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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State Rep. Gary Haluska |
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Haluska warns students and families about financial aid scams
PATTON, Feb. 12 – State Rep. Gary Haluska, D-Cambria, is warning local families and students to be cautious of scams that target college students looking for financial aid.
"Now is a popular time of year for scams that take advantage of our young men and women applying for financial aid so they can attend college this fall," Haluska said. "Students and families should especially avoid any offers from organizations that want money to help them with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, scholarship guarantees, or other forms of assistance."
Haluska said scammers often contact families and students through letters or e-mail offering some form of assistance in exchange for a fee -- sometimes hundreds of dollars -- and tend to employ pressure tactics.
Students can visit the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency's Web site about the form -- www.PHEAA.org/fafsa -- for free help, including free FAFSA completion workshops offered through March.
Students should also be wary of scholarship scams that guarantee money or information in exchange for a fee. Instead, Haluska recommends visiting PHEAA's career and college planning Web site -- www.EducationPlanner.org -- for free access to scholarship databases.
For more information, visit www.PHEAA.org or call 1-800-233-0557.
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