Preventing scams, ensuring safety
La Trobe University
Dear students,
Scams are everywhere, each with slightly different methods, but the goal is the same - to trick you out of your money or to coerce you into doing things you don't want to do. Understanding different types of scams and how to respond can help us better protect ourselves.
Common Types of Scams
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1. University Fee Scams
Mainly targeting international students, scammers offer tuition discounts,For example, you pay them 80% of the tuition, and they then pay the full amount to the university. But they often use stolen credit cards for payment, which gets rejected, leaving you out of the money you paid to the scammer and still needing to pay the full tuition.
2. Fine Threats
Scammers threaten you with arrest or legal consequences,demanding you pay them a specified amount. These scammers might make you think you could face criminal charges or deportation.
3. Fake Agents
Scammers claim to help find jobs or provide fake documents/certificates,asking for a large sum of money upfront.
4. Prize/Lottery Scams
Scammers notify you via text or email that you've won a prize, tricking you into providing personal information.
5. Dating and Romance Scams
Using fake identities to build relationships with you on various apps or social media. Once they gain your trust, they may start asking for money.
6. Unexpected Money
Scammers pretend to be the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), informing you of unclaimed tax refunds,asking for personal information or clicking a link to steal your information.
7. Accommodation Scams
Scammers claim to help you find housing, asking for a deposit upfront, but the house often doesn't match the description or doesn't exist at all.
From the Embassy
Telecom Fraud Prevention Tips
In recent years, there have been frequent cases of telecom fraud where criminals impersonate courier companies, Chinese embassies and consulates abroad, and domestic public security and judicial authorities. In these cases, criminals use technical means to disguise the caller ID as an officially published phone number, impersonate relevant staff, and use forged 'police officer' identities or arrest warrants to intimidate victims into believing they are under investigation for a certain type of case, thereby gradually extracting the victim's identity and bank information, which is highly deceptive, leading victims to fall for the scam and suffer huge financial losses.
The Chinese Consulate General in Melbourne reminds Chinese citizens in the consular district, especially international students, to be vigilant against telecom fraud.For calls whose authenticity cannot be verified,it is recommended to hang up and call the consular protection phone number of the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in Australia for further verification.Do not disclose personal information over the phone, and certainly do not transfer money.
What to do if you encounter a scam?
2. Tell atrustedfriend, family member, or colleague about your situation.
3. Seek help from the university'sofficial support departments: Safer Community, International Student Services, Counseling, or the Student Union.
4. Report to thelocal police station, either in person or by phone. Safer Community can provide assistance.
5. If you have already paid money or someone has obtained your bank information,report it to your bank immediately. All banks have 24/7 emergency contact numbers.
6. Report the scam to the Australian government via the ScamWatch website.7.
Support yourself, remember it's not your fault, and you shouldn't feel ashamed.On Campus
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Phone: 9479 8988
Email:
safercommunity@latrobe.edu.au
https://www.latrobe.edu.au/students/support/wellbeing/services/safer-community➽
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💡For more information, welcome to visit the following URLs or click [Read More] below to learn more~
English Official Website
Chinese Official Website
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Contact us!
La Trobe China Admissions Officer LTUGlobal@latrobe.edu.au
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