AI bots stealing millions in federal student aid

[jon-nyc]

Bots are creating AI-generated student profiles, applying for enrollment, and submitting minimal online coursework to stay enrolled long enough to receive federal and state aid disbursements intended for low-income students.

https://reason.com/2025/04/30/ai-bots-in-california-steal-over-10-million-in-federal-financial-aid/

[89th]

I'm not old I'm not young but one thing I've learned is water always finds a way through a rock. When building software systems, I've stopped being surprised when end users find ways around something (one time we disabled the ability to export a page, but users found a way around it...), and in government/business, if there's a way to make a buck, people somewhere will find a way. The government almost needs to employ full time "white hat hackers" or other folks who are rewarded anytime they find cracks in a system in order to make money.

[jon-nyc]

Or make it prize-based so more people are looking at no cost.

[Mik]

I like that idea. It will work until the scam will pay them more than the prize.