Your college has received a call from Sarah Thompson, who claims she received a letter from a student loan provider about a loan she never applied for. Upon initial investigation, you find that financial aid was disbursed to someone using Sarah's identity. Your team, consisting of Financial Aid, Admissions, and IT staff, must respond to this situation.
Initial Contact
Sarah Thompson has provided her real personal information, which doesn't match the information used in the fraudulent application. What's your first step?
Investigation Findings
After verifying Sarah's identity and investigating the fraudulent application, you find:
The application was submitted with Sarah's SSN but a different address and phone number
The funds were disbursed to a bank account not associated with Sarah
The applicant's IP address is from a different state
What actions do you take next?
Internal Review
You need to review your internal processes to prevent future incidents. What steps do you take?
Conclusion
You've successfully navigated a complex case of identity theft and financial aid fraud. Here's a summary of the key actions taken:
Verified the identity of the real student
Conducted a thorough investigation of the fraudulent application
Notified relevant authorities and financial institutions