Fake Students Scam California Community Colleges By Stealing Financial Aid

[@Ontheroxxwithsalt]

Imagine if these people put this much energy into ACTUALLY getting a job and not stealing.

[@henryc1793]

Naw dats not easy money

[@jesswestcoast2667]

I’ll add to that, imagine if California used all the money we have and conducts a proper statewide audit of where our finances are going 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@J.Giovanni]

lol that is their job.

[@jmanrock11]

They make more money stealing

[@exotik4123]

Who cares it was from college’s that make bank off of students

[@jean-claudelol563]

How does this even happen? The financial aid process for student loans and grants is a nightmare. Even when you fill everything out and provide everything they ask for, they turn you down. I remember many years back I finally despaired and gave up on the financial aid applications. I only went to school in semesters where I had managed to save up enough from working to pay for tuition, books and student housing and I worked in semesters in between when I didn't have the money. It took longer to graduate of course. The good thing is I came away with zero debt instead of tens of thousands of dollars in debt. How someone would manage to get through that process as a fake student is beyond mind blowing. Someone(s) screwed up.

[@sjcflawless]

Every school FA’s policy is different!

[@sjcflawless]

@Hey There nope! one school’s FA dept told me I had exceeded the attempt hours, while the other approved me! It’s all over the place, but I hope you can finish without a hitch!

[@NarlyLyfe]

Once you find out what they wanna hear on their applications, it's a wrap.

[@mikewhocheeseharry5292]

@@sjcflawless Yeah, especially for profits school or unaccredited schools, they don’t want to offer finance aid because they want to make money from tuition fees.

[@mikewhocheeseharry5292]

In California, you don’t have to have a social security number to enroll in a community college.

[@lauriem4112]

How can these criminals do this? My daughter is a legit student and had to go through a lot of paperwork andvred tape and still can't get funded.

[@KayDejaVu]

Yes. And they typically send a check to the school. Not to the student.

[@survivor5044]

I feel like the criminals have more rights than we do. The students who need the money can't even get it, but the scammers can. Someone in the financial aid dept. is helping them. They have to process the paperwork in order for them to get the money.

[@basket472]

@@KayDejaVu such thing as a refund

[@dudoji85]

Kudos to the college blowing the whistle. You'd think they wouldn't care whether students are legit as long as tuition is getting paid.

[@davidcantor293]

Exactly, especially since they do not refund tuition and just pocket it without having to actually teach students since they’re fake.

[@kimleone5496]

And how many California citizens get turned down cuz they can't get it because of these crooks?

[@octo20]

*raises hand*

[@kayblank]

It’s Community College.

[@kimleone5496]

@@kayblank community colleges are not free, but you can apply for financial aid.

[@nathanknight6042]

Well, if only they required them to show ID, this wouldn't have happened. Oh, wait, that's right....telling someone to show their ID these days is r@cist. 🙄

[@ciello___8307]

@@kimleone5496 Everyone can get into community colleges. Its very affordable, and if you are a student in need, you can get financial aid. Plus there are many community colleges in california.

[@mbinyourarea3335]

most important part of this is exactly what the teacher said: “there’s students missing out on classes because 30% of full classes are fake students

[@juanchocostone]

Meanwhile I'm still gettng charged for equipment I never received go figure

[@pythgoreansassistant2789]

The system should've picked this up. There will always a few cases that slip through, but 30% shows negligence by the school. They should be able to track account numbers back to the source but the damage is done.

[@GorgieClarissa]

school didnt care. out of state students means higher tuition. they were excited AF

[@hannahmaldonado3665]

Unfortunately our social welfare systems are outdated and no one cares as long as they're making money

[@brianholloway6205]

@@hannahmaldonado3665 how is this social welfare?

[@laurens.2503]

30%, looks to me that the college administrators need to go back to college themselves.

[@kimleone5496]

Hand them over to the IRS. Let these IRS chew them up.

[@ritasys7129]

school didn't care. out of state students means higher tuition. they were excited AF

[@seinerok4072]

Scamming is in overdrive

[@claudiorobles63]

Happenes when trillions of dollars printed combined with a welfare state...

[@hannahmaldonado3665]

As someone who's heavily reliant on financial aid to better my future, this infuriates me. There's students relying on our campus pantry that need emergency aid during these times

[@jowbloe4700]

Difference between school money and food money. If you can't afford to eat during school, then you need a J O B.

[@NorthOCRefuse2016]

@@jowbloe4700 Some of us cannot take the risk of having to work while also taking college courses. Thats the whole reason some of us need financial aid. I cannot support myself, and my parents can't either since they don't have the funds for me to go to college. Some jobs won't take college students since they know that we might resign if something were to happen.

