Student Loan Scam

(WOLO) COLUMBIA,S.C, — The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs says it’s a scam that former college students are paying for big time. Department Spokesman, Juliana Harris says they were alerted to the hoax after a number of lenders contacted them. According to Harris, the scam artists call unsuspecting consumers, and for a small fee offer them information they claim will erase all of their student loan debt. The student, is then told to write the lender a check in exchange for the discharge of debt. Unfortunately, the lender doesn’t accept the check but by the time the consumer finds out, the scam artist is long gone with their money. Officials say they’re trying to get in front of the scam before it gets out of hand, especially with so many people coming fresh out of college. Harris suggests consumers who are suspicious of an unsolicited call contact their lender directly.