At UNSW College, we are determined to protect the safety of our students and advocate for the education of both staff and students to ensure our community are aware of schemes that are designed to act against our best interests.
Since the start of 2023, we have been aware of an unprecedented rise in the number of international students, mainly Chinese nationals, falling victim to extraordinarily complex and financially eye-watering scams. The money lost can become untraceable to authorities and are often impossible to recover. Not only does this present a very serious financial burden on the student, but this also negatively affects their mental wellbeing and attention to studies.
In Australia, there were a reported $3.1 billion lost to scams in 2022. That is a 80% increase on the year prior, and is a major problem affecting both domestic and international educational institutions.
Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their deception tactics, and to tackle this we must also stay on top of the newest scams, and equip ourselves with the correct tips and ticks to protect ourselves from scams.
Support Available
We understand this may be very distressing to students. If you think you have been a victim of a scam, support is here.
- If you are a victim of fraud, going to the Australian police will not impact your visa status. You can call the police on 131 444 to report a scam.
- If you know someone who is the victim of fraud, be supportive and encourage them to contact the police on 131 444 to report a scam.
- If you think the scammer has your bank account details, contact your bank immediately.
- Report the scam to Scamwatch.
- Contact our Student Wellbeing Team for help.
- The Wellbeing Team is very familiar with many types of scams and can support you to get out of a scam, help to report a scam, or support you if you have suffered from a scam.
- Walk-ins are welcome, no prior appointment necessary.
- There are English and Chinese speaking Student Wellbeing Advisers who are ready to help.
- Students can also email the Student Support Team.
Please reach out for support if you need it and spread the message to your peers.
Take care,
UNSW College
