The most common scam of Australian students
Because many crooked nuts have the misunderstanding that "many people are stupid with money", they have invented many scams specifically for international students. Every country is the same, and you can't escape in Australia.
Although everyone knows the old tricks, new ones emerge one after another. Liars can come up with new tricks every few months, which is really impossible to prevent! !
For example, in Australia in 20 15, swindlers claimed that the tuition fee could be reduced by 10%, at least six international students in Melbourne were cheated, and maybe more in Sydney, and one of them lost 35,000 Australian dollars ...
Also, some scams seem credible. Last year, more than 300 international students in Vietnam bought fake air tickets and were cheated of $400,000.
Therefore, the scam is becoming more and more clear. How should international students be identified? How to protect yourself when encountering a scam?
Summarizes the most common types of scams for Australian students, and the study abroad party should watch out …
Intermediary scam
Many international students who come to Australia study through intermediaries, even including various applications, language courses, visas, accommodation and other services;
However, there are good and bad intermediaries, including even swindlers disguised as intermediaries. They may:
Fraudulent application and then disappear;
Let you fake, such as fake IELTS scores and fake transcripts;
Fees for services provided by the school free of charge, such as school open days and accommodation consultation.
How to protect yourself:
If the fees charged by the intermediary are higher than other fees, it is necessary to consider whether the services provided are value for money; It is best to compare a few before deciding;
In particular, we should be cautious about unpaid money;
When you go to an intermediary, you'd better go with others, such as your parents.
Discount scam
According to the Admissions Office of the University of Melbourne, this kind of scam is often complicated, and even international students join;
For example, in the scam of 20 15-20 16, some foreign students pretend to be the agency of the school, and they can pay the tuition for the students at a discount of 10%;
A small scam, starting with a small water and electricity bill, will really give you a discount of 10% to cheat the trust of international students, and then induce you, and the tuition fee can also be discounted. After they get the money, they can't contact you anymore.
This kind of scam contains many factors, such as advertising online, defrauding trust with a small amount, recruiting real international students, and making the scam look real; Features are:
Someone, or an organization, will give you an incredible discount;
Lack of details. False organization, no specific contract information at all, or overseas;
How to protect yourself?
Whenever you have to pay a large sum of money, you should be vigilant;
If someone claims to represent a university, institution, or Australian government, institution, etc. Don't promise easily. Contact the school or institution directly and ask if there is such an operation mode;
Keep in touch with friends and classmates and share information. They are usually easier to identify scams.
Keep in touch with the school. If you encounter problems, the school has an international student service agency or a student union that can help you.
What are the common scams when logging in to Scamwatch.gov?
Try to handle business through regular websites, not through forums and social networking sites;
Remember, if something seems too good to be true, it is suspicious;
Accommodation scam
Rodrigo, an international student from Mexico, said that the most common scam among international students is related to accommodation.
"In my experience, many of them started with social networks, such as facebook. Especially those international students who are eager to find accommodation. When I was looking for a dormitory, I also joined a facebook group, belonging to a group of Mexican students. Some people advertised for accommodation. There is even one person who didn't meet and asked me to pay 700 deposits. "
How to protect yourself
Be sure to see the house with your own eyes before renting a house. If the landlord won't let you see it, there is no need to continue.
Search the house online to see if it is convenient;
Try to rent a house on a regular rental website, not through forums or social networking sites;
Make a backup of all the rental transactions between you and the landlord;
In addition, Rodrigo also said that some friends were exploited and intimidated. An international student I know was forced by the landlord to work, wash dishes, pay rent and forbid visitors. The conditions are very difficult. These situations were not explained at first, and the truth was discovered only when I really lived in the dormitory. The landlord also threatened the international students' tenants, and if they reported it, they would be detained with the immigration bureau, and their working hours would exceed the prescribed time;
This is also a scam, using the fear and tension of international students to control and oppress international students;
Blackmail scam
There is also a scam that uses you to do something wrong, or makes you think you have done something wrong to blackmail you;
For example, Curtin University sent an email warning that an international student A used paper fraud to blackmail an international student B; The cause of the incident is that foreign student B received the paper proposal and model essay sent by foreign student A, and then foreign student A collected B's personal information and social account, so he threatened B and paid a large sum of money, otherwise he would be reported for plagiarism.
How to protect yourself?
Never disclose personal information online, such as your address and student ID number;
Do not reply to any fraudulent emails;
If you want to find academic materials, health issues, immigration issues, through the formal website;
Don't be tempted by illegal things, the consequences are very serious;
Of course, the types of fraud encountered in Australia are not only the above, but also relatively common. Therefore, everything abroad should be cautious. If it is too beautiful, remember to make sure several times.
If so, how to ask for help?
If you encounter something suspected of fraud, you can:
Report to ACCC Australian Competition and Consumer Commission through Scamwatch.gov;
If you feel cheated or worry about your own safety, call the police immediately;
If you need help, Australian universities generally provide free legal services and provide advice to international students, and you can be anonymous if you want;
If you encounter academic fraud or fraud anywhere in the school, you can complain to the school;
Finally, don't be afraid to ask for help. The school will help students who have been cheated, but only if you know what happened to you.
So friends who go abroad must pay attention to these. ...