This scam campaign centers around EDvantage LLC, a student loan company with 73 CFPB complaints, operating through a coordinated phone operation using numbers 216-714-4855 and 657-900-8133. The campaign specifically targets individuals with student loan debt by falsely claiming to offer government-funded loan forgiveness programs. Analysis shows these phone numbers are consistently reported together with EDvantage LLC across multiple relationship instances, indicating a systematic operation where callers use both numbers in coordinated contact attempts.
The scammers employ sophisticated social engineering tactics, as evidenced by community reports describing how "they knew all my information and sounded real saying they would help me with my student loans." One victim from Washington state lost $100 to this operation. The scam typically involves cold-calling potential victims, often their family members, claiming they qualify for complete student loan forgiveness through EDvantage Relief. In at least one documented case, scammers called from 216-714-4855 and then transferred the victim to 657-900-8133, presenting themselves as representatives of a "Government Funded Student Loan Forgiveness Program." The operation charges victims 1% of their total student loan debt upfront.
Consumer impact extends beyond direct financial losses, with victims reporting that scammers possessed detailed personal information, making their pitches appear legitimate. The campaign appears to target individuals and their family members who have student loan debt, exploiting their desire for debt relief. While neither phone number shows FTC complaints in the database, the 73 CFPB complaints against EDvantage LLC combined with multiple community reports indicates ongoing consumer harm.
To protect yourself from this and similar student loan scams, verify any debt relief company through the Better Business Bureau and your state's attorney general office before providing personal information or payment. Legitimate federal student loan forgiveness programs are free and administered directly through your loan servicer or the Department of Education. If contacted by EDvantage LLC or calls from 216-714-4855 or 657-900-8133, hang up immediately and do not click any links they may send. Report these contacts to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and to the FCC for unwanted calls. You can check if a phone number has been reported as fraudulent by searching consumer protection databases and community reporting platforms.
This campaign represents a moderate to high threat level due to the sophisticated use of personal information and coordinated multi-number calling strategy. Consumers should immediately report any contact from these entities and numbers to appropriate authorities. Given the ongoing nature of complaints against EDvantage LLC, consumers should remain vigilant for continued activity from this operation and related phone numbers.