Scams and fraud

In the current competitive rental market, scammers target vulnerable people in our community, particularly international students. Be cautious of properties with significantly lower prices than other comparable rental properties in the area or landlords who pressure you to sign a lease quickly.

Scammers will advertise cheap accommodation in a desirable location and victims are often pressured into paying a deposit or rent in advance without viewing the accommodation. The advertised accommodation may be different from what was advertised or may not even exist.

How to protect yourself

• Inspect the property in person before paying a deposit (be wary if there are excuses about why you can’t view the property in person)
• Never pay a ‘viewing fee’
• Have a written and signed contract before making any payments
• Get a receipt for any payments made and avoid paying for a rental property by transfer or cash as these payment methods are difficult to trace and could be lost to scammers.
• Avoid paying rental bonds to individuals online. Instead, rental bonds should always be paid through a trusted third party such as NSW Fair Trading Rental Bonds Online, who will lodge and refund bond money securely

If you’re looking for accommodation, make sure you check the accommodation page of the student website for both on and off campus options and advice.

Scammers might tell you that you have committed a crime or have reports against you and you are in trouble – often with government departments such as the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) or Department of Home Affair (DoHA). They then would demand you to take action immediately to avoid arrest, fine, deportation or cancellation of visa.

Scammers might invent a seemly legitimate way to make you believe that you are entitled to a lump sum of money, for example a cashback, Covid-19 support, disaster support, etc.

Scammers might offer you a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity to make money quick and easy with little to zero risk.

Scammers might impersonate genuine charities and ask for money donations.

You might receive a text message, phone call or email stating that you owe money to an organization (often a big company or a government department); or you are advised that you have a parcel/mail to collect. You would be asked to click on a link to organise payment of the outstanding bill, or pickup/delivery of the parcel.

Scammers are also known to have offered international students a ‘different way’ to pay for tuition fee with a discount. Macquarie University does not offer discounts on tuition fee. Information about secure ways to pay your tuition fee can be found on our How to pay website.

In recent years, NSW Police issued a warning to Chinese students following a rise in ‘virtual kidnappings’. The NSW Police force, together with Chinese authorities and universities, warned members of the community about an elaborate phone scam targeting Chinese students, known globally as a ‘virtual kidnapping’.

For more information, please read the NSW Police Force press release:

• Traditional Chinese language
• English language

These extortions are scams, the people involved are not members of the Chinese government and you MUST ignore unexpected contact from people purporting to be from the Chinese Police or any arm of the Chinese government.

Students continue to fall victim to these types of scams and even go as far as travelling overseas to complying with the  directions of the scammers. In doing so you may be placing yourself in physical danger by following the directions - if you ignore the scammers totally there is no danger.

You should report this to the NSW Police Force if you receive any contact from people claiming to be working with or for the Chinese Police.

Some students are being coerced into believing they must work for the Chinese Police. They are participating in a form of online swearing in or induction into what they believe is the Chinese Police Force. They are then given directions or missions that they must complete. This may involve assaulting potential targets, delivering documents, assisting in holding a person captive or booking hotel rooms on behalf of another person.

Again, this is a scam. Students should be mindful that assaulting other people, even if they are doing so under the erroneous belief they have the authority to do so of the Chinese Police, is itself a crime under NSW law. The same can be said for holding another person captive under the false belief they are acting on behalf of the Chinese Police or any arm of the Chinese government.

How to protect yourself:

• Ignore the scammers – simply hang up on them.
• Report that you have been contacted to the NSW Police Force, the University where you attend, your friends and family, the Chinese Consulate on 0481262258.
• Do not become isolated. Tell people what has happened.
• Do not travel interstate or overseas when directed to do so by these scammers.
• Do not comply with any instructions you are given by these people.

Don't be fooled by anyone who offers a discounted fee – this is a scam that the University has seen repeatedly. Tuition fees are set by the University and discounts are not offered under ANY circumstances.

Other types of scams include selling items at discounted rates, such as airline tickets or discounted exchange rates.

How to protect yourself:

• Be responsible for paying your own tuition fees directly to the University.
• Know the approved methods of payment.
• Never trust anyone who is claiming that they can offer you discounted fees, including a “friend” or “friend of a friend” or anyone acting as an “agency”.
• Protect your privacy – Don’t give your personal information to another person, including your eStudent password.