Patricia Brandao FAU Student Arrested For Identity Theft

Patricia Brando FAU Student Arrested For Identity Theft

Here's a way to cut tuition costs. Just be prepared to study in jail

We sympathize. Almost. It's a bummer paying college tuition and piling up all that debt.

So here's one woman's creative solution.

Steal someone's ID.

Cops say that's what former Florida Atlantic University student, Patricia Brandao, 25, did.

She allegedly copped the social security number of a 71-year-old Okaloosa County resident to help her classify as an in-state student, palmbeachpost.com reports.

Cops said that saved her tens of thousands of dollars in tuition costs.

As a non-resident, Brandao would have paid an additional $51,443 for 142 credit hours accrued at FAU.

Charges filed by FAU police with the state attorney's office against Brandao include identity theft, forgery, misrepresentation of academic standing and Florida Communications Act/scheme to defraud.

Brandao graduated FAU in 2006 with a biological sciences degree.

But here's the part we really love.

FAU found out about Brandao's misclassification when she requested her social security number be changed on transcripts she wanted sent to two medical schools.

Medical schools.... What was she doing Practicing for future Medicare fraud?