TL;DR: In March 2025, Newfoundland and Labrador warned that emails asking people to contact a "Student Loan Debt Department" are scams. No such department exists in any Canadian jurisdiction. Delete them without replying. If you want to check your real loan, log in to your official student aid account or call your provincial student aid office using a number you look up yourself.
The email
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s advisory on March 7, 2025 described emails directing recipients to a "Student Loan Debt Department." The province was clear: that department doesn’t exist anywhere in Canada. The province had issued a similar warning in 2023, so this isn’t a one-off.
Inventing a government department is bold. It’s also handy for spotting fakes: if you can’t find the department on any official government site, it’s not real.
What they want
These emails typically aim to:
- scare you about debt, collections or penalties, or tempt you with forgiveness;
- get you to call or reply;
- collect your SIN, banking info, card numbers or passwords;
- take a fee for "processing" relief you could get for free, or that doesn’t exist.
The official advice
- Don’t open questionable links.
- Keep personal details, including card numbers, to yourself.
- Don’t share passwords.
- Ignore urgent demands from senders you don’t know.
- Report suspected scam emails right away.
NL students can verify with Student Financial Services at 709-729-5849 or 1-888-657-0800.
How to check your real student loan
- Log in to your official federal or provincial student aid account by typing the address yourself.
- Call your provincial student aid office using a number from its official website.
If you replied or paid
- Call your bank if you shared card or account details.
- If you shared your SIN, see SIN stolen: what to do.
- Report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and local police.
Students are prime targets because their emails leak through school systems, as the PowerSchool breach showed. A free email exposure check shows which breaches your address is in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a Student Loan Debt Department in Canada?
No. Newfoundland and Labrador says no such department exists in any Canadian jurisdiction.
What should I do with a student loan debt department email?
Delete it without replying and don’t click links.
How do I check my real Canadian student loan?
Log in to your official student aid account or call your provincial student aid office using an official number.
Where do I report a student loan scam in Canada?
Report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and your provincial student aid office.
Sources
- Government of NL: Student Financial Services advises of fraudulent email (March 2025)
- Government of NL: Public cautioned about student loan email scam (2023)
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre