Scam awareness for international students

A scam is a dishonest and often illegal way of tricking someone into giving money or some advantage to a scammer. Anyone can be affected by a scam – knowing how to recognise one can keep you safe.

Never be afraid or embarrassed to report a scam. UTS needs to know so that we can help you, and keep you and other students safe.

If you have been affected by a scam, please contact the university for help. If you're unsure who to report the scam to, you can always get advice from the International Student Centre.

7 signs of a scam

How can you tell if it's a scam? If you receive a phone call, message, email or see a social media post with one or more of the following signs, be careful – it may be a scam. 

  1. Demands for money
  2. Requests for personal information
  3. Threats of deportation or arrest
  4. Pressure to act immediately
  5. Discounts or cheap prices that seem too good to be true (they usually are)
  6. Demands to communicate via encrypted messaging apps (e.g. WhatsApp)
  7. Demands for payment through third-party services or in non-monetary forms, or payment to foreign bank accounts

Protect yourself

  • Be wary of random phone calls you’re not expecting or from phone numbers you don’t know.
  • Do not click on direct links in emails claiming to be from your bank, the Australian government, the Australian Tax Office (ATO), your home country's government or other authorities. Always go directly to the organisation's website yourself to confirm the email's legitimacy and contact details.
  • Do not make any payments or transfers without confirming the legitimacy of the claim.
  • Be aware that sometimes scammers will be from your country and speak your language. 
  • Be cautious of any offer that sounds too good to be true.
  • Be wary of urgent requests from unknown sources to transfer money.
  • If someone is putting pressure on you, hang up or walk away from the computer.
  • Always keep your PINs and passwords secure and private.
  • Check your bank and credit card statements regularly for suspicious activity, and contact your bank immediately if something isn’t right.

If you think you've been scammed

  1. Contact your bank or financial institution immediately.
  2. Report it to the NSW Police (opens an external site).
  3. Contact the International Student Centre.
  4. Report the scam to the Australian Government's Scamwatch (opens an external site) and Report Cyber (opens an external site) services.

Common scams targeting international students

Anyone can be affected by a scam, however here are some common scams that target international students.

University education agent scams

Scammers often pose as an education agent working with the university. They may ask for large sums of money (often the tuition fee amount) in exchange for their services. In these scams, victims lose the money they send to the scammer and are still required to pay the full tuition fee amount to their university.

How to avoid agency scams

If you have any questions or want to verify a payment method or agent, please contact the International Student Centre.

Accommodation scams

These scammers often advertise cheap accommodation in a desirable location. In these scams, victims are often pressured into paying a deposit or rent in advance without viewing the accommodation. Additionally the advertised accommodation may not even exist or may be different from what was advertised. International students may also be threatened with an unfair eviction.

How to avoid accommodation scams

  • Be cautious of any online advertising you see for accommodation, including on sites such as flatmates.com.au, Gumtree or via social media.

  • Keep a record of all communications with the property manager or landlord.

  • Know your rights as a tenant. Visit the Tenants' Union of New South Wales (opens an external site).

The UTS Student Legal Service has a helpful guide on renting in Sydney. A Chinese language version of the guide is also available.

When searching for accommodation, always:

  • inspect the property in person before paying a deposit (be wary if there are excuses about why you can’t view the property in person)

  • have a written and signed contract

  • get a receipt for any payments made.

If you’re looking for off-campus accommodation, encounter any problems or just need advice, the UTS Housing service can help.

Social engineering, blackmail and manipulation

Some scammers impersonate official representatives of UTS, a government department, the Australian Tax Office (ATO), your country’s embassy, the police or another authority figure. They often call from an unknown number and threaten the target with visa cancellation, arrest or deportation from Australia.

Increasingly sophisticated scams involving multiple scammers are targeting students from China (opens an external site). In one scam, the scammer calls the victim claiming to be from a company or bank and tells the student that their identity is being used in a scam or crime. They are then transferred to another scammer pretending to be the Chinese police who tell the victim they will be deported. The victim is offered the chance to stay in Australia while the investigation takes place on the condition of payment. These scammers use technology to create fake documentation, including arrest warrants, and have been known to visit homes dressed as police officers.

Students from China have been targeted with a fake virtual kidnapping scam (opens an external site). They are threatened by someone claiming to be a high-ranking official from China, who convinces them to make a fake hostage video of themselves. This video is then sent to the student's family in China who believe the kidnapping is legitimate and pay large sums of money for their safe return.

How to avoid these scams

Remember that government agencies and official bodies will never:

  • text, email or call you to enter information on a webpage that isn’t part of their public website

  • ask for your username, password or PIN through an SMS, email, or on social media

  • use abusive or threatening behaviour.

If you receive a scam call:

  • don't turn on your camera

  • hang up and block the number

  • be wary: scammers can impersonate official phone numbers

  • tell someone: talk to family, friends, UTS or your country’s consulate in Australia (opens an external site)

  • do not provide any personal details over the phone or online

  • report the scam to UTS Security on 1800 249 559 or dial 6 from a campus phone.

Image-based abuse

If someone shares or threatens to share an intimate image or video of you, it is called image-based abuse (opens an external site). These scammers may connect with you on social media and convince you to share intimate content with them. They may then use this content to blackmail you – often for money.

Remember – it’s not your fault if someone shares or threatens to share an intimate image or video of you without your consent. Even if you sent it to them in the first place, or agreed to be intimate with them on a call or online, they have no right to share the content with others.

