FTC issuing refunds to scammed student loan borrowers
Newsy
Thousands of student loan borrowers are set to receive checks from the federal government after being victimized by a loan scam.
After a yearslong fight between the government and student loan debt relief scammers, the Federal Trade Commission said it is processing over $4 million in refunds to student loan borrowers.
According to the FTC, 27,584 consumers will receive a portion of the payout. The FTC said Mission Hills Federal and Federal Direct Group "tricked students into paying hundreds to thousands of dollars in illegal upfront fees and pretended to lower consumers’ monthly student loan payments."
The FTC also alleged that borrowers would send student loan payments through them, but the company often pocketed the payments without applying them toward loans.
Those receiving payments should get them within 90 days, the FTC said.
The payout comes four years after a federal court sided with the FTC and ordered the companies to stop providing any student debt assistance. The court also imposed a $27.6 million judgment against the companies.
