<ul data-eligibleForWebStory="true"><li>Chatbots are posing as students to collect financial aid and attending online classes, impacting real students.</li><li>Analysis revealed 1.2 million fraudulent applications in California, leading to 223,000 suspected fake enrolments.</li><li>Identity theft protection software is crucial to safeguard against such attacks, especially after a data breach.</li><li>Ghost students, operated by chatbots, are accessing online classrooms and collecting financial aid funds.</li><li>Online classrooms are being filled with chatbot 'students', pushing out real students and causing financial losses.</li><li>Criminals have stolen at least $11 million in financial aid from California colleges, with little chance of recovery.</li><li>AI scams are contributing to a surge in identity theft and fraud, with hackers utilizing advanced tactics.</li><li>Scammers often exploit data from breaches to apply for grants and loans using authentic credentials.</li><li>The Federal Student Aid Office faced significant staff reductions in 2025, impacting fraud investigation efforts.</li></ul>

Chatbots are impersonating students for profit - make sure your place is safe

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