Scams Targeting Students
Students face scholarship, accommodation, job, fee payment and money mule scams, often at the busiest times of the year. How each works and simple rules for students and parents.
Starting or returning to school, college or university means new places, new systems, new costs and often a first taste of managing money alone. Scammers target students at exactly these moments: when they are applying, moving, looking for work, and paying fees.
The main student scams
| Scam | How it works |
|---|---|
| Scholarships | Fees to apply for or "secure" a scholarship. See fake scholarship scams. |
| Accommodation | Deposits for rooms that do not exist or belong to someone else. See rental scams. |
| Jobs and internships | Task scams, training fees and fake internships. See internship scams. |
| Money mules | Offers of cash to "lend" your bank account. See money mule recruitment. |
| Fee payment | Fake emails with "updated" bank details for tuition or hostel fees. |
| Official impersonation | Calls threatening visa, tax or police problems, especially to international students. |
| Cheap textbooks and tech | Fake sellers on social media and marketplaces. |
| Account phishing | Fake university login pages to steal student email accounts. |
Pay fees only through official channels. If you receive new bank details for tuition or accommodation, confirm them with your institution through its official website or office before paying.
Illustrative example
- A free email address, not the university's domain.
- Changed bank details with a deregistration threat.
- What to do: check fees in your student portal or with the finance office in person.
Rules for students
- Verify any fee, deposit or payment through your institution's official portal or office.
- Never let anyone use your bank account, however small the favour.
- Never pay to get a job, internship or scholarship.
- View accommodation or use official university housing services before paying deposits.
- Protect your student email with a strong password and two-step verification.
- Hang up on "officials" demanding payment; call the organization yourself.
For parents
- Talk about these scams before term starts.
- Agree that you will double-check any large payment together.
- Know your child's institution's official payment methods.
Got a message about fees, jobs or housing? Paste it into CyberWatch AI Scan for a free check.
For more on staying safe, read our guide on how to avoid online scams.
Frequently asked questions
Why are students targeted?
Students are often new to managing money, moving to new places, looking for work and accommodation, and dealing with unfamiliar institutions, which gives scammers many openings.
Can international students be targeted differently?
Yes. They may receive calls impersonating immigration officials, police or embassy staff, threatening visa problems unless they pay. Genuine officials do not demand payment by phone.
What is the single best rule for students?
Never pay fees, deposits or 'registration' to anyone until you have verified them directly through your institution or the official organization.
Sources
- How To Avoid Scholarship and Financial Aid Scams, US Federal Trade Commission
- Rental Listing Scams, US Federal Trade Commission
- Job Scams, US Federal Trade Commission