What to do if this happens to you
  • Remember, help is available. Please don’t be embarrassed to ask for support.
  • Collect evidence. Take screenshots of all communication you’ve had with the individual.
  • Stop all contact with the person.
  • If you’re being blackmailed – either for more content or money – don’t pay.
  • Contact the International Student Centre. The centre staff can then liaise with UTS Counselling, who will reach out to you to provide support and advice.
  • Report the abuse to the NSW Police (opens an external site) and through the Australian government's eSafety portal (opens an external site).

Job and tax scams

There are many different ways scammers can take advantage of students seeking jobs.

Beware of job ads that don’t require a formal application process or that offers a lot of money for little work. These scammers may ask you to provide personal and banking details as well as copies of identification documents – like your passport – to steal your identity. These scams may also ask you to pay money before you can start working somewhere.

A tax scammer calls their targets claiming to be an officer from the Australian Tax Office (ATO). They will tell you that you haven’t paid your tax and may threaten you with arrest unless you pay the debt immediately over the phone.

How to avoid these scams

Remember:

  • a real job ad will never request personal information or ask you to transfer money to the employer

  • the ATO will never send you a link to log on to online services. If you receive a link, do not click on it.

For more examples of employment scams, visit Scamwatch (opens an external site).

For career-related support – including helpful resources and one-on-one advice sessions – contact UTS Careers.

The Australian Government Fair Work Ombudsman (opens an external site) offers resources to help you deal with or report workplace issues.

Phishing emails

Phishing emails are designed to trick you into giving your personal or financial information to a scammer or installing a virus to your device. These emails may look authentic and be sent from an email address that looks legitimate.

How to avoid phishing scams
  • Look for any obvious spelling and grammatical errors.
  • Check the email address is official by visiting the organisation's website.
  • Ask yourself: are you expecting an email from the organisation?
If you suspect that the email is not legitimate:
  • do not click on any links
  • do not open any attachments.

If you know that the email is a phishing email, delete it. If you are unsure, and the email was sent to your UTS email address, please send the message as an attachment to spam@uts.edu.au.

Learn more by visiting our Phishing Emails information page.

Compromised password

Passwords confirm who you are and your rights to access a system. If someone knows your password, they can log into your accounts - and you would have no control over their actions. This could happen to a social media account, your email, your bank account or any other online account.

How to avoid your password being compromised
  • Change your UTS password at least every six months through MyAccount.
  • Set up multi-factor authentication (MFA) for secure sign-on to access all your UTS systems. For a step-by-step guide to setting up MFA, go to uts.edu.au/mfa.

For general information about browsing safely, password security tips and computer viruses, visit Information security at UTS.

For more information about keeping your information safe on social media and more, visit the Australian government’s eSafety guide (opens an external site).

If you think someone has access to your account:
  • immediately reset your password on the account
  • change your password on any other accounts that use the same or similar passwords.
If you think that someone knows a password that you use on UTS-related accounts:

If you're unsure if a phone call, email or message you've received is legitimate, contact the UTS International Student Centre before you reply.

Being an international student in Australia is an exciting chance to discover your independence in a safe and supportive environment. But whether you’re managing your own money for the first time, finding a place to live, or adjusting to a new lifestyle in a new country, there are a few challenges to keep in mind. 

One of these challenges is watching out for scams. 

Scams are everywhere and can target people from any background. Knowing how to recognise a scam – and knowing where to go for help if you encounter one – is super important to keeping yourself safe.

My name is Annabel and I’m here to share some of the most common scams to watch out for – and our top tips for protecting yourself against them.

First of all, our number-one piece of advice: never transfer money to UTS or a third party if you’re unsure. If you have any doubt about whether a request for your details or payment is legitimate, email internationalstudent@uts.edu.au and we can help you out.

So how can you keep safe in everyday life? Luckily, if you know how to spot the common signs of a scam, you can steer clear of many dangers.

First of all – email scams & phishing. An example of this would be a fee payment request. Usually, they are sent from suspicious email address and are written in bad English – some might even use a threatening or urgent tone to get you to transfer money to them. 

Please be aware that UTS will never ask for money from you in this way.

Next, how to recognise scam phone calls. Imposters may threaten you by pretending to represent the Australian Tax Office, immigration department, police, or your country’s embassy. Remember: trust your instincts. Government officials will never contact you in this way. Recognise that threatening behaviour is a tactic to frighten you into complying.

Do your own research through the organisation’s official channels to check who really sent the message.

Finally, learn how to spot suspicious adverts on social media. If a post is too good to be true, it probably is a scam - even if it’s a post from a supposed ‘fellow student’. Check an offer independently on a reputable site before accepting it.

So can you do to stay safe from scams? 

Be alert: There are many places you can go to stay on top of current warnings. Follow the Australian government’s ScamWatch and read all official UTS alerts. 

Protect your information: Never post your student details such as your password or your Student ID online. 

Don’t engage: If you receive something suspicious, do not engage with it. Think before you click a link. Don’t reply, make no commitments during calls and don’t give away any personal information. And notify UTS security on 1800 249 559 if you receive any abusive or threatening communications. 

Never be afraid or embarrassed to report a scam. UTS needs to know so that we can keep you and other students safe. If you’re certain it’s a scam, make sure you delete the communication. If you receive it to your UTS email address, report it by forwarding it to: spam@uts.edu.au. Our IT team will confirm whether the email is real or not.

Remember to keep a clear head and trust your instincts. You got this! Even if you have only the tiniest doubt that a phone call, or an email, or something else is legitimate, it’s worth contacting UTS to check before engaging further. That way you can be sure you’re safe.

For more information and support, check out the following resources.

More information

ScamWatch (opens an external site)
NSW Police – Frauds and scams (opens an external site)
eSafety Commissioner (opens an external site)
Mandarin Phone Scam (opens an external site)
Australian Government’s Little Black Book of Scams (opens an external site)

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.