Don’t get caught out by these scams!
The start of the study period is a busy time, you’ll be receiving emails about your enrolment and fees, and scammers can see this as an opportunity to strike. Read through to inform yourself about some current scams and always remain cautious to best protect yourself.
Current scams to watch out for
Job scams
Job scams are on the rise, and scammers are getting smarter at tricking job seekers, especially students. Whether you’re a student looking for part-time work or a graduate starting your career, it’s important to watch out and think critically when searching for jobs.
Common job scams to look out for are:
- Task-based scams – You’re promised easy money for simple tasks, like liking social media posts or writing reviews. But soon, you’re asked to deposit your own money to ‘increase earnings’.
- Up-front fee scams – Scammers pose as recruitment agencies or companies, asking you to pay for training, equipment, or job placement. The job never exists.
- Money mule scams – You’re asked to receive, transfer, or withdraw money for someone else. This could involve criminal activity like money laundering.
- Verify the employer – If a job offer comes through WhatsApp, Telegram, or a random text, be cautious. Contact the company directly through official channels.
How to help protect yourself while job hunting:
- Never send money or personal details – If a recruiter asks for money via bank transfer, PayID, or cryptocurrency, don’t do it. A real job will never ask you to send money before you start earning. If a recruiter asks you to pay a ‘fee’ or transfer money to unlock job opportunities, it’s likely a scam.
- Research the job listing – Even trusted job websites can have fake ads. If something feels off, report it to the platform and ScamWatch.
- Trust your instincts – If a job seems too good to be true, it probably is!
Phishing
‘Phishing’ is when a scammer sends fraudulent emails or texts pretending to be from organisations you know or trust in order to steal your personal information, money or even your identity. Before responding or acting, you should always be careful and confirm that an email has actually been sent by who it says it’s from.
Recent trends show that these phishing emails are becoming more targeted and more difficult to differentiate from the real thing.
- Check both the sender’s name and address. Ensure the sender’s email address is legitimate. For example, Deakin emails will always come from an @deakin.edu.au email address.
- Watch out for suspicious attachments and links. If you aren’t sure about a link or attachment, better to be safe and do not click.
- Pay close attention to spontaneous and unexpected emails. Is the action being requested in a message normal or expected behaviour of the sender? Be wary of recipients wanting you to share your personal details or an email requesting you to make a payment not following Deakin’s payment processes.
If you receive a phishing or suspicious email, you can easily report it by using the phishing reporting tool in Outlook called Phish Alert or forwarding the email to spam@deakin.edu.au.
Please be aware that you should only ever use a payment method listed on your invoice to pay your fees.
Contract cheating scams
You may come across or be contacted by services offering to complete your assessments for you in exchange for money or for uploading your previous assessments.
Not only is taking up their offer of these services a breach of academic integrity and can put your studies at risk, but you may open yourself up to the threat of blackmail.
Authority scams targeting Chinese international students
The Victoria Police Financial Crimes Squad has put out a warning that international students, especially those from China, have been the target of scammers impersonating Chinese officials, police officers or courier services.
The scammers claim that your phone or identity have been used in a crime and will threaten legal consequences unless you make a payment to them.
They can use elaborate methods including calls from multiple people, video calls and appearing to be calling from an official phone number to seem more convincing.
Fake social media groups
We’ve been alerted that there are a number of social media groups and pages that may be falsely presenting themselves as though they were officially supported by Deakin. Some of these groups may be trying to promote non-Deakin events or even contract cheating, so remain vigilant.
You can find the official social media channels of Deakin listed on our Stay Connected webpage. If you are invited to or come across a page or group not included here, then be wary.
Think you’ve been scammed? Where you can get help
- If you have provided any money or think a scammer has your bank account details, contact your bank immediately.
- IDCARE can assist you if you experience scams and fraudulent activity. They can be contacted on 1800 595 160.
- If it’s an emergency or you are concerned for your safety, contact the police immediately by calling 000.
- To report a crime that is not an emergency, phone 131 444.
- If you receive a call or message of this nature, report it immediately to Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) and ScamWatch.
- You can also contact Deakin’s cybersecurity team.
- Being scammed is a horrible experience, and it can happen to anyone. If you need someone to talk to, reach out to family and friends, or contact Lifeline (13 11 14) or Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636).
- Warn your friends, family and fellow students about these scams.
There are no consequences for reporting a potential scam – it is always better to be safe than sorry.
Some resources on scams
Keep reporting those suspicious emails and continue to stay vigilant for scams! For more information on spotting a scam, visit the cyber security blog.
Stay up to date with the latest known online scams by bookmarking and regularly visiting Deakin’s Online safety and security webpage. You can also find more information about common scams targeting students via Study Melbourne’s website. You can also follow @scamwatch_gov on Twitter and subscribe to ScamWatch radar alerts.
The ACCC’s Little Black Book of Scams is also a handy tool for recognising scams – it is available in various languages including Simplified Chinese on the ACCC website.