Scams targeting students – What they are and signs to look out for

Korean religious sect posing as bible study class

A Korean religious leader has founded the Shincheonji Church of Jesus and followers await a Judgement Day with a selection of followers receiving eternal life.

How the scam works

You could be approached face-to-face or online to answer a survey at uni, at a train station or shopping centre. Alternatively, they might start a conversation suitable to meeting someone new like asking for a local restaurant recommendation. The conversation or survey questions will include questions about faith-based beliefs and knowledge. You may be invited to socialise with these people, or at least asked for your phone number to set up a time and place to meet socially. You will be asked to attend a bible study class or invited to a faith based gathering.

Over time there will be an increased amount of time expected for Church activities including recruiting more people to the Church. There will be pressure to not maintain contact with family and friends outside of the Church and keep Church membership a secret. There will be less and less time not scheduled with the Church to fit in study and see family and friends. At first you will be asked to give a small amount of money to assist with costs relating to Church activities such as contributing to leasing costs for the bible study space.

How to avoid the scam

Be wary of anyone who pressures you to provide your contact details or attend an event. Be cautious of any person or group that encourages you to prioritise them above all other commitments including study, employment, and time with family and friends. Be cautious about providing any group requested money or personal possessions.

Take your time to think and research any group that you are thinking about joining and talk it through with a trusted source. You can talk about it with a Welfare Advisor or you may wish to meet with a RMIT Counsellor.

Tuition fee scams

How the scam works

Scammers claiming to be ‘agents’ from the student’s university contact a student and say they can get a discount on their university tuition fees if they pay the ‘agent’ directly. Sometimes no discount is offered, the student is simply told they need to pay their fees or pay a fine otherwise they’ll lose their place at uni.

Instances have occurred where scammers have even recruited other students to approach potential victims on their behalf, adding credibility to the interaction.

Though this scam tends to target international students, domestic students are also at risk and have reported cases of this scam.

How to avoid the scam

You should only ever make payments to RMIT via the payment methods listed on the How you pay your fees page or Accept your offer page.

If you’re a current student, fee notices will be sent to your RMIT student email account. You can check the validity of any fee notice or payment request you receive by viewing your up-to-date fees and due dates via Enrolment Online.

If you have questions about your fees, contact Student Connect for advice and support.

Contract cheating scams

Most students know that paying a service to complete an assignment is a breach of academic integrity and can attract serious consequences including expulsion. But students who use contract cheating services also leave themselves vulnerable to ‘study blackmail.’

How the scam works

A student contacts and pays a contract cheating service to produce an assignment. Once the student has submitted the assignment, the cheating service blackmails the student, demanding money or else they will tell the student’s university that their assignment is fraudulent.

How to avoid the scam

This one is easy – never engage with any individuals or services offering to do your assignments for you. If you’re struggling with your studies or assessments, Peer Mentor Adarsh Ramesh says you should use of one of the legitimate study support services that RMIT offers instead.

“I strongly encourage all students to use the available support services like Academic Skills Advisors, Peer Mentors, Studiosity or Ask the Library,: says Adarsh. "These resources are here to assist you, so don't hesitate to reach out whenever you need help.”

Rental scams

How the scam works

A rental property or room is listed online, usually on social media. When someone enquires, the ‘rental provider’ might make an excuse about why the property can't be inspected right now, but will tell the person that they can secure the place by paying a bond or rent.

In some instances of this scam, the property is actually an Airbnb that the scammer hires so they can show people through in what appears to be a legitimate property inspection. In reality, the property isn’t available for rent.

How to avoid the scam

RMIT Student Welfare Advisor Alison says, “Never pay money for a rental property you are not able to inspect. Make sure you are dealing with an estate agent licensed to operate in your state. And do an online search to make sure the property exists and is a legitimate rental property.”

Alison says students should contact RMIT’s Student Welfare Service on our Accommodation page if they’re unsure of a listing.

“Our team can look at the advertisement and advise on potential red flags.”

If you’re moving to Melbourne and not sure how to find somewhere to live, the Student Welfare Service can guide you through the whole process.

“All students, including commencing students, can book an appointment to discuss accommodation options in Melbourne in line with their budget, campus and preferences,” says Alison.

Employment scams

How the scam works

The scammer poses as a recruitment agent or someone hiring staff on behalf of a big company and either reaches out to individuals via social media or places legitimate looking ads on real job listing websites. When someone responds to the job message or ad, the 'agent' says that they can get the person a job quickly, but they must make a payment first, usually the payment is to cover a mandatory 'training course' or 'recruitment fee'. However, in reality, there is no job.

How to avoid the scam

Be wary of any jobs opportunities that have a very quick hiring process, such as not asking you to provide a CV or attend an interview. Don't engage with any recruiters or employers that require you to pay them money before you secure a job.

If you need help finding part-time or casual work, contact the RMIT Job Shop for guidance on everything from reputable job listings to CV support and interview preparation.

Chinese authority and virtual kidnapping scams

How the scams work

This threatening scams targets Chinese nationals and involves scammers posing as authority figures in China.

A student is contacted – usually by phone – by someone claiming to be a police officer, government official, visa agent or similar who says the student has done something wrong (eg. breached visa compliance requirements) or been implicated in a crime (eg. drug distribution, money laundering). The student is told they need to pay significant funds to avoid deportation, cancellation of their student visa or arrest. Sometimes they are told their family with be arrested if they don’t pay.

Technology is often used to make the scammer’s phone number look official.

Sometimes, if the student doesn’t have enough money, the scammer encourages them to fake their own kidnapping and send ransom demands to their parents to secure the funds.

How to avoid the scam

Any phone calls, texts or other communications threatening deportation or arrests are scams. If you receive such calls, hang up and do not pay any money. You can also report a scam to the Australian Government National Anti-Scam Centre ScamWatch.

You can watch a YouTube video from the Victorian Police about how to avoid this scam:

Students who think they have been scammed should contact RMIT’s Safer Community service for advice and support.