📚 Common Scams Targeting International Students and Prevention Guide | 留学生常见诈骗手段与防范指南
Studying abroad is an exciting adventure, but it also brings new challenges. One serious risk that international students face is falling victim to sophisticated scams. Criminals often target students because they may be unfamiliar with local laws and customs, feel pressure to succeed, or have access to significant funds for tuition and living expenses. Understanding common scams and learning how to recognise the warning signs is essential for a safe and successful study experience.
海外留学是一段令人兴奋的旅程，但也伴随着新的挑战。留学生面临的一个严重风险是成为精心设计的诈骗手段的受害者。犯罪分子常常瞄准学生，因为他们可能不熟悉当地法律与习俗、承受着学业成功的压力，或者掌握着相当数额的学费和生活资金。了解常见骗局并学会识别警示信号，对确保留学安全与顺利至关重要。
1. Phone Scams Impersonating Authorities | 冒充官方机构的电话诈骗
One of the most widespread scams involves a caller pretending to be from a government agency, embassy, police, or immigration department. The scammer often claims there is a problem with your visa, a suspicious package linked to your name, or that you are involved in a criminal investigation. They demand immediate payment of a fine or request personal details like passport numbers, bank account information, and even sensitive credentials under the threat of deportation or arrest. The calls may use caller ID spoofing to appear legitimate.
最常见的骗局之一涉及来电者冒充政府机构、大使馆、警方或移民部门。骗子通常会声称你的签证有问题、有可疑包裹与你有关，或你卷入了一项刑事调查。他们以遣返或逮捕相威胁，要求立即缴纳罚款，或者索取护照号码、银行账户信息甚至敏感凭证。这些电话可能会通过来电显示伪装来显得真实。
Remember, real authorities will never call you demanding immediate payment or personal information over the phone. If you receive such a call, hang up immediately and contact the relevant institution using an official number you look up yourself, not one the caller provides. Do not panic; scammers rely on fear to bypass your critical thinking.
请记住，真正的官方机构绝不会打电话要求你立即付款或通过电话提供个人信息。如果接到此类电话，应立即挂断，并使用你自己查到的官方电话号码主动联系相关机构，切勿信任来电者提供的号码。不要惊慌，骗子正是利用恐惧来绕过你的理性思考。
2. Rental Fraud | 租房诈骗
Finding accommodation from overseas is a prime target for fraud. Scammers post fake listings for attractive apartments at below-market prices, often using stolen photos. They may claim to be out of the country and pressure you to wire a deposit or the first month’s rent urgently to secure the property. After receiving the money, they disappear, and the student arrives to find the address does not exist or the real landlord has no idea about the listing. Sometimes, scammers even conduct fake video tours using pre-recorded footage.
从海外寻找住房是欺诈的重灾区。诈骗者发布虚假的房源广告，往往以低于市场的价格提供诱人的公寓，并盗用他人照片。他们可能声称自己身在国外，并催促你紧急电汇押金或首月租金以预留房屋。一旦收到钱款后便消失无踪，学生到达后发现地址不存在，或者真正的房东对此一无所知。有时诈骗者甚至使用预先录制的视频进行虚假的看房。
To avoid rental scams, never transfer money without physically inspecting the property or having a trusted representative do so in person. Use reputable rental platforms that verify listings, and be wary of landlords who refuse video calls or rush you into a deal. Whenever possible, arrive early and stay in temporary accommodation first while you search for verified long-term housing.
为避免租房诈骗，切勿在未亲自实地查看房屋或未由可信代理人实地查看的情况下转账。使用有房源验证的正规租房平台，并警惕那些拒绝视频通话或催促你成交的房东。尽量提前抵达，先入住临时住所，同时寻找经过核实的长期住房。
3. Tuition Payment Scams | 学费代缴诈骗
A particularly damaging scheme targets students by offering a discount on tuition fees. The scammer promises that if you pay them in your home currency or via a third-party service, they will settle your university bill at a better exchange rate, often claiming insider connections or bulk discounts. The student pays the scammer, and the scammer initially makes a payment to the university using a stolen credit card or compromised bank account. The university’s system shows the payment as received, but later the transaction is reversed when the fraud is discovered. The student loses both the money sent to the scammer and still owes the full tuition.
一种危害特别大的骗局是针对学生的学费折扣。骗子承诺如果你用本国货币或通过第三方服务向他们付款，他们就能以更优惠的汇率帮你支付学校账单，常常声称有内部关系或团体折扣。学生将钱付给骗子，骗子起初会用盗取的信用卡或被攻破的银行账户向大学付款。大学的系统上显示款项已到账，但之后当欺诈被发现时，交易会被撤销。学生不仅损失了汇给骗子的钱，仍需全额支付学费。
Always pay tuition directly to your university or college through official channels, such as the school's payment portal or approved international payment partners. Be highly skeptical of anyone offering to pay on your behalf for a fee reduction. If an offer seems too good to be true, it almost certainly is.
