The biggest threats to college campuses today are budget cuts, admissions scandals, or even online learning fatigue. But here's something far sneakier and just as damaging: ghost students. These aren’t mythical figures haunting dorm halls. They’re fake personas created using stolen identities, often complete with falsified documents and Social Security numbers, to defraud colleges out of federal financial aid. Welcome to the modern age of academic fraud, where digital trickery meets government money.
So what exactly is a ghost student? Picture a completely fake person enrolled in college: they’ve got a name, a Social Security number, an online presence, and even show up on class rosters. But they're not real. These fake students are often generated using stolen identities or AI-enhanced profiles, and the main goal is simple: collect federal aid, grants, and refunds, then disappear.
Every year, colleges receive thousands of fraudulent applications for admission to grant scholarships. After the AI involvement, this is not stopping yet, predicted to rise and grow into a serious concern for the university admission department for admission fraud.
Rise of Ghost Students
Rising number of ghost student applications in U.S. higher education. Financial Aid Under Siege: Visualizing the Alarming Growth of Ghost Students and Social Security Fraud in U.S. Colleges. AI-Driven Fraud Is Fueling a New Wave of Financial Aid Abuse in Higher Education (2020–2028) Projection.
Scammers can apply for Pell Grants, scholarships, and loans using real Social Security numbers and fake addresses. Since many courses are now offered remotely, and document verification is limited in virtual spaces, these ghost students can blend into the digital classroom without much resistance.
Think of financial aid as a lifeline meant for students who truly need it to pursue higher education. When ghost students tap into this fund, they're not just gaming the system they're draining resources from genuine students. Every stolen dollar could've gone toward tuition, textbooks, or housing for someone who exists.
It’s not just the money, though. Public trust is at stake. Once these scams are exposed, they leave behind a trail of distrust that can push policymakers to tighten regulations, sometimes making life harder for the real applicants. For institutions, being flagged for aid fraud can lead to audits, federal scrutiny, and damaged reputations.
We are living in the age of Artificial Intelligence, where traditional technologies are rapidly being outpaced. Alvy, a World-first AI proctoring agent, goes far beyond simply monitoring a test. It ensures the identity of the test-taker through advanced tools like facial recognition, gaze tracking, voice analysis, and secondary camera integration, offering a comprehensive and secure exam experience.
AI agents in proctoring systems use behavioral biometrics to build profiles based on typing rhythm, eye movement, and voice tone. If a ghost student tries to cheat the system using a pre-recorded video or a proxy test-taker, the AI can flag anomalies in real-time. Think of it as digital intuition backed by data.
Companies like Talview are leading in this smarter proctoring space, offering AI proctoring agents that can perform identity verification, and environmental scans, and monitor for AI cheating tools during assessments. This means a ghost student can no longer hide behind a screen without eventually triggering red flags.
Ghost students don’t stop at stolen identities. Some use deepfake technology to pass identity checks. Imagine someone uploading a deepfake video of a "student" holding their ID while reciting a verification script. The image looks real. The voice sounds human. But it’s all generated.
AI cheating tools like Cluely, LockedIn AI, and Smart XR Glasses represent a new generation of sophisticated exam bypass methods
Others go further. They use AI cheating tools to complete assignments, automate login activity, and even respond to oral questions using text-to-speech bots. These aren't just isolated tactics; they're part of coordinated rings that exploit the entire admission and assessment lifecycle.
AI-generated essays, auto-responders for discussion forums, and impersonators during live interviews are no longer science fiction. They’re here. And they pose a direct threat to the quality and fairness of higher education.
So, how do you secure college and university admissions and scholarship programs against social security scams, unethical Pell Grants, and ghost students? It starts with integrated efforts:
Government agencies need to tighten the process of issuing Social Security numbers and implement advanced fraud detection systems that flag unusual application activity.
Educational institutions must adopt AI proctoring solutions that support real-time ID verification, fraud detection logs, and deep-learning facial matching across multiple assessments. These steps aren't about being overly strict. They're about fairness.
And let’s not forget the tech providers. They must continuously upgrade their systems to detect evolving scam tactics. The use of secondary cameras, biometric validation, and AI-driven anomaly detection must become standard.
Lastly, there should be more education about ethical practices around applying for aid. When students understand the damage caused by scams, the system benefits from a culture of honesty.
AI cheating tools like Cluely, Meta AI Glasses, and Android XR Glasses represent a new wave of digital technology designed to bypass traditional anti-cheating measures in online admissions tests. Advanced system deserves advanced security to counter malpractices and protect academic integrity.
-- Sanjoe Jose
(Chief Executive Officer at Talview)
Financial aid fraud, and unethical Pell Grants in higher education aren’t just a few bad actors exploiting loopholes. It's a systemic vulnerability that undermines the trust, integrity, and accessibility of learning. Ghost students and deepfake scammers are the newest threat to college credibility, but they aren't invincible.
Don't just adopt technology, choose a trusted partner to lead your industry forward. Collaborate to innovate.
-- Mani Ka
(Chief Technology Officer at Talview)
With smarter proctoring systems powered by AI agents, deep-learning technologies, and proactive institutional policies, we can push back. We can ensure that every dollar goes to a deserving student and every certificate reflects real merit. Because education should empower the future not fund a scam.