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<DIV><SPAN class=656354618-31072002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Lynell,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=656354618-31072002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=656354618-31072002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>The
fafsa.com site has been out there for several years, it's operated by a retired
FAO in California. And, because it is a commercial site that has paid for
consideration, it shows up first on yahoo type searches and I'll bet it's a
keyword on AOL too. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=656354618-31072002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=656354618-31072002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2> The saddest story I heard was a student who tried to use
fafsa.ed.gov and couldn't get it to work, so he gave up and used fafsa.com,
figuring that the $79 fee was what it took to get the link to work.
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=656354618-31072002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=656354618-31072002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>This
is one of the reasons why we encourage students to start the application process
at our web site.....we can link them through to the right place and keep this
from happening. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<P><FONT face="Courier New" size=2>Pam McConahay</FONT> <BR><FONT
face="Courier New" size=2>Asst. Director, Compliance & Support
Services</FONT> <BR><FONT face="Courier New" size=2>University of Oklahoma
Financial Aid Services</FONT> <BR><FONT face="Courier New" size=2>731 Elm, Rm
125 Norman OK 73019-2111</FONT> <BR><FONT face="Courier New" size=2>(405)
325-4617 Fax (405) 325-7608</FONT> <BR><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2>pmcconahay@ou.edu</FONT> </P>
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<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> Lynell Armstrong
[mailto:lynella@gctech.org]<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, July 31, 2002 12:36
PM<BR><B>To:</B> oasfaa@onenet.net<BR><B>Subject:</B> [Oasfaa] possible
scam<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>Hi OASFAA friends: <BR>I didn't know about this until
my secretary (who was checking on her own financial aid status) typed in the
key word 'fafsa" and the first choice on the list was fafsa.com.
<P>If a student types in <B>fafsa.com</B> instead of <B>fafsa.ed.gov,</B> he
will get a complany which charges money to file a fafsa. I tried
it myself and, sure enough, some company called "Student Financial Aid
Services" charges at least $79.00 for their services (and more, depending on
what you want them to do).
<P>I've been telling all my students to be sure they type in the correct web
address to do fafsa on line, so they don't get duped into paying for something
that is free.
<P>Lynell Armstrong <BR>Gordon Cooper Technology Center
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