[@jowbloe4700]

@@NorthOCRefuse2016 summer jobs and saving money for when you go to school. I had financial aid too. Can your parents put food on your table while you go to school? This is a good time to start eating PBnJ and Ramen noodles, and quit going out on frivolous shopping tours with friends.

[@naomi5874]

@@jowbloe4700 giving me very much "just work hard and buy a home if u're homeless" vibes

[@NorthOCRefuse2016]

@@jowbloe4700 What "frivolous shopping sprees"? I've rarely gone to any expensive stores like Macy's or Kohls or the Mall. *most of my clothes shopping is done at Marshalls or Ross* I dont leave my home for that due to the pandemic and the amount of unmasked fools in my area. I cant move out, since rent in California is outrageously expensive from the ruined economy. I'd rather live with Mom and Dad, since they don't charge me rent due to college. Plus I still have my bedroom, and I have access to all the amenities I cannot afford on my own. Not one person I've known has gone, "Mother, Father, I'm now leaving home to be an independent man/woman farewell." The minute they begin college or work. AGAIN JOBS DONT WANT FULL-TIME COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY STUDENTS. THERE ARE TIMES WHERE WE HAVE TO QUIT, OR RESIGN FOR EDUCATIONAL REASONS. GET THAT INTO YOUR THICK SKULL.

[@chookchack]

Thieves are really getting creative there in CA.

[@ciello___8307]

Did you see the video, it said most of the perpetrators were registered from out of state

[@chookchack]

@Hey There which makes it worst for CA. Means crooks from all over the US finds CA to be very profitable in these scams. CA is very lenient in granting their welfares, i know this because i knew a lot of people there (citizens, seniors snd immigrants) who takes adv of these program.

[@TheAnonymous916]

Your hate for CA is showing; even though, your comment is dumb af. Take down this post. You’re embarrassing yourself.

[@chookchack]

@@TheAnonymous916 what do you mean? I love it there less the wokeness.

[@katiem4539]

Honestly I can’t understand how people accomplish this and yet some who need the loans get turned down. My main questions: How are you a fake student and are enrolled? Doesn’t that make you a real student? How can you be in the class and be fake though?

[@rhettlee]

You’re a real student for the purposes of the school- all the theif is after is the refund. They book two or three classes then pay for class and take the refund.

[@joyous8248]

I’m a parent & I have son attending lsu .. before Finacinal aid is given out one it’s a headache to get it all together ( documents etc ) & when funds are released it’s paid to the school . So someone isn’t doing there jobs to let these things happen!! Shame damn shame .. there’s others out there like myself can’t even get any help …

[@Evil_pinata]

This has been going on for a while. How is someone barely realizing this?

[@MrTmenzo]

There needs to be more oversight for student aid. When I was in hs a lot of people I knew would lie that they live with their grandparents instead of their real parents to get student aid.

[@ag-bk5wf]

Video call or onsite validation when class begins would prevent this.

[@anitadimaya]

Now you're just noticing this???

[@ivangonzalez3225]

Man this sucks :( I've been struggling paying my tuition and this guys get it like chocolate cake.

[@jacqueslee2592]

I attended multiple CCs because one CC did not offer the courses I wanted to take and I had the time due to unemployment. I was offered financial aid due to Covid hardship, but I already had degrees.

[@mikemaceda3222]

It's the circle of life. Crooks stealing from crooks.

[@Mthomas71188]

Ladies and gentlemen I give you the future.

[@ayrachoudhary4235]

I got scammed, for just applying for a job through college board. During Covid, I am over it, but there were other students who went through the same thing, but they are in a financial crisis. And what college did was..." issued an apology because someone wasn't paying attention and didn't check properly on who is posting the job".

[@chunkchips4554]

That's awful bad is probably going to have consequences on real students.

[@jowbloe4700]

No it won't.

[@bassmaster135790666]

I went to a state college turns out 14 million dollars just disappeared on construction this country is falling apart

[@andrewjudware227]

I live by Lorain county community college in Ohio. The scam there is to get a Pell grant(don't have to pay back) sign up for classes then attend until you receive the cash check from the school for the remainder of the grant. It's gotten so bad that they break the money up into 2 smaller checks that get mailed out through the semester so they can make sure your attending the receiving passing grades. You'll notice in 101 classes there might be 40 students at the start of the semester it's never surprising for it to drop down to 20 by the end of the semester. Also lccc has an effective graduation rate of 17% so out of every 100 ppl who enroll or attend this community college only 17 will earn an actual degree. Crazy ish

[@andrewjudware227]

Also I have known about this scam since I went to community college ten years ago

[@danielruane8761]

As somebody who went to Community College during the pandemic and know the experience, this makes me so angry. These people must be brought to justice

[@jesusbernalHobbies]

Then they get charged for not attending school. Itll come back around to bite them in the ass. FA needs legit paper work that takes a process.

