FTC Sends Payments to People Who Paid for Student Loan Debt Relief
The FTC is sending payments totaling more than $9 million to 22,562 people who paid money to American Financial Benefits Center, a student loan debt relief scam operated by Brandon Frere. The operation used several names including Ameritech Financial.
The FTC and the Department of Justice sued Brandon Frere, American Financial Benefits Center, and related companies in 2018, alleging they deceived consumers as part of a student loan debt relief scheme. According to the lawsuits, the defendants contacted consumers, pretending to be affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education and charging up to $800 in illegal upfront fees and $45-$99 monthly fees as part of the scheme. Frere was banned from providing debt relief services, sentenced to prison, and required to pay money to provide refunds.
If you get a PayPal payment, please accept it within 30 days.
If you get a check, please cash it within 90 days.
For information about the status of your student loan, please contact your loan servicer or the Department of Education at https://www.ed.gov or 1-800-USA-LEARN (872-5327).
You can find answers to common questions about FTC refund payments on our FAQ page. If you have any other questions, please call the refund administrator at 1-833-579-3126.