FINANCIAL AID

Fraud and Identity Theft

十大网赌软件推荐’s Financial Aid Office is working to prevent program abuse and to increase college-wide awareness on protecting your personal information.

Every year the Department of Education makes billions of dollars of Title IV Funds and Loans available to students to help them pay for higher education. However, in order to qualify for these funds both students and colleges must satisfy certain eligibility requirements. Cases of student aid fraud often involve students making false statements on the FAFSA to the Department of Education and to colleges on legal verification documents.

Conflicting Information

十大网赌软件推荐’s Financial Aid Office has the right to verify questionable data or conflicting information that applicant’s may have submitted inaccurately on their FAFSA. Conflicting information must be resolved before or after Title IV funds or loans have been disbursed. Failure to submit accurate and legitimate verification documentation will jeopardize aid eligibility and could result in a fine and imprisonment.

Reporting Potential Fraud/Identity Theft

Federal Regulations require that a school must refer to the Department’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) for credible information indicating that an applicant for Federal Student Aid may be engaging in fraudulent or other criminal misconduct in connection with his or her application.

Common areas of misconduct include:

• False claims of independent student status
• False claims of citizenship
• Stolen Identities
• False claims of high school completion
• Forgery of signature on certifications
• Unresolved conflicting information
• False statements of income
• The intent to deceive in order to receive Title IV aid

Where should you report fraud?

Contact the OIG Special Agent in charge in your geographic area as shown here.
You also can report fraud to the OIG Hotline by:

• Emailing oig.hotline@ed.gov
• Calling 1.800.MISUSED
• Faxing to 202.245.7047
• Writing to Inspector General Hotline, US Department of Education, Office of Inspector General, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-1500

What Are Diploma Mills?

A “diploma mill” is a company that offers “degrees” for a flat fee in a short amount of time with little or no course work. Degrees awarded through diploma mills are not legitimate. See the Federal Trade Commission's Consumer Information section on diploma mills.

Federal Student Aid Resources

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
• Dependent Student vs. Independent Student
• How to Avoid Scams
• Combating Identity Theft
• Consumer Information - Identity Theft

Non-Discrimination Statement:
This College promotes and maintains educational opportunities without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions including lactation, age (except when age is a bona fide occupational qualification), veteran status, or other non-merit factors.

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the college’s non-discrimination policies: Dr. Mark C. Rowh, Vice President for Workforce Development and External Relations and Equal Opportunity Officer, 217 Edwards Hall, 540-674-3600, ext. 4241. Inquiries concerning Title IX (sexual harassment, sexual assault/domestic violence/dating violence, and stalking) may be directed to Dr. Deborah Kennedy, Dean of Student Services, 268 Rooker Hall, 540-674-3690. or, Deputy Title IX Coordinator, Mr. John Bowler, Academic Advisor for the Center of Disability Services, 115 Christiansburg site, 540-674-3600, ext. 4418. Inquiries concerning ADA and Section 504 may be directed to Ms. Lucy Howlett, Coordinator of the Center for Disability Services, Advising Center, 275 Rooker Hall, V/TTY 540-674-3619.