El Camino College, a prominent community college in Torrance, California, has made headlines by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to identify over 4,000 fraudulent applications for its Spring 2026 semester. This breakthrough comes amid a surging wave of admissions fraud targeting U.S. higher education institutions, particularly community colleges, where scammers create 'ghost students' to siphon federal and state financial aid.
Acting Dean of Enrollment Services Dr. Kristina Martinez highlighted during a recent Board of Trustees meeting that the AI tool prevented these fake submissions from entering the college's student information system, leading to a more accurate and natural enrollment curve. With the college facing a $4 million budget deficit, precise enrollment figures—measured in Full-Time Equivalent Students (FTES)—are crucial for securing state funding under Proposition 98. Current FTES stand at around 6,800, with a target of 7,305 for Spring 2026.
🔍 The Rise of Admissions Fraud in U.S. Community Colleges
Admissions fraud, often involving stolen identities and fabricated profiles, has exploded since the pandemic shifted processes online. Fraudsters, dubbed 'ghost students,' enroll minimally to trigger financial aid disbursements before vanishing, leaving taxpayers and victims with unpaid loans. Nationally, the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Inspector General has opened over 200 investigations into schemes totaling more than $350 million over five years.
In California alone, community colleges reported 1.2 million fraudulent applications in 2024, resulting in $18 million lost since 2021, including $11 million in federal aid that year. At least 31% of applicants were fake, filling online classes and creating waitlists for legitimate students. El Camino College lost $110,298 in financial aid the previous academic year to such scams.
- Scammers use AI to generate applications rapidly, bypassing manual checks.
- Targets: High-aid online courses with minimal attendance requirements.
- Victims: Identity theft sufferers face IRS debt notices years later.
El Camino's Proactive AI Adoption
Facing worsening fraud since 2023—where professors discovered dozens of fake students per class—El Camino's Board approved a $54,000 annual subscription to LightLeap AI Fraud Detection Module on February 1, 2025. After a one-month trial, it went live from March 2025 to March 2026.
Previously, staff manually placed over 4,000 verification holds per semester, but fraud persisted, delaying real students. Director of Public Information Kerri Webb noted similar declines in fraud at peer institutions post-AI adoption.
Vice President Carlos Lopez emphasized ECC's improved position compared to last year, crediting ongoing monitoring.
How LightLeap AI Works: A Step-by-Step Breakdown
LightLeap AI, from N2N Services, scans applications in real-time using machine learning. Here's the process:
- Pattern Recognition: Analyzes IP addresses, device fingerprints, shared phone/email patterns, applicant age inconsistencies, and geographic mismatches (e.g., time zones).
- Network Detection: Flags clusters of suspicious apps from the same sources, even if details vary.
- Scoring System: Assigns risk scores; high-risk apps are blocked pre-system entry.
- Continuous Learning: Improves with data from 116+ California colleges, creating a 'network effect' for 90-99% accuracy.
At Golden West College, fraud dropped dramatically post-implementation, from dozens to 2-3 per term.EdSource Report
Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash
California's System-Wide Battle Against Ghost Students
Over 80 of California's 115 community colleges now use LightLeap or similar AI, up from pilots at Foothill-De Anza. The California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office reports AI catches twice as many fraudsters as humans, with some campuses at 96-99% detection.
Examples:
- Santiago Canyon: 99% accuracy.
- LACCD: $13M lost in 2024; now invests $500k/year in defenses.
- Cerritos: Caught most via live verification, but AI scales better.
Complementing AI, DMV mobile ID verifies identities, hailed as the 'holy grail' by developer Jory Hadsell.
Explore enrollment management careersNational Implications: A Growing Threat to Higher Education
Beyond California, ghost student scams cost $350M+ federally over five years, with AI accelerating fraud via rapid app generation. Community College of Philadelphia saw 600+ fakes (5% of apps) in 2025.
Tools like Element451's BoltAI and S.A.F.E. are emerging nationally. Fraud displaces real students, burdens compliance (e.g., Trump-era ID rules), and erodes trust. For more on tech roles, check faculty positions in admissions tech.
Challenges Before AI and Ongoing Hurdles
Pre-AI, faculty like Akello Stone manually vetted via video intros and photos, but scammers adapted. Fraud filled classes alphabetically or illogically (e.g., accounting + jewelry).
Challenges persist: Evolving bots, understaffing, unreported early pandemic losses. AI's false positives require human review, but layered defenses (AI + ID verification) mitigate.
Future Outlook: AI as Standard in Admissions
With 116 CA colleges adopting LightLeap, expect nationwide spread. Predictions: Reduced losses in 2026, better equity for low-income students. Colleges must balance AI with privacy, train staff, and collaborate federally.
Broader AI role: Essay detection (Turnitin), predictive analytics. Institutions like ECC position as leaders, aiding funding stability.
Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash
Actionable Insights for Colleges and Students
- For Admissions Teams: Adopt AI early, layer with DMV-style ID, monitor FTES impact.
- For Students: Report suspicious holds, use secure apps; check credit for identity theft.
- Policy: Advocate federal aid reforms, AI standards.
Link to higher ed career advice for enrollment pros. Explore Rate My Professor for insights on affected courses.
In conclusion, El Camino College's success underscores AI's transformative power in safeguarding admissions integrity. As fraud evolves, proactive tech adoption ensures resources reach deserving students. For jobs in this space, visit higher ed jobs, university jobs, or career advice.
