February 18, 2026 | 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM ET
Colleges and universities across the country are facing a surge in admissions-related fraud, including synthetic identities, stolen applicant data, coordinated fraud rings, and “ghost students” enrolling for financial aid. These attacks place institutions at significant operational, financial, and reputational risk — often without clear sector-wide standards or best practices to guide response.
This session will explore how admissions teams can recognize emerging fraud patterns, strengthen applicant identity verification at the front end of the enrollment process, and implement practical safeguards without disrupting legitimate student access. Attendees will also learn how institutions are collaborating to share intelligence, reduce fraud exposure, and advocate for stronger protections across higher education.
The discussion will focus on real-world challenges, lessons learned from institutions currently addressing large-scale fraud, and actionable steps admissions and registrar teams can take immediately.
Industry Context & Ongoing National Dialogue
Admissions-related identity fraud has become a topic of growing national attention. Our team will be participating in an upcoming ABC News segment focused on the rise of synthetic identities and coordinated application fraud targeting higher education institutions. We are also contributing to this conversation at the upcoming SecurED Conference, where higher education and security leaders are convening to address emerging threats to enrollment systems and student data integrity.
These developments underscore the urgency of equipping admissions and registrar teams with practical tools, shared standards, and collaborative frameworks to protect institutions and students alike