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It's not that the aid is 'going to the wrong people', it's the fact that financial aid needs to exist in the first place. Setting that aside, I don't really und

It's not that the aid is 'going to the wrong people', it's the fact that financial aid needs to exist in the first place. Setting that aside, I don't really understand how this fraud happens- when I applied for FAFSA, the student loan account was created for me, the assistance applied through some automated system, which was hooked up directly to the college. I never saw the cash at all. The article doesn't explain how the fraud works either.

PragmaticPulp 4y ago
> It's not that the aid is 'going to the wrong people', In this case, it literally is going to the wrong people. These funds were designed to give students an extra financial boost during a faltering COVID economy (that didn't really happen) and the funds weren't infinite. If fraudsters are showing up and claiming the money before actual students in need can get it, I don't understand how you think it's not a case of the aid going to the wrong people. Again, this isn't tuition aid and it's not related to the cost of college. It was a stimulus/aid package targeted at people who were also students, but it was separate from tuition assistance or tuition financial aid. > I don't really understand how this fraud happens- when I applied for FAFSA Lawmakers rushed through a lot of new COVID-19 related aid bills and aid packages. Many of them were poorly thought out and implemented as quickly as possible, forgoing controls and verification to get them done ASAP. The article specifically mentions COVID-19 related aid, which has been rife with fraud. It’s frustrating that some of these supposedly time-limited emergency aid packages continue to be handed out despite the booming economy and rampant inflation.
- Consultant32452 4y ago
  Some of the programs are rife with fraud by accident, some (many?) are rife with fraud by design. In my state the contracting system to do things like build roads is rated the most corrupt in the country. Does anyone imagine that's an accident? The PPP gave out "forgivable" loans to small businesses. It was sold as helping businesses that closed down. I know multiple small businesses that never shut down, had their best year ever during the pandemic, and also took home a few hundred thousand dollars extra from the PPP. The general public would consider this fraud, even though technically it's all by the books, broken by design.
  - newsclues 4y ago
    Agreed Canada has similar Covid benefits that have been thoroughly scammed. I can’t believe it was a mistake, especially when you have government bureaucrats who are doing the scam themselves for millions… https://globalnews.ca/news/7600626/ontario-civil-servant-betrayed-family-with-alleged-11-million-covid-fraud-docs/amp/ https://globalnews.ca/news/7600626/ontario-civil-servant-bet...

PragmaticPulp 4y ago

> It's not that the aid is 'going to the wrong people', In this case, it literally is going to the wrong people. These funds were designed to give students an extra financial boost during a faltering COVID economy (that didn't really happen) and the funds weren't infinite. If fraudsters are showing up and claiming the money before actual students in need can get it, I don't understand how you think it's not a case of the aid going to the wrong people. Again, this isn't tuition aid and it's not related to the cost of college. It was a stimulus/aid package targeted at people who were also students, but it was separate from tuition assistance or tuition financial aid. > I don't really understand how this fraud happens- when I applied for FAFSA Lawmakers rushed through a lot of new COVID-19 related aid bills and aid packages. Many of them were poorly thought out and implemented as quickly as possible, forgoing controls and verification to get them done ASAP. The article specifically mentions COVID-19 related aid, which has been rife with fraud. It’s frustrating that some of these supposedly time-limited emergency aid packages continue to be handed out despite the booming economy and rampant inflation.

Consultant32452 4y ago
Some of the programs are rife with fraud by accident, some (many?) are rife with fraud by design. In my state the contracting system to do things like build roads is rated the most corrupt in the country. Does anyone imagine that's an accident? The PPP gave out "forgivable" loans to small businesses. It was sold as helping businesses that closed down. I know multiple small businesses that never shut down, had their best year ever during the pandemic, and also took home a few hundred thousand dollars extra from the PPP. The general public would consider this fraud, even though technically it's all by the books, broken by design.
- newsclues 4y ago
  Agreed Canada has similar Covid benefits that have been thoroughly scammed. I can’t believe it was a mistake, especially when you have government bureaucrats who are doing the scam themselves for millions… https://globalnews.ca/news/7600626/ontario-civil-servant-betrayed-family-with-alleged-11-million-covid-fraud-docs/amp/ https://globalnews.ca/news/7600626/ontario-civil-servant-bet...