A grotesque cartoon college kid in a crooked graduation cap hunches over a laptop as the lower half of the kid’s body melts into a puddle. The kid has bloodshot bulging eyes and snaggle teeth, with two loan bills nearby; the card is titled “Ghosten Loans.”

Ghosten Loans

DOJ Says AI Ghost Students Stole Millions in Student Loans

Published October 31, 2026

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The Justice Department says thousands of fake “ghost students” used AI to complete coursework and obtain millions of dollars in student loans. This card turns the alleged scheme into a melting campus impostor whose online studies-and student status-are vanishing into a puddle.

The Real Story

The Justice Department says thousands of “ghost students” used artificial intelligence to complete online coursework and fraudulently obtain millions of dollars in student loans. The alleged scheme exploited online education systems, using AI to make fake students appear to participate in classes. The DOJ’s announcement describes a large-scale fraud operation involving student aid. The allegations highlight how AI tools can be used to manipulate digital learning and financial systems.

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