Financial Aid Fraud

• Any credible information indicating that an applicant for federal student aid may have engaged in fraud or other criminal misconduct in connection with his or her application.
• Any credible information indicating that any employee, third-party servicer, or other agent of the institution that acts in a capacity that involves the administration of the Title IV, HEA programs, or the receipt of funds under those programs, may have engaged in fraud, misrepresentation, conversion or breach of fiduciary responsibility, or other illegal conduct involving the Title IV, HEA programs.

Common misconduct when applying for aid includes: false claims of independent student status, false claims of citizenship, use of false identities, forgery of signatures of certifications, and false statements of income. For these purposes fraud is the intent to deceive as opposed to a mistake.

The El Camino College  Financial Aid Office will report cases of fraud to the OIG as is required by 34 CFR 668.16.