14-06-2025
Student loan debt relief scams rise as repayment resumes
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Student loan payments are back for millions, but so are scammers.
Millions of borrowers need to be on high alert, and 36-year-old Devin Virissimo is one of those. He works here at 8 News Now, and starting in August, he will begin paying back his loans.
'Honestly, it's going to be like a whole car payment,' Virissimo said. 'I've already started budgeting now.'
The pause on federal student loan payments, as a COVID-19 relief measure, ended nearly five years after it began.
Virissimo graduated from UNLV in 2021. He, like millions of others, received notification two months ago about the loans he needs to start paying off.
'Sitting about 25 thousand in student loans.'
Millions of borrowers are at risk of becoming victims of student loan-related scams. Experts say scammers are personalizing texts and phone calls with AI, but don't be fooled.
Messages coming your way with time-sensitive offers or special promotions should be a red flag.
Guardio Vice President Karin Zilberstein said quick fixes like debt forgiveness or reduced payments for a fee are also a red flag.
'Nobody will ask you or offer you ways to pay your loans,' Zilberstein said. 'People should be suspicious when they see such offers.'
These messages are not coming from the U.S. Department of Education or its partners.
The scammers require you to pay up-front or monthly fees for help. They try to get your credit card number or bank account information. In some cases, they may even step in and ask you to pay them directly, promising to pay your servicer each month when your bill comes due.
Free assistance is available through your federal loan servicer.
Virissimo, meantime, verified the information he received was legitimate, before agreeing to the terms of his repayment plan.
'Eight payments of about 50 dollars, and then 120 payments of 250 dollars after that.'
Many student loan debt relief companies charge a fee to provide services that you can take care of yourself for free by contacting your loan servicer.
At no cost, the U.S. Department of Education and its federal loan servicers can help you lower your monthly loan payment, change your repayment plan, consolidate multiple federal student loans, and postpone monthly payments while you're furthering your education or are unemployed.
Go to for more information.
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