How To Identify Scams Targeting International Students In The USA?

• Do not trust calls from people asking for money in the form of cryptocurrency or gift cards
• Trust only the information published on official channels
• Talk to other students about scams they may have heard about

Moving to a new country as a student can be a stressful affair. And if you have to also deal with scams targeting international students in the foreign land, life can get worse.  

For many young students, this is the first time they will be living on their own without their family. From admissions to paying tuition to find accommodation, there is a lot to be done.

And, unfortunately, many scam artists prey on their vulnerability and target international students. If you’re planning on studying abroad, here are some of the scams you should protect yourself against.

Most Common Scams Targeting International Students

Admission Processes Related Scams Targeting International Students

Many educational institutions work with agents to recruit students. These agents get paid a commission for each student who enrolls in the school. Since they operate in different countries, it is often hard to distinguish between a real recruiter and a con artist.

Some of the warning signs a can artist may give include:

• Charging heavy application fees
• Pushing you to enroll in a particular university only
• Downplaying the prerequisites mentioned on the college website
• Offering to provide fake documents such as academic transcripts and IELTS certificates
• Downplaying the proficiency in English required
• Asking for money for services that would be considered free. Eg: orientation and accommodation support
• Being incommunicable after  taking your money

These scams typically target young students and those who do not have English as their first language. The fees charged by honest agents vary from case to case and hence, it can be hard for students to know if and when they are being treated unfairly.

Some of the ways to protect yourself from these scams are:

• Be wary of all agents who ask for non-refundable payments
• Ask to see an agent’s credentials before giving them any documents or payments
• Check with the university directly if they work with any agents in your country
• Check with the university about what services they offer free of cost
• Avoid working with any agents who offer fraudulent certificates

Lastly, always take someone mature, such as your parents, along with you when you meet admission agents.

Scams Targeting International Students – Discounted Fees

Tuition fees, especially for international students, are quite high. Thus, one of the ways people scams students is by offering discounts on the tuition fees payable.

In many cases, these con men use students to approach international students. Their scams usually begin by offering small discounts such as discounts on utility bills through online advertisements.

These discounts are not fake and once the students see that they can reduce their utility bills they assume that the scheme to reduce tuition fees is also real.

Some of the warning signs of such a scam are:

• Discounts that seem too good to be true
•  Unclear terms and conditions
• Rigid payment options.
• Unavailability of payment through secure services such as credit card transactions or Paypal
• The requirement of immediate full payments by wire service or cash

Some of the ways to protect yourself from these scams are:

• Always contact the university directly for discounts and financial aid schemes
• Talk to fellow students about scams they may have heard about
• Attend orientation programs
• Keep away from discounts offered on social media platforms and online forums

Fraudulent Accommodation Offers

All international students require accommodation when they first travel to a foreign country. One of the places students look for accommodation is on social media platforms like Facebook.

There are a number of groups that offer help but many are also scams to trap students. Some advertisers insist on advance payments and bonds while others lie about the location and type of accommodation provided.

Some of the ways to protect yourself from these scams are:

• Make payments only after inspecting the property yourself of having someone else do so for you
• Look for other accommodation if the landlord is not willing to let you inspect the property
• Look for the property location online
• Read and understand all terms and conditions clearly before accepting them
• Make payments only through secure channels
• Get receipts for all payments
• Keep copies of all emails and other correspondence between you and the landlord

Scams Targeting International Students -Blackmail

International students are often unaware of the local rules and regulations and are blackmailed because of their lack of knowledge. For example, there have been cases where students were made to work in the houses they lived in and were blackmailed against complaining about it.

They were told that washing dishes and cleaning the rooms they occupied would be counted as work and they would be reported for having worked more than the maximum number of hours permitted. Students are also often blackmailed with the information they put out about themselves on group forums.

Some of the ways to protect yourself against being blackmailed are:

• Do not put out any personal information such as your student number or address online
• Do not reply to scam artists
• For information on immigration, health and academic matters, rely only on the official channels

Scams That Threaten Deportation

The fear of deportation is very real amongst students even though they have probably entered the country legally. Scammers may pretend to be federal agents and scare students into paying money.

he caller typically knows the student’s personal details such as the program being attended, their immigration status, etc.

By threatening the student with an arrest or deportation, they will then ask to be paid a certain amount. This payment is usually demanded in the form of gift cards or cryptocurrency.

Some of the ways to protect yourself from such scams are:

• Hang up the phone on anyone who demands payment through cryptocurrency or gift cards
• Report the call to someone you trust
• You may also call the USCIS’s National Customer Service Center at 800-375-5283.

Scams targeting international students can come in any form. Be alert and always think twice before you act.

Also See

• Checklist For International Students Going To The US
• 7 Things To Do Before Moving Abroad
• Top 10 International Money Transfer Apps For Students And Expats
• Indian Embassy Warnings For Students Going To The USA