Fake 'ghost students' stealing identities and financial aid moneyNEW YORK (WABC) -- They're called "ghost students" and they're draining the resources of community colleges and stealing tax payer financial aid funds. Once they apply for financial aid and get the money, they disappear. It's a sophisticated scheme and community colleges are often targeted because of their open enrollment policies. But three years ago, when one of his financial aid workers noticed a bump in enrollment, the president's team investigated. "while we cannot disclose specific security measures, the college's IT, financial aid, and admissions departments have been working together to protect the integrity of our admissions and financial aid processes and mitigate the risk this type of fraud poses to our institution."