Nematek Avenir

Studying abroad: avoiding scams

International recruitment attracts fraudsters. Here are the most common traps and how to recognise them.

The golden rule: no one can guarantee you a visa or an admission in exchange for money.

Warning signs

“Guaranteed” visa or admission
Only the university (for admission) and the immigration authority (for the visa) decide. An agent who promises an outcome is lying.
Fake admission letters
Admission comes from applying to the institution. A letter “obtained in 48 hours” or “without an application” is fake: always check with the admissions office, using a contact found on the university's official website.
Payment into a personal account
Official fees (visa, enrolment, deposit) are paid on the official website or at the official counter. Never by money transfer, mobile money or into an individual's account.
Agent reachable only on WhatsApp
No address, no website, no contract, only a WhatsApp number: a strong sign of fraud.
Fake appointments and fake embassy websites
Visa appointments are booked on the official website or that of the authorised visa centre. Check the website address: a similar-looking name is not enough.
Fake proof of funds
Buying a bank statement, a sponsorship letter or “proof of funds” is fraud. It can lead to a refusal and a ban on applying for a visa for several years.
Scholarships or jobs abroad in exchange for fees
A real scholarship does not charge fees to “release” the funding. A job offer that pays for your visa provided you pay an advance is a scam.
Requests for your codes
No one needs your passwords, SMS codes or bank card codes. Never share them.
Holding your passport
Never hand your passport to an intermediary, except to the official visa centre against a receipt.

Before paying or sending a document

  1. Find the official website yourself (from our guides or the government website), without using the link sent by the agent.
  2. Check that the payment is requested on that official website.
  3. Ask for an official receipt and keep a copy of all exchanges.
  4. If in doubt, do not pay: ask the institution or the embassy for advice.

Report

See an error or a scam in an Avenir guide? Use the “Report” link at the bottom of each guide or part. For a scholarship listing, use “Report this listing”.

If you have been a victim, keep the evidence and file a complaint with the police or gendarmerie.

Our general advice against scams