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Scams

Get advice and help on scams, plus learn about common scams and how to protect yourself.

Be scam aware

A scam occurs when someone uses deceptive tactics to trick or pressure another person into giving away their private information, money or property. Scams can appear in many different forms, including email, text messages, websites or even in person. Some scams target current and future university students. These scams are increasing across Australia, especially those targeting international students. It’s crucial to know how to spot a scam, avoid being a victim, and what to do if you get scammed.

Seek assistance

If you get scammed, or witness a scam, it's important to seek assistance. Your safety is always a priority.

Emergency services and police

  • For urgent help:
    • In Australia, call 000 for emergency services
    • If you are overseas, call your local emergency services.
  • For non-urgent help:
    • Victoria Police can be contacted online, or call 131 444
    • If you’re in another state, or overseas, contact the local police.

Other priority contacts

  • If your personal or financial information is stolen, contact your bank or provider as soon as possible.

University contacts

  • University Security call +61 3 8344 6666 (24 hours, 7 days a week) for on-campus support
  • Mental Health Crisis and Emergency Support (24 hours, 7 days a week) for mental health support services
  • Safer Community Program call +61 3 9035 8675 (9am–5pm, Monday to Friday) to report and seek support for inappropriate, concerning or threatening behaviour at the University
  • Stop 1 can be contacted to help verify the authenticity of University communications
  • Cybersecurity can be contacted to report online phishing, cybersecurity incidents and data privacy issues relating to the University.

Tip: If you are on campus, you can use the SafeZone app to contact emergency services, University Security or the Safer Community Program.

Download SafeZone

Common scams

The University is aware of various types of scams targeting current and future students. Learn more about the kinds of scams that target students.

  • Authorised payment methods: Only pay your University fees through the authorised methods listed:

    • Official Offer Letter
    • Student Invoice
    • Statement of Liability.

    You can access these documents through your secure applicant portal or student portal. Remember, the University will never ask you to pay fees before you receive your offer letter.

    Discounted course fees: The University does not provide discounts on tuition fees – unless you’ve accepted an official University fee remission. Never trust anyone who claims they can discount your fees.

    Personal details theft: Scammers sometimes email University students from fake accounts. They ask students for bank statements to show they have enough money to pay for their course.

    If you’re unsure about the validity of any University communications, documents or invoices, contact Stop 1 to confirm.

  • Fraudulent individuals or groups sometimes impersonate the University. They send prospective students fake offers for admission and scholarships using a University of Melbourne letterhead and email address. Scammers often request payment for this fake service.

    Remember, the University never issues offers below its admission standards. Do not trust anyone claiming they can get you an offer with lower entry standards.

    Check the authenticity of your offer:

    • Check the email address: Our official emails end with @unimelb.edu.au. Beware of similar-looking addresses with slight variations.
    • Verify contact details: Ensure phone numbers and addresses in the letter match our official details.
    • Check for errors and typos: Fake letters often have grammar mistakes, typos, or inconsistencies. Be cautious if the letter is poorly written or uses unprofessional language.
    • Use the applicant portal: If you don’t have access to the portal yet, or can't see your outcome there, the offer may be fake.
    • When in doubt: If you have doubts about the legitimacy of an offer or scholarship letter, contact Stop 1 to confirm.


    Check graduate coursework eligibility: To check if you qualify for a graduate course, use the Graduate coursework grade conversion eligibility calculator. Note that meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance. Applicants are ranked based on academic achievements, and some courses have limited places.

    Check your scholarship offer: To check eligibility and to verify the legitimacy of your scholarship offer, visit the University’s scholarships website.

  • Assessment outsourcing, or contract cheating, happens when someone else does a student’s work. This includes writing essays or taking exams, usually for payment. In Australia, contract cheating services are illegal under anti-cheating laws.

    These services often reach students via social media and chat apps like WeChat and Telegram. They may also host events near or on campus. They may appear as tutoring services or support groups. They often target specific language or cultural groups and may use University branding to seem legitimate.

