some wealthy parents used the strategy to gain tens of thousands of dollars in need-based aid.

Dozens of wealthy families in Illinois have reportedly been using a controversial tactic to help their children pay for college: They give up legal guardianship so the teenagers can claim dramatically lower incomes and earn need-based financial aid,

wealthy parents allegedly file paperwork to transfer legal custody of their kids to other relatives, friends or even co-workers.

When the transfers are complete — often during their junior or senior years of high school — students are then able to declare themselves financially independent on college applications.

In one instance detailed by the Journal,

a student whose parents owned a $1.2 million home only had to declare $4,200 in income from a summer job.

That student was

able to obtain about $47,000 in scholarships and federal Pell grants

to attend a private university that costs $65,000 per year.

The practice is legal,

the Education Department is looking into the matter.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/illinois-college-scholarships_n_5d3f9dbee4b01d8c97806393?ncid=newsl tushpmgnews__TheMorningEmail__073019

Will the cheaters be named and shamed?

Just another example how the wealthy have gamed the system and cheat using expensive legal advice.