[@YourfriendChrisEspinoza]

So that explains why all the classes get full quickly.

[@GoldenGod69]

Also last month at my community college they told us, none of the cameras are recording and multiple times a week people get their catalytic converters stolen… love California

[@traciburn6884]

Why does this not surprise me these days. Unbelievable….

[@b.visconti1765]

In Arizona student grant advisors have in the past done this to fill their own pockets..check within colleges financial aid offices personnel to find the real culprits!

[@DropzillaSMK]

Hopefully they crack down on these people and make them all pay it back

[@incrediblygay]

They’re not going to because they’re too scared of being called “racist”.

[@t.s.818]

Investigating 20 -30 years too late .

[@kirty9880]

Meanwhile here I am barely being able to pay my classes on my own 😒

[@KP-fc7rd]

This has been going on for about 30 years.

[@nikopalmer6471]

Link to your source?

[@GorgieClarissa]

i like to catfish but stealing an obituary photo is crossing a moral line for me

[@JayPrestige]

lol @ GorgieClarissa

[@rhettlee]

This is such a pain in the ass- the part they don’t mention is there is a victim on the other end of the scam- they need someone’s info to get the loans. My wife has her identity stolen and this is what they did.

[@harrisonlapahie3483]

In general, California community college education is no different than community college education in their own state. Non-California students need to enroll in-person, and apply for financial aid in-person to fully stop this scam. Maybe it could also be solved with the college's programmers updating the California college's online admission form, online registration form, and having a digital connection to the non-California state's data for that non-California student (to check if he or she is a real person). It would be better if non-California students go to a community college in their own state. It just would cost less for them. A non-California student pays extremely more for tuition, and a lot more for each college unit, than a California resident. Even thought these scammers are getting financial aid out of California community colleges, these California colleges don't give that much financial aid to non-California residents. Most financial aid goes to California residents. Each California university will analyze the transfer equivalency of out-of-state courses as with the equivalency of California community college courses if they want to attend a university in California (public or private). Learning online by the internet or through Zoom is the worse way to learn. Face-to-face learning with your instructor is the best way to learn.

[@down4lif33]

Are they saying the fake students are stealing money? Doesn’t the school keep the financial aid and pay the classes for you? Or do they mean “stealing” because real students won’t be able to get financial aid?

[@down4lif33]

@@Noneyabiz13 So since the fake students are taking online classes, they get resident tuition?

[@atlas1542]

@@until_you_do_right_by_me1111 my question is how? Aren’t refund checks only targeted to individuals with a low income? Or are these CA colleges just negligent and don’t check FAFSA for pell grant?

[@atlas1542]

@@Noneyabiz13 so you guys also get Pell Grant? As well as CA state grant as a out of expense aid? Y’all are so lucky.

[@atlas1542]

@@until_you_do_right_by_me1111 I go to college, and based on my experience, grants are given to people depending on if you're part-time or full-time student, and your income. If you receive pell grant you get the maximum refund from CARES package and other covid-related refunds. This video makes it seem like these fake people fit all the criteria which isn't necessary true, cause otherwise, the school would have found out/IRS would have found out. Otherwise, the school was just negligent and their financial department is just too lazy/terrible at doing their job.

[@dansots]

Don’t you provide SSN for application for financial aid ?

[@Myamore05s]

Social security might not be required in California

[@obey2dmax]

Fake Students sequel from Fake Taxi, Fake Hospital and Fake Agent. Que the 🎶. ..

[@PastorGooch]

Llllllllllmmmmmmfffffaaaaaaooooooooo

[@joetrolo7076]

Boy, if you can imagine a crime, it's happening in California!

[@jadapinkett1656]

How is this possible? I never recieved a check from my loan provider, aside from an attendance glitch that kept me out for a month from a pell grant.

[@Tewthpaste]

*so whats the point? the system scam students too. Look at all those unnecessary tuition expense.*

[@christopherdelcastillo0077]

You clearly haven’t done your research….

[@ConstantlyRepeatingMyself]

Financial aid payments should be issued in the form of a check where the student needs to go to the financial aid office in person and show their identification and get finger printed. Anyone who really needs the money for school will have no issue with this request.

[@joyous8248]

For what I know & from experience my son is a college student & all payments were made directly to the university.. & any funds left gets sent to me .. very strange .. as my comment above it seems though someone isn’t doing there job.. there’s those out there that are trying to get financial help can’t even get it !! SMH 🤦‍♀️

[@SL-lz9jr]

Most of my scholarships were paid directly to the school. Only if there’s extra then the school issues me a refund for the overpayment.

[@TechTails]

I don't get what they gain because financial aid at least where I am only helps with book Or mostly only the tuition.. How did they steal extra? Ridiculous

[@xzaiverwillis8148]

Need a major crackdown Asap??? Thanks David Goldstein...

