The Antelope Valley Times

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Nearly 10,700 people fleeced in student loan debt relief scheme getting checks

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The Federal Trade Commission announced Friday it is sending checks totaling more than $316,000 to 10,689 people who lost money to a student loan debt relief scheme that triggered a federal complaint filed in Los Angeles County.

In the complaint announced in March 2020, the FTC alleged that SLAC — which also used the name Aspyre — Navloan, and Student Loan Assistance Center, and their owner, Adam Owens, falsely told consumers that, for an upfront fee of $699 and a monthly fee of $39, the defendants would permanently lower or eliminate student loan debt.

In reality, the payments could change every year, and loan forgiveness was not guaranteed for any consumer, according to the FTC, which also alleged that the defendants paid consumers for positive reviews on the Better Business Bureau website and failed to disclose those payments.

As part of a settlement with the FTC, the defendants agreed to pay funds, which are being used to send payments to affected consumers.

Recipients should deposit or cash their checks within 90 days and can call the refund administrator, Analytics, at 888-440-0371, with any questions. The FTC never requires people to pay money or provide account information to cash a refund check.

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16 comments for "Nearly 10,700 people fleeced in student loan debt relief scheme getting checks"

  1. I have 250k in college loan debt after attaining degrees in basket weaving, fitness training, and pottery making.

  2. I was also scammed with my student loan company for couple years. It was day I released that my payment of $398 I was making was not going to department of education. Then I stopped making payments. I receive so many times phone calls from this student loan company, wanted me to sign up their company. However I stopped answering their phone calls.

    • I was done the same way then the people change , up front $900.00 then they take $ 49.00 a month. They say I owe
      one hundred & thirty thousand dollars.

  3. This is crazy Sally mae took over 2000 from me and I’m still recieving phone calls and also getting a letter from some company by the name of navient saying I still owe monies on a loan I never received so I tried looking into it to see what’s going on and it was told to me the school no longer exist and because I applied for financial aid I’m responsible

  5. I have $84, ooo in student loan debt since about 2007-2010 It seems like every year the interest goes up because I am not able to pay it. I have been disabled since 2011 and it went from $74,000 to $84,000 which is probably higher than that now. A lady from the company Navient had me to give her money to fix my student loan and she actually took my money. I am a fixed income so now when I get them calls about student loan forgiveness, I ignore them.

    • I got taken for $1200 from Student Loan Doc a d then they wanted me to pay $39 a month for 10 years saying my Student loan would be eliminated. I still get calls and texts from them threatening to take me to small claims court because my payment is 90 days past due, when I told them to stop calling me and that I told them I was not paying another dime because I kept getting conflicting information or they.kept calling saying I never signed or send back my forms. I told them if they keep calling I’m going to sue. So just like your question, I’d like to know how to get my money back as well.

  7. Hello: I attended the International Academy of Design and Technology in Chicago, IL the year of 2001 to 2002, I enrolled for a computer graphics course. The college was located at one North State Street in Chicago IL. The School close it’s doors the summer of 2002. I’ve have not been able to find out any more information about the school, please help!!

  10. Why did you make it seems as The Federal Trade Commission was steping in to help those scammed? The Heading to the fourth paragraph. Explains the case and settlement distribution. You create a false narrative and sell it till the end. It begs questions. Cause one generates a positive impression of the FTC. This requires ones mental motor skills to be activated. And its initial thought process created stays. It’s close to propaganda and unethical journalism. Yet it’s more like sophistry a thin line.

    • I was scammed for 4 years at a rate of 325.00 per month. Then I stopped. This is utterly ridiculous and people will wish they had not when they die and meet with God.

  11. I to was scammed also by a Company called AAC ACADEMIC AID CENTER, I paid them in installments I have information dating back to 4/2017 and nothing every happened. I started receiving email and phone calls from Dept EDD collection department. The schools that I attended made promises and never keep the . My dental School that I did work study after my classes knew that they were closing and didn’t make students aware that UEI San Bernardino, CA school was closing. The way that I found out was I use to make sure fills were request and their storage room with past and present students had a profile folder. I never found work that was promised to me by Representative Recruiter. I was there and witnessed so much and I owe 34,000.00 dollars I’m now on worker como and still can’t afford payment’s. I Need someone to Truly hear me that can answer some questions please that can actually help me

  12. Ah, yes I got a call from them on Thursday about my having to start repaying my “loan” or something like that. I never took out any loans during my undergrad. So yeah, I’m surprised they got as much as they did.