International student scam safety: admission, visas, housing and calls
Official-source prevention checklist. TalkScams does not verify an individual school, visa or offer.
1. Verify an admission or scholarship offer
Confirm the institution and the actual admission offer before paying an agent or third party.
Warning signs
- An agent promises admission, a scholarship or a visa in exchange for a personal transfer.
- Someone tells you a school is “government approved” without a verifiable official school listing.
- A supposed admissions officer will communicate only through a social-media or personal-email account.
How to verify
- For Canada, look up the institution on IRCC’s DLI list, then confirm your offer with the school directly.
- For the United States, check SEVP certification through the government school-search process and contact the school admissions office independently.
- Pay tuition through the institution’s documented official payment channel. School listing alone does not authenticate an individual offer.
Sources and further reading
2. Check a visa agent or immigration request
Learn which government processes and representatives to verify before sharing documents or paying fees.
Warning signs
- Anyone guarantees a visa, immigration outcome or faster government processing.
- A stranger wants your passport, credentials or application forms through an unofficial chat or payment link.
How to verify
- Use official government immigration guidance for the destination country; eligibility and requirements can change.
- In Canada, verify whether a paid representative is authorized through IRCC and the appropriate regulator.
- Never sign blank forms and confirm submitted details are accurate.
Sources and further reading
3. Avoid fake student rentals and deposits
Evaluate off-campus listings when you cannot easily visit before moving.
Warning signs
- A landlord asks for money before you can see or independently verify a property.
- The listing contact differs from the verified property manager or pressures you to pay by wire, crypto or gift card.
How to verify
- Check the property and management company through independently found contact information.
- Arrange an in-person inspection or have a trusted person verify it; your university housing office may offer alternatives.
- Avoid payments that are hard to reverse and keep transaction records private.
Sources and further reading
4. Prepare for the destination and arrival
Check local transportation, accommodation, payment and communication risks before leaving.
Warning signs
- A driver, tour broker or landlord insists your confirmed booking is cancelled and redirects payment.
- An arrival-day message demands urgent fees via an unfamiliar link.
How to verify
- Read the TalkScams destination guide for your city and cross-check links with the named authorities.
- Arrange transport with official or trusted providers and keep receipts.
- Save local emergency and official reporting channels before travelling.
Sources and further reading
5. Handle suspicious calls and job offers after arrival
Search existing experiences, verify organizations and use official reporting routes if targeted.
Warning signs
- A caller claims to be immigration, a bank or police and orders you to pay immediately to avoid arrest.
- An unsolicited “job” asks you to pay a recruitment or equipment fee before employment.
How to verify
- End the call and independently contact the institution or agency through an official website.
- Search TalkScams for similar patterns, but do not assume “no matching story” means genuine.
- If affected, contact your bank and local law enforcement or cybercrime reporting channel first.