Spot and Avoid Admission & Scholarship Scams

Scammers target students with fake scholarships, fake admission letters and fake visa services. Knowing the red flags protects your money and your identity.

Red flags

• You are asked to pay a fee to “guarantee” a scholarship or admission.
• You “won” a scholarship you never applied for.
• The email comes from a free address (Gmail, Yahoo) instead of an official university domain.
• Promises of 100% visa success or “no IELTS needed” shortcuts.
• Pressure to pay quickly through a personal account, gift card or cryptocurrency.
• Poor grammar, no named office, or no verifiable contact details.

How to verify

• Find the scholarship or university on its official website by typing the address yourself.
• Contact the admissions office using details from the official site.
• Check the programme in the government’s official education portal for the country.
• Pay visa fees only on official government or authorised provider websites.