The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has alerted university students and the general public about scammers impersonating its officials and defrauding individuals posing as HELB.
How They Operate
In a March 20 statement, HELB revealed that fraudsters have been targeting students on social media, asking them to send money for HELB services.
Some of the tricks used by these scammers are:
- HELB Activation Fees: Fraudsters tell students they need to pay a fee to activate their accounts.
- Loan Processing Charges: Scammers ask for payment to fasttrack loan disbursement.
- Impersonation of HELB officials: Fraudsters pose as HELB officials and ask for personal and financial details.
HELB Position
HELB does not charge any fees for its services. HELB has advised students to only seek assistance through its official channels and follow its verified social media platforms for updates.
Recent HELB Disbursement
This comes days after President William Ruto directed HELB to release Ksh1.56 billion to students and trainees in various institutions for tuition and upkeep.
“All students who are to benefit from the loans have been notified through HELB’s official communication channels and should check their HELB portals for updates,” said Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba.
Over 65,000 students are set to receive these funds, a big relief to learners in need.