[Oasfaa] possible scam

[Mc Conahay, Pamela K]

Lynell,
 
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.  
 
 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.  
 
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.  
 

Pam McConahay 
Asst. Director, Compliance & Support Services 
University of Oklahoma Financial Aid Services 
731 Elm, Rm 125 Norman OK 73019-2111 
(405) 325-4617  Fax (405) 325-7608 
pmcconahay at ou.edu 

-----Original Message-----
From: Lynell Armstrong [mailto:lynella at gctech.org]
Sent: Wednesday, July 31, 2002 12:36 PM
To: oasfaa at onenet.net
Subject: [Oasfaa] possible scam


Hi OASFAA friends: 
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. 

If a student types in fafsa.com instead of fafsa.ed.gov, 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). 


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. 


Lynell Armstrong 
Gordon Cooper Technology Center 

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