If there is one constant in the criminal world, it’s that scammers follow the news.

Student loan forgiveness has been the focus of recent headlines, which has given scammers room for fraud related to student loans.

Read on for tips to avoid the traps.

How it works

•You receive an unsolicited contact offering to help navigate through state and federal programs to reduce or restructure your student loan debt.

•“Debt relief experts” offer access to instant, easy-to-access loan forgiveness options; they might even mention the “Biden Plan.”

•They will ask for upfront payment or for personal information such as your Social Security number or your FSA ID (the username and password on your loan account).

What to know

•These offers provide nothing you can’t find yourself for free. Often, it is as simple as contacting your loan servicer or the U.S. Department of Education.

•It is illegal for debt relief companies to collect payment from you before they get results, so upfront fees are a surefire sign of fraud.

•Legitimate agencies and loan servicing companies will not ask for your Social Security number or FSA ID.

What to do

•Visit the Department of Education’s StudentAid.gov site for free information on getting help with federal student loans.

•Resist the urge to act quickly. Research any debt relief firm before providing them information or money or signing any agreements. A good place to start is your state’s consumer protection office.

•AARP offers a free student loan forgiveness eligibility and repayment review through Savi. Learn more at fiftyplusmb.bysavi.com.

Knowledge gives you power over scams.

The AARP Fraud Watch Network equips you with reliable, up-to-date insights and connects you to our free fraud helpline so you can better protect yourself and loved ones.

We also advocate at the state, federal and local levels to enact policy changes that protect consumers and enforce laws.

When it comes to fraud, vigilance is our number one weapon.

You have the power to protect yourself and your loved ones from scams.

If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.

Please share this alert with friends and family and visit the Fraud Watch Network for more information.