    Becoming involved in contract cheating is high risk and may lead to:

    • Failing your course or being suspended or expelled from the University
    • Losing your degree, professional accreditation or damaging your career
    • Being blackmailed for more payments in the future.

    If you’re struggling with your studies or need extra support, contact your subject coordinator or Academic Skills.

    If you are being blackmailed or threatened, you should seek support and report a scam.

  • Unauthorised education agents are targeting international students. They falsely claim that they can guarantee an offer from the University for a fee. The University has also received reports of unauthorised agents offering to ‘speed up’ the University’s application and offer process.

    Our authorised education agents can help you in several ways. They can help you choose the right course, submit your application, and accept your offer. They can also provide information about living in Australia and visa requirements.

    However, they can't guarantee University entry or speed up the process. If  someone asks you  to pay for a guaranteed or accelerated offer to the University,  they are trying to  scam you.

    If you use an education agent to assist with your application to the University, make sure they are authorised. Find an  authorised education agent.

    If you’re unsure about the validity of any University communications or documents,  contact Stop 1 to confirm.

  • Scammers are targeting Chinese international students. They often claim to be officials from the police, consulate, immigration or post office. They may make contact in-person, by phone, or online.

    Tactics scammers use: 

    • Set up fake offices and police stations
    • Use false identification and fake warrants
    • Accuse students of involvement in a crime or legal case in China
    • Threaten deportation or visa cancellation unless they are paid.


    Scammers often instruct victims to:

    • Provide bank details or personal information
    • Send money to bank accounts (usually overseas)
    • Buy new phones to talk to fake officials
    • Travel to other cities or countries
    • Collect documents or packages
    • Take photos or videos of themselves looking scared or hurt
    • Stage their own kidnappings
    • Send ransom messages to their families.


    Remember: Legitimate authorities will never ask you to do these things. If in doubt, contact the University, police or your embassy. In a life-threatening situation call 000 (Australia) or your local emergency services immediately.

  • A money mule is someone who receives stolen money in their bank account and then transfers it to another account. Criminals trick students into becoming mules with job ads that promise a quick way to make money. They often target and exploit international students.

    Money muling is a serious crime. If you believe you have fallen victim to money muling, you should report it to police as soon as possible.

    Tips for staying safe from money mule scams:

    • Don't engage with online posts that promise large sums of money
    • Don’t let others pressure you into acting impulsively
    • Don't accept message requests from strangers
    • If a friend sends a message, talk to them before you respond
    • Don't share banking or personal details with anyone you don't know or trust
    • If someone asks to use or ‘borrow’ your account, say “no”
    • If something doesn’t feel right, reject the offer.

    For more information about:

    • Job listings and careers: For University resources, visit Careers Online.

  • Rental scams often target students. Scammers may post ads for properties that are already rented or owned by others. Or they share fake photos and misleading details about available properties.

    Scammers often refuse requests to view the property and ask for upfront payment. They may also try to steal your personal and credit card information for identity theft or fraud.

    The Consumer Affairs Victoria website has a rental non-compliance register. Search for the rental provider to check if they’ve been flagged.

    Learn more about your accommodation options on the Student Accommodation website.

  • Some students arriving at Melbourne Airport get offers for transfers to their accommodation. Don’t accept a ride from a stranger, or anyone you haven’t arranged a shuttle or transfer with.

    Reputable companies can be booked in advance online. For transport options, visit the Melbourne Airport website.

    The University offers a free airport pick-up for new international students. This service is provided by Hughes – Australia’s Chauffeur Service. It takes you from Melbourne Airport to your accommodation. For details visit our Airport pickup service.

    If you have a disability or are travelling with infants and need help, contact us in advance at arrival-services@unimelb.edu.au.

  • University staff will never ask you to buy a gift card. If you get an email asking you to buy a gift card (such as an Apple iTunes gift card), forward it to spam-report@unimelb.edu.au.

