Fraud Prevention
Harper College reserves the right to verify the identity, academic records, and eligibility
of all applicants for admission. This process is designed to protect the integrity
of our admissions system and safeguard the identity and credit of all individuals.
Submission of false or misleading information—including the use of another person’s
identity or a fictitious identity—may result in denial of admission, cancellation
of registration, and disqualification from federal financial aid. In accordance with
federal law (34 C.F.R. § 668.16(g)), the College may use internal verification systems
and, when required, report suspected fraud to the U.S. Department of Education Office
of Inspector General and law enforcement. These measures are in place to ensure fairness
and compliance, while respecting the dignity and privacy of all applicants.
For more information on what the U.S. Department of Education is doing to help prevent
fraud in higher education click here.
What We Mean by Fraud
- Identity/ID theft
- Synthetic IDs
- Academic/Test Impersonation
- Student Aid Fraud
- Third-party/Bot Application Schemes
- Falsified Documents (IDs, transcripts, residency, dependency, etc.)
Who Reviews Fraud Cases
- Harper College investigates suspected fraud using a collaborative approach. This involves
Admissions Outreach, Financial Aid, Student Conduct, Registrar, Testing, One Stop
Center, Harper College Police, and Information Technology staff.
Step-by-Step Fraud Review Process
- Student accounts are flagged for potential fraud and further investigation.
- Temporary holds are placed on the account to protect students and funds.
- Identity verification outreach is conducted (5 business days to respond).
- If identity is verified, then holds are lifted and the student account may be removed
from the fraud protocol. If fraud is confirmed or there is no response, the process
continues to Step 5.
- If the student account has enrollment or financial aid:
- The Student Conduct Office, Registrar, and Harper College Police work to compile fraud
cases and determine whether to terminate enrollment.
- The Financial Aid Office determines whether to remove aid.
- Final actions taken and cases may be reported to the Office of Inspector General.
How to Report a Concern
- Concerns can be submitted via the following link:
Report a Concern
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why did I receive an identity verification request?
- Harper College reserves the right to request identity verification for student accounts.
Please respond to any verification request within 5 days.
- What if I miss the 5-day window?
- Contact the One Stop Center – Building A Room 250 (847) 925-6710
- What happens to my aid during review?
- Disbursement of awarded aid is held until the student's identity is verified. Contact
the One Stop Center with any questions or concerns.
Building A Room 250 (847) 925-6710
- Will this be on my record?
- Temporary holds are used to pause account activity during the fraud investigation.
Permanent holds, notations, or student conduct records would be specific to the outcome
of the individual fraud investigation.
