Bros and sistas, una don hear am? Dem ghost students don waka enter California college system, na big wahala wey dey on ground! Almost one-third of all applications wey dem receive na pure scam, and e don cost dem $13 million for lost financial aid. You fit imagine that kind money, wey so many students dey struggle to find?
Na dem AI naija scammer dey use sharp tools to chop money from colleges, and dem no even dey stop. Dem dey grab identity of people, even your papa and mama, turn dem to ghost students wey dey apply for money wey dem no even sabi about. As dem enroll for schools, dem go collect financial aid and just disappear, leaving the real people wey get the identity to pay the bills!
Jason Williams wey be assistant inspector general for investigations for U.S. Department of Education talk say these loans no dey repaid. People dey wake up see say IRS don send letter come tell dem say dem owe money wey dem no even borrow. E be like bad dream, but na real life be that!
For Southern California, colleges dey drown for this kind applications wey AI fill in like say na play. Dr. Nicole Ablo-Lopez, Deputy Chancellor for Los Angeles Community College District don talk say these machines dey finish applications in seconds, while human beings need almost half an hour to fill just one!
No be small wahala dey, as California get 116 community colleges with over 2.2 million students wey dey struggle. Last last, dem discover say nearly one-third of all applications na fake! Just imagine the kind headache wey dis one go fit cause dem!
But not to fear! Some colleges don dey use their own AI to battle the scam. Cerritos College don put new systems wey go fit verify if na real person dey apply. Dr. Jose Fierro, wey be President of Cerritos Community College District, don show say dem don catch only one ghost student wey get financial aid of about $5,000, and dem fit trace am fast. Dem dey ready give dem wahala!
For LA Community College District, dem dey spend half a million dollars each year just to keep ghost students in check. Dem sabi say dem no fit allow these scammers waka enter their schools again without sharp verification. The clock don tick, and dem dey wake up!
This issue na nationwide problem, as more than $350 million don dey investigated under “ghost student” fraud in the last five years. Imagine say dem dey suspect fraud up to $1 billion? Na wah!
Scammers don dey rock steady for this industry, but some schools don activate their own defense with S.A.F.E software wey fit catch about 95% of fake applications. Maurice Simpkins, wey dey run this software, don help more than 150 schools already!
The scammers fit be sharp, but naija spirit dey strong too! Admins dey shout say these fraudsters no fit break dem down like that. Dem dey return fire, no be small!
For those of una wey dey read dis gist, e good make una dey shine una eye! If anything dey suspicious, just remember say you fit freeze your credit record. No let your identity fall for ground — protect am like say na your last kolo money!
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