Beware current scams targeting Chinese international students
We have been advised from other universities that there is a sophisticated financial scam currently targeting international students from China. These scams are designed to extort large sums of money from students and their families.
How do I recognise this scam?
Scammers posing as Chinese Embassy officials have been contacting students to advise them they are suspects in a money-laundering case, providing images of their IDs with their personal information and stating they will face imprisonment if they do not cooperate.
Using this threat of arrest or deportation, they are requesting copies of passports and visas, as well as large sums of money.
What should I do if I am contacted with this type of request?
If you receive contact via phone, text, or email from anyone claiming to be from the Chinese Embassy, Australian Embassy or other government official, do not respond. You must not send these people any money or provide your personal, credit card or online account details.
- If you receive a call from someone making threats about arrest or deportation, it is a scam. Do not provide any of your personal or banking details.
- If you think the scammer has your bank account details, contact your bank immediately.
- Hang up the phone immediately and report it to your local police station or to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
- Warn your friends and family about this scam.
- If you receive a phone call or text message, report it immediately to Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) and ScamWatch. You can also contact Deakin’s cybersecurity team.
How can I protect myself from scams?
Please be especially wary of any unsolicited or unexpected communications you receive and think before you click in emails – these scams can be sophisticated and look legitimate.
- If you receive a University-related email you’re unsure about – whether it’s from someone you don’t know, the details appear incorrect or the email address looks odd – do not click on any links or attachments. Immediately report the email to Deakin’s cybersecurity team via the ‘Phish Alert’ button in your Outlook window. If you’re not using your Deakin email address in Outlook, forward the email to [email protected].
- Be cautious about any unsolicited digital communications that requests personal information or money. Deakin will never contact students directly, or through agents in China, to ask you for money. The police will also never ask someone to pay money in exchange for a guarantee of not prosecuting them in Australia.
- Never give your bank details or money to people you don’t know or for reasons you’re unclear about. This includes your personal, credit card or online account details. If you think your accounts have been accessed illegally, contact your financial institution immediately for advice.
- Be aware of the messages you receive via email, text and social media. If you get junk or spam emails or messages, simply ignore and delete them.
- Look out for requests for payment in unusual methods such as bitcoin or gift cards – this is a common indicator of dodgy activity.
- Don’t respond straight away, especially if you’re feeling panicked. Always stop to think about a request before you open an email, click or download a link, provide personal information or give money.
You can also download the Scams Awareness Toolkit to learn more about how to identify fraudulent behaviour and scams.
Do you need more support?
We encourage you to contact Student Central for advice.