Private College Student Loan

Is this a scam, what should I do?

I received a letter from Great Lakes (student loans), the letter just talks about payments and tells me when I have to make them. It also tells me to go online to mygreatlakes.org to update my account where it asks for my SS. I am not sure how they got my information because I don't recall applying for any financial help. Is it a scam? This wasn't an email It was a letter sent to my home address.

Public Comments

1. Wake up! Yes it is a scam! No legitimate company ask for SS# in an email.
2. I am a little disappointed by your sentence "...I don't recall applying..." as applying is something pretty definitive. You should know if you did or your didn't. You should certainly know if you got the money! Error on the side of assuming it is not a scam, but a fraud. Yes, there is a difference: a scam you can ignore without consequence, but fraud you cannot. A fraud can ruin not only your credit rating but your financial life. Get a statement of your school accounts to ensure they did not take any money from them. Then, get a copy of your credit report to ensure that no loans have been reported. Do not just look in your credit accounts on the report: check to see who has been looking at your credit report and check out any unexpected inquiries. You can get one free credit report a year from each bureau. Contact the bureaus to get the form. Do not give them any more information until you know what's going on at your end. Once you have that cleared up, you either have to deal with the loan (was a it fraud? Get them to prove the loan) or simply contact them to say you received it in error. Remember, don't do nothing but try not to give them any more ammo to shoot at you. Good luck!
3. This is using the postal service to commit fraud, it is very illegal and a federal crime. I hope that you did not reply to it in any form, for they can practice identity theft with that information. However, you do not want yourself or others to be defrauded by such a scheme-y financial organization so I do suggest that in any case you make copies of the letter and report it to the state's attorney's office. Using the mail to commit fraud is very illegal and it ruins the reputation of individuals.
4. That is a company that provides student loans. Generally when you log onto their website they use your SSN to verify who you are and it logs you onto your account. The letter could be fine. If you have loans through them they legally have to notify you every so often of how much you owe them (even if you don't have to start paying them back now.) You can do one of two things 1) call the number on the letter. If it is legit they won't ask for you SSN but they do ask for your address, phone number, account number, MAYBE the last four number of your SSN to verify who you are. or 2) Bring the letter into your financial aid office. They will be able to verify if they received money from Great Lakes and/or if the letter is legit.