务必通过官方渠道（如学校的支付门户或认可的国际付款合作机构）直接向大学或学院缴纳学费。对任何替人代缴以换取费用减免的提议应保持高度怀疑。如果一项提议听起来好得令人难以置信，那几乎可以肯定是骗局。
4. Virtual Kidnapping Scams | 虚拟绑架诈骗
Virtual kidnapping is a terrifying extortion scheme in which scammers call a student’s family, claiming to have kidnapped the student. Using details gathered from social media or previous phishing attempts, they create a convincing narrative. They may trick the student into isolating themselves by telling them to switch off their phone or go to a hotel for a so-called “witness protection” scenario. The family hears screams or recorded voices and is pressured to pay an immediate ransom, while the student is actually safe but unreachable.
虚拟绑架是一种令人毛骨悚然的勒索手段，诈骗者给学生的家人打电话，声称已绑架了该学生。他们利用从社交媒体或之前的网络钓鱼中搜集到的信息，编造出令人信服的情节。他们可能会诱骗学生自我隔离，例如让他们关掉手机或去酒店接受所谓的“证人保护”。家人听到尖叫声或预先录制的语音，被逼迫立即支付赎金，而学生实际上安全却无法联系上。
Protect yourself by having a family communication plan in place. Share a code word that only your loved ones would know. Be cautious about publicly posting travel plans and personal details on social media. If you receive a suspicious call instructing you to hide, contact your family immediately using a different device or method to confirm your safety, and report it to local police.
保护自己的方法是制定家庭联络预案。设定一个只有至亲才知道的暗语。在社交媒体上公开发布旅行计划和个人细节时要谨慎。如果你接到可疑电话要求你躲藏起来，应立即使用另一设备或方式联系家人确认安全，并向当地警方报案。
5. Currency Exchange Scams | 换汇诈骗
Students often look for better exchange rates through informal groups on WeChat, WhatsApp, or online forums. Scammers pose as fellow students offering favorable rates. They agree to exchange money in person or via transfer. Often they show fake bank transaction receipts or send a small initial amount to build trust, then disappear when a large transfer is made. In some cases, the scammer uses a compromised account to send the money, and the transaction is later reversed by the bank.
学生们经常通过微信、WhatsApp 或者在线论坛上的非正式群组寻找更优的汇率。骗子假扮成学生同学，提供有吸引力的汇率。他们同意当面或通过转账方式换汇。他们通常出示虚假的银行转账记录，或者先转一小笔钱来建立信任，然后在收到大额转账后消失。有些情况下，骗子使用被盗账户转账，银行之后会将交易撤销。
Only exchange currency through licensed and regulated institutions such as banks or officially endorsed money transfer services. Avoid private exchange deals, no matter how trustworthy the person seems. Remember that legitimate exchange rates do not vary wildly; abnormally good rates are a red flag for fraud.
只通过持牌和受监管的机构如银行或官方认可的汇款服务来兑换货币。避免私下换汇交易，无论对方看起来多么可信。请记住，合法的汇率不会大起大落；异常好的汇率是欺诈的危险信号。
6. Phishing Emails and Messages | 网络钓鱼邮件与信息
Phishing attempts are designed to steal your login credentials or install malware on your device. You might receive an email that looks exactly like it is from your university, a popular retailer, or a bank, asking you to click a link and verify your account or update your password. The link leads to a fake website that records your input. Scammers also use messages about failed package deliveries, tax refunds, or urgent security alerts to trick you into revealing personal information.
网络钓鱼的目的是窃取你的登录凭证或在你的设备上安装恶意软件。你可能会收到一封看起来极像来自你的大学、知名零售商或银行的邮件，要求你点击链接并验证账户或更新密码。该链接会导向一个记录你输入信息的虚假网站。骗子还利用包裹派送失败、退税或紧急安全警报等信息来诱骗你透露个人信息。
Always verify the sender’s email address carefully; phishing emails often use domains that look similar but have slight misspellings. Never click on links in unsolicited messages. Instead, navigate directly to the official website by typing the URL yourself. Enable two-factor authentication on all important accounts, especially banking and university portals, to add an extra layer of security.
一定要仔细核实发件人的电子邮件地址；钓鱼邮件往往使用看起来相似但略有拼写错误的域名。切勿点击来路不明的信息中的链接。应自行输入网址直接访问官方网站。在所有重要账户上启用双重认证，尤其是银行和大学门户网站，以增加额外的安全保障。
7. Part-Time Job Scams | 兼职工作诈骗
Many international students seek part-time work to supplement their finances. Scammers post attractive job offers with high pay for minimal effort, such as “mystery shopper,” “package forwarding,” or “remote assistant.” A common scheme involves sending you a fraudulent cheque to deposit and asking you to forward a portion of the money to someone else via gift cards or wire transfer. The cheque initially appears to clear but later bounces, leaving you responsible for the full amount. Other scams trick you into using your bank account to move illegally obtained funds, implicating you in money laundering.
