**
FOIA Request to Virginia Community College System Regarding Financial Aid Fraud on May 7, 2025.
As part of our ongoing commitment to uncovering and reporting on local governmental affairs, Old Dominion News has submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Virginia Community College System. This request seeks detailed records concerning financial aid fraud within the state’s community colleges.
The request is inspired by a recent report highlighting significant financial aid fraud issues faced by California community colleges. According to the report, bots have been responsible for 25% of fraudulent applications, with scammers—referred to as “Pell runners”—exploiting artificial intelligence to secure grants and subsequently disappear. This has resulted in over $5 million in losses since 2021. Despite efforts to enhance detection and cybersecurity measures, these fraudulent activities continue to challenge educational institutions.
In light of these revelations, we are requesting specific data points from the Virginia Community College System, including:
– College Name
– Applicant Name
– Fraud Amount
– Fraud Incident Date
Our role as members of the media involves gathering and disseminating news that holds public institutions accountable while providing transparency to the public. Access to these records is crucial for fulfilling our professional responsibilities. Given our position in disseminating information, we believe we qualify for a fee waiver as media professionals.
This request is supported by The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting news media companies and public advocacy groups in investigating state and federal governmental agencies through Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws.
We await a response from the Virginia Community College System and remain committed to informing the public about this critical issue.