[@secretagentjesus4406]

How stupid to try that scam on a criminal justice expert.

[@rvw3022]

This is in California can we really be surprised?

[@brianholloway6205]

Identical work? That’s plagiarism for most schools with an honor code… that’s expulsion

[@jeretso]

I am not surprised. That's what you get for moving everything online. How about you meet the person face to face and check their ID? So 1 crook cant open 100 accounts.

[@tommurphy4307]

avoid holiday scams- don't apply for unemployment benefits in california....

[@djreggieduffleduffle3488]

Sounds like the government knows but is still giving out loans while dome real people can’t get a loan

[@rhazel21011]

No one ever accused Californians of being super smart.

[@poker_]

🤣🤣 Remember!!! CORPS, BIG BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT AND MANY A LIKE can steal from citizens, but citizens can't do it back!

[@willieverusethis]

Online education has opened up all kinds of new opportunities for cheating.

[@Pcarnevaaa]

This is nothing new. They have been doing this for yearsssss and it’s now coming to light.

[@usaintltrade]

WAR ON POVERTY

[@trailladymtb7700]

Evil

[@davinxi5926]

How are they stealing? The courses they are assigned to is only credited.

[@shona3804]

Refund check can go up to $6000 or more

[@capriciamims1453]

I guess it's called, leave no stone unturned with thieves.

[@empressmarie4027]

But they have still pay this back if it under their name ?

[@SirHC888]

Stop giving out free money. 🙄

[@mostpassiveuser8904]

Students are out doing smash n grabs.

[@christopherdelcastillo0077]

@@channelsold3236 university’s charge a ton for tuition and books, community colleges are much more forgiving than that.

[@carmengasca2766]

I don’t get this because don’t you need you social security when you apply for financial aid?

[@russellsmejkal304]

That is really fucking sick that they are using a picture of a dead girl may you rest in peace I hope they find out exactly who these people are and they spend the rest of their lives in prison

[@laurens.2503]

College ID'S required in person.

[@hugoaguiar4400]

Diversity equity inclusion

[@folgee7368]

Dam and I dont even qualify for finacial aid even though I live on my own and work ...sigh

[@thetayoung3066]

Thank God she spoke up.

[@lewisstretch]

They know the dollar figure. Its just a cover up. Thats why there is a whistleblower. They don't have a grip on the crime and don't fully know whats going on but they are in the media admitting their vulnerability? You can't make this stuff up.

[@ranjimendle299]

To my knowledge at College of Marin members of the same family signed up for classes just to get $1200 financial l wasn’t able to sign for classes because they were full

[@lieferic9]

Actually scamming has been a growth industry for as long as I can remember.

[@J38x729]

ok this is just embarrassing for the school

[@Native722]

This has been going on for many years.

[@robdlc438]

Giving away free money is a bad idea. People are happy to take it.

[@antoinette7030]

This is free money for helping people get through school. You sound ignorant.

[@sweetsongstress7398]

What is a fake student exactly?

[@KayDejaVu]

The financial aid for my last application was sent to my school. Not to me.

[@lightfootwind4068]

@1:51...Foothill/De Anza JC...got my career there..ty DA.

[@labradorviewer2789]

Sounds like the Young Democrats have been busy.

[@joemomma170]

Well, they have names, addresses and social security numbers...so these people can be cooked forever...photo of drivers license needed to take exams and get cash

[@BraidsByPuffQueenKayla]

Oh my Gosh !!! Stop this scamming. It's already difficult 😕 smh 🤦

[@wesss9353]

The school is fleecing the students anyway

[@tinfoilhatnews7489]

Maybe if they didn’t give it to none citizens

[@alejandraflores7243]

They don’t get educated

[@Smoovee1]

BEEN DID THIS 🤣 THIS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARSSS 🕺🏾

[@armiks22]

Call up "Microsoft tech support" for the exact dollar figure.

[@Tyranix97]

Gavin Newsom just can’t stop getting scammed.

[@mavic2175]

I am sure there is more to the story.

[@bonkersblock]

They’re based in Kolkata! 🤣

[@christopherpeninger324]

Sounds like an inside job to me...

[@juanwilford6383]

The same thing happened at my job LATTC

[@76turner1]

Go Beavers

[@christopherdelcastillo0077]

Next spring is my 4th semester, wish me luck

[@roter13]

This made my blood boil.

[@davidpotter3777]

Four people in the news you sound so amazed that this is happening you should really get better connected with a better news source God bless you and your family

[@russellsmejkal304]

Good job teacher you should get a reward for this

[@toplarry]

The future generation. They should all get into politics.

[@rogergriggs7465]

THE SAD TRUTH ! OF THE CALIFORNIA WAY......🤔

[@maestrovso]

We need to taxes more and dig deeper into our national debt for Build, Back, Better!