Student aid scams – How to protect yourself

Published January 20, 2026

Scams targeting students are becoming more common. If you’re applying for StudentAid BC funding, you need to stay alert to protect your personal and financial information. Falling for a scam can put your privacy and financial security at risk.

Doing anything that could be seen as fraud can also affect your future loan eligibility and how to repay your loan.

Scams to watch out for:

  • Third party application offers — Be cautious of anyone offering to apply for student financial assistance for you. StudentAid BC applications must be completed by you through our official government website, and you should never share your login, banking, or personal information with anyone.
  • Interest-free loan scams — Watch out for social media posts or videos advertising “interest-free loans.” StudentAid BC funding is only for students who are attending post-secondary education. Schools must confirm your enrolment as part of the application process.
  • Grant and scholarship scams — Keep an eye out for people claiming they can secure grants, bursaries, or scholarships if you pay a fee upfront. Legitimate programs don’t charge fees to apply.
  • Loan repayment or forgiveness scams — Don’t believe people who promise to reduce or forgive your student loan debt in exchange for money or personal information. These people are not affiliated with StudentAid BC or the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC).
  • Phishing emails and messages — Be cautions of messages that look official and use StudentAid BC or NSLSC logos to trick you into clicking links and sharing your login or financial details.

Remember: StudentAid BC will never ask for sensitive information by email or text.

How to protect yourself:

  • Never share access to your StudentAid BC account with anyone. You can ask a parent or a trusted person for support with your StudentAid BC application but never share your username, password, or personal information like your Social Insurance Number (SIN) with anyone. Sharing your personal information can put your privacy, financial security, and student loan eligibility at risk.
  • Verify before you trust. Look up official StudentAid BC or NSLSC contact details yourself. Take your time to confirm information before making decisions.
  • Be cautious with unsolicited emails, calls, or messages. If something feels wrong, do not respond. Contact StudentAid BC or NSLSC directly.
  • Avoid clicking on suspicious links. Access accounts only through official websites you type into your browser. Look for “https” and the padlock symbol in your browser to ensure you’re using a secure website and make sure those websites are official gov.bc.ca and canada.ca domains.
  • Contact the NSLSC or StudentAid BC directly if you have questions about your application, funding, or repayment.
  • Report suspicious activity. Reporting scams helps protect you and other students from future fraud. You can report scams directly by contacting StudentAid BC or NSLSC. You can also report a fraud or cybercrime here: Report fraud and cybercrime (antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca).

When working with post-secondary school officials, remember:

  • School officials are not allowed to apply on a student’s behalf. School officials that access student accounts or submit applications on your behalf may put their post-secondary institutions at risk of losing their StudentAid BC Designation status.
  • School officials are not allowed to fill out any part of an application. School officials can help you understand the forms and processes but cannot fill out any part of your application for you or your family members.
  • School officials must follow StudentAid BC policies. If your school works with third-party agents, like education recruiters, the institution is responsible for ensuring the agents know and follow the StudentAid BC policies. If you are concerned about the behavior of an agent, let your institution and StudentAid BC know. This helps protect you and other students.