  • Australia is moving towards enforcing a minimum age for social media use. Scammers could exploit these age-verification checks for identity theft or phishing.

    Tactics to watch out for:

    • Messages pretending to be from social media platforms, like Meta or TikTok
    • Fake websites or links asking you to upload a driver’s licence, passport or other ID to ‘keep your account’
    • Requests to install software or allow remote access to your device
    • Offers aimed at young people claiming to ‘bypass the age ban’ by sharing personal details
    • VPN apps or ‘workarounds’ that ask for payment or sensitive information
    • Asking parents or guardians to send identity documents to confirm a child's age, like a birth certificate or passport.


    Legitimate age verification

    Legitimate age-verification requests will show you the steps to follow. They will use official branding, provide secure URLs, and specify the required information. If you're sent to a trusted third-party age-assurance provider, they should explain the process involved.

    Important: Platforms cannot require government-issued ID or a Digital ID as the only way to verify your age. They can offer it as an option but must also provide a reasonable alternative. Legitimate age-verification requests should never ask for payment.

    Remember, the University of Melbourne will never request proof of age by text or email.

    Read about the announcements from the eSafety Commissioner on social media changes.

Protect yourself from scams

Remember, if something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. The University has some helpful tips to help you spot and avoid common scam tactics. We also share alerts about new and prevalent scams so you can stay informed.

  • If you receive information from the University, but you’re unsure if it is legitimate, contact Stop 1 to verify its authenticity. Do not respond to the message until it has been verified.

  • Never share your student ID or applicant ID online or with anyone. Only use secure University channels.

    The University won’t ask for fees, bank statements, personal details, or password updates through email links, text messages or social media. If someone requests this, it’s a scam.

    The University will never ask for details about your friends or family. Don't share names, addresses, phone numbers, or ID numbers (like passport or driver’s license numbers) with anyone claiming to represent the University.

  • Only use official online platforms for money matters – like paying tuition fees, exchanging currency, renting properties etc. Stick to banks, official websites, or trusted platforms. Never use a third party or a stranger to make payments.

    Make all  financial transactions to the University securely through legitimate University accounts. Learn more about paying your fees.

  • Scammers often target social media platforms and chat apps such as WeChat and WhatsApp. Stay alert when using social media and messaging strangers online.

  • Scammers often use phones to target people. Do not respond to suspicious phone calls, SMS messages or voicemails.

  • University resources


    External resources

    • Scamwatch share types of scams, warning signs and scammer tactics
    • Scam Safe Check is a handy tool from Service Victoria to help identify potential scams.

  • Remember to always communicate with the University through our secure channels.

    Stop 1

    Applicant portal

    Student portal

University support and recovery

The University has support services available that may be able to assist if a scam has affected you or your studies.

External scam reporting

You can report scams and suspicious activities to the police and other specialised agencies. You can make a report if you are a victim, or if you notice anything unusual.

Victoria Police have a dedicated page to help navigate reporting cybercrimes, scams, fraud and online abuse. From here you can navigate to various agencies including:

  • Scamwatch is a platform set up by the National Anti-Scam Centre to support awareness and reporting of scams.

    For more information, advice and to report scams, visit the Scamwatch website.

  • IDCARE can help with advice and support for scams that involve identity theft. This free Australian and New Zealand service can help you limit the damage and recover from the scam.

    A help form for online scams and other cybercrimes is available on the IDCARE website.

  • Sometimes scams can involve image-based abuse. Scammers may share or threaten to share intimate images or videos without consent, also called sexual extortion (sextortion).

    To help getting harmful content removed online, you can make a report to the eSafety Commissioner. They also offer advice and support for victims of online abuse and bullying. For more information, visit the eSafety website.

    If you are under 18, you can also report any image-based abuse and blackmail to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE).

  • You can make an online report about cybercrimes, scams, fraud or online abuse to ReportCyber.

    This is the Australian Government's cybercrime reporting tool. Reports are assessed and may be assigned to police and other law enforcement agencies for investigation.