T EVEN REQUIRE STUDENTS TO SHOW UP TO GET THEIR AID.

SOT
KEY @: 1:30 Natalie Forbort, US Dept. of Education
"...so it's easier for identity thieves to take somebody's information and apply online."

TRACK EIGHT Length: 04
FORBORT SAYS IT'S KEY FOR STUDENTS TO PROTECT THEIR PERSONAL INFORMATION...

SOT
KEY @: 1:46 Natalie Forbort, US Dept. of Education
"...and to make sure when they're applying online not to provide their PIN, which is the number they're given when they apply online, to other individuals, and to also shred all personal information sent to them in the mail."

ANCHOR TAG:
THE GOOD NEWS IS VICTIMS DON'T HAVE TO PAY BACK MONEY TAKEN UNDER THEIR NAMES, BUT THEY DO HAVE TO SPEND PRECIOUS TIME CLEANING UP THEIR CREDIT. AND THAT'S A HEADS UP!

(additional information)
THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS A WEBSITE WITH MORE TIPS TO HELP MAKE SURE YOU AREN'T VICTIMIZED. JUST GO TO WWW.ED.GOV/MISUSED FOR MORE INFORMATION.

SOURCE INFORMATION

Natalie Forbort
Special Agent in charge of US Education Department Office of Inspector General
1 World Trade Center
Suite 2300
Long Beach, CA 90831
562-980-4132
Media Information: Catherine Grant 202-245-7023

The students we talked with all attend college in the Boston area.