The Federal Trade Commission and 11 states launched a sprawling offensive on Friday against companies that operate student loan debt relief scams — marking the first time that the government has run a coordinated nationwide effort against the industry.
Called "Operation Game of Loans," the crackdown included six actions against debt relief companies initiated by the FTC and 30 suits and actions filed by states, from North Dakota to Florida.
The targeted companies worked from essentially the same playbook: Prosecutors said they "bilked" hundreds of millions in fees from people who often falsely believed they were paying for student loan forgiveness. In return, many companies did nothing — or simply filled out income-based repayment paperwork that was available for free from the Education Department.
Read more at Buzzfeed: https://www.buzzfeed.com/mollyhensleyclancy/the-government-and-11-states-are-cracking-down-on-student