The Hidden Threat of Fake Students in Colleges

In a surprising twist, colleges across the country are facing a growing problem: fake students. These are not just any students, but digital impostors who use stolen identities to apply for financial aid and loans. Once they get the money, they vanish, leaving real students and institutions in a tough spot. The issue came to light when a man named Murat Mayor tried to apply for federal student aid for himself and his son. To his shock, he found that accounts already existed in their names, filled with applications for loans and grants. This was not an isolated case. Thousands of colleges are now dealing with this kind of fraud. Experts call these impostors "ghost students. " They use stolen or fake identities to enroll in online classes and apply for financial aid. Once they receive the money, they disappear, leaving the government and colleges to deal with the fallout. The problem has grown significantly since the pandemic, as online learning became more common.The federal government has investigated over $350 million in fraud related to these ghost students. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. Many more cases likely go undetected. Community colleges, which accept almost all applicants, are often left to deal with the mess. They have to use their own resources to identify and stop fake applications, a task that is not always easy. To combat this issue, many colleges are turning to identity verification software. One such software, called S. A. F. E. , is used by over 150 schools nationwide. It helps catch fake applications instantly, preventing fraud before it happens. Scammers come from all over, including overseas. Some are clever, while others are careless. One school administrator even received an email from a scammer offering to share the profits. Despite efforts to stop them, these fraudsters continue to find ways to exploit the system. For Murat Mayor and his son, the ordeal is finally over. After months of dealing with law enforcement and college administrators, they were cleared of any wrongdoing. Mayor's son is now ready to start his studies in business finance, this time without any impostors getting in the way.