许多国际学生寻求兼职工作来补贴生活。诈骗者发布极具吸引力的职位，报酬高却几乎无需付出的工作，例如“神秘顾客”、“包裹转运”或“远程助理”等。常见手法是寄给你一张虚假支票让你存入，并要求你将部分钱款通过礼品卡或电汇转给他人。支票起初看起来已到账，但之后被退票，你须自行承担全部金额。另一些骗局诱使你使用自己的银行账户转移非法所得资金，使你卷入洗钱犯罪。
Research any company offering you employment and be extremely cautious of job offers that require no interview, demand you pay a fee upfront, or involve receiving and sending money. Legitimate employers will never ask you to use your personal bank account to process payments. Check with your university’s career services office for vetted job listings and advice on safe job searching.
对任何向你提供工作的公司进行调查，对无需面试、要求事先缴费或涉及接收与发送款项的工作机会要极其谨慎。正规雇主绝不会要求你使用个人银行账户处理款项。向学校的就业服务中心咨询经过审查的职位列表和安全求职的建议。
8. Social Media and Romance Scams | 社交媒体与情感诈骗
Loneliness and the desire to make connections can make students vulnerable on social media and dating platforms. Scammers create fake profiles, build a close online relationship over weeks or months, and then fabricate an emergency—such as a medical crisis, a legal issue, or an urgent need to fund a flight to visit you. They plead for a loan or gift, promising to repay as soon as the crisis passes. After receiving money, they typically cut off all contact or invent further emergencies.
孤独感和建立联系的渴望会使学生在社交媒体和约会平台上容易受到伤害。诈骗者创建虚假个人资料，花费数周或数月时间在网上建立亲密关系，然后编造紧急情况——如医疗危机、法律纠纷或急需机票来探望你。他们恳求借款或赠与，并承诺危机一过便归还。收到钱后，他们通常会断绝所有联系或编造更多紧急情况。
Be very careful about sharing personal and financial details with people you have not met in person. Never send money to an online acquaintance, no matter how genuine their story seems. If you suspect a romance scam, confide in a trusted friend and report the profile to the platform. Real relationships do not ask for urgent financial bailouts from someone you have never met.
在向未曾谋面的人透露个人与财务细节时要非常谨慎。切勿给网上认识的人汇款，无论他们的故事听起来多么真实。如果你怀疑陷入情感诈骗，请向可信赖的朋友倾诉，并向平台举报该账号。真正的感情不会向素未谋面的人索要紧急财务救助。
9. Lottery and Prize Scams | 中奖诈骗
You receive a message or email stating that you have won a large sum of money in a lottery, sweepstake, or promotion you never entered. To claim your prize, you are told to pay a processing fee, taxes, or delivery charges upfront. Scammers may even send a fake cheque to cover these costs and ask you to return the difference. Ultimately, any fees you send are lost, and the promised prize never materialises. Variations include offers of free flights or luxury goods that require you to pay a handling or shipping fee.
你收到一条信息或邮件，声称你在某个从未参加过的彩票、抽奖或促销活动中赢得了一大笔钱。要领取奖金，你被告知需要预先支付手续费、税款或邮寄费用。诈骗者甚至可能寄来一张假支票来支付这些费用，并要求你退还差额。最终，你寄出的任何费用都石沉大海，承诺的奖金永远不会兑现。变种包括提供免费机票或奢侈品，但要求你支付手续费或运费。
Legitimate lotteries do not require winners to pay fees before receiving their prize. If you did not enter a contest, you cannot win it. Treat all unsolicited prize notifications as scams, and never reply with personal details or payment. Delete the message and block the sender.
正规彩票不会要求中奖者在领取奖金前支付费用。如果你没有参加比赛，就不可能中奖。将所有未经请求的中奖通知视为诈骗，绝不要回复个人信息或付款。删除信息并屏蔽发件人。
10. General Prevention Strategies | 综合防范策略
Building strong personal security habits is the most effective defence against scams. Always verify independently before trusting any request for money or information. Use the official contact channels listed on your institution’s website or from your bank’s app. Keep your electronic devices up to date with security patches and use strong, unique passwords for each account. Report any scam attempt to your university’s international student office, local police, and relevant online platforms so that others can be warned. Remember, it is never your fault if someone tries to defraud you, and seeking help early can prevent greater loss.
养成良好的个人安全习惯是防范诈骗最有效的方法。在信任任何要求钱财或信息的请求之前，务必独立核实验证。使用学校官网上列出的或银行APP上的官方联系渠道。保持电子设备安全更新，为每个账户设置强且唯一的密码。将任何诈骗企图报告给你所在大学的国际学生办公室、当地警方以及相关在线平台，以警示他人。请记住，有人试图欺诈绝不是你的错，及早求助可以防止更大的损失。
Stay informed about new scam trends through university orientation sessions, government consumer protection websites, and international student communities. Share your knowledge with friends; scammers often target multiple students in the same network. If an offer sounds too good to be true, requires secrecy, or creates a sense of extreme urgency, it is almost certainly a scam. Trust your instincts and take time to think before acting.
通过大学迎新讲座、政府消费者保护网站和国际学生社区了解最新的诈骗趋势。与朋友分享你的知识；骗子经常将同一社交网络中的多名学生作为目标。如果一个提议好得难以置信、要求保密或制造极端的紧迫感，那几乎可以肯定是骗局。相信你的直觉，在行动前花时间思考。
Published by TutorHao | International Student Safety Revision Series | aleveler.com
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