Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority
Student loan scam alert

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has issued an alert to advise the public of a phone scam involving student loans.  Callers representing themselves as employees of a company called "Wachovia Direct Lending" are offering student loans with an application fee. 

Individuals are asked to send the application fee to an address in Toronto, Canada. As of December 1, 2005, the company has failed to provide any student loans and has not refunded any application fees. In addition, Canadian officials advise that "Wachovia Direct Lending" is not authorized to do business in Canada.  (Please note "Wachovia Direct Lending” is not affiliated with Wachovia Corporation, Charlotte, NC, or any of its subsidiaries, including Wachovia Bank, N.A.)

Members of the public who have any additional information concerning this matter are asked to contact:

Phonebusters, Box 686 North Bay, Ontario P1B 8J8

Email: info@phonebusters.com. 

Web address: www.phonebusters.com/english/index.html. 

Phone 1-888-495-8501. 

Fax 1-888-654-9426.

and

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Enforcement & Compliance Division,

MS 8-10 250 E Street, SW, Washington, DC 20219.

Email: occalertresponses@occ.treas.gov. 

Fax: (202) 874-5301.

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