What are the warning signs of a education fee scam?

Watch for: Discount on tuition via a third party; Payment to a wallet or personal bank account; Pressure to act before census date.

How can I tell if this is a scam?

Stop and verify independently. Contact the organisation using details you look up yourself, never the ones in the message, and don't act on urgency. You can also paste the message into the ScamShield AI scam checker for a risk assessment — it gives guidance, not a guarantee.

What should I do if I clicked the link or replied?

Stop all contact, change the password on any account you logged into and turn on two-factor authentication, and watch your accounts for changes you didn't make. Always pay tuition via the official university portal. Confirm fees with your institution's student services. Report the agent to your university and Scamwatch.

What should I do if I already sent money?

Contact your bank immediately and ask about stopping or recalling the payment, keep all evidence, then report the scam. Be wary of anyone who later offers to recover your money for a fee.

Where should Australians report this scam?

Report scams to Scamwatch (National Anti-Scam Centre), report cybercrime to ReportCyber, forward scam texts to 7726, and contact IDCARE if identity details were exposed. Contact your bank first if money is involved.

All scams

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Education fee scam

Fake 'agents' offering tuition discounts via wallet transfer.

StudentMigrant

How it works

An agent offers a 20% discount on your university fees if you pay them in crypto or to a personal account. The university never receives the money.

Common scenarios to watch for

This scam shows up in several different shapes. Recognise the pattern, not just one message.

Reporting locationHotlines on the printed checklist will match this location.

'Partner' tuition discount

An agent in a student group offers a 15–25% tuition discount if you pay via their 'partner wallet'. The university never receives the money and you risk visa cancellation.

"Save 22% on Semester 1 fees — pay our partner via USDT, we settle with your uni directly."

Red flags to spot

Is a third party offering a discount on your university fees?
Are you being asked to pay through a 'partner wallet' or crypto?
Can you confirm this arrangement directly with your university?
Is the discount large enough to seem suspicious (15%+)?

Fake scholarship 'processing fee'

You're 'awarded' a scholarship you never applied for. To release it, you must pay a small admin fee. The scholarship doesn't exist.

"Congratulations! You've been selected for the Australia-Asia Excellence Award. Pay $250 processing fee to claim $8,000."

Red flags to spot

Did you apply for this scholarship, or did it arrive out of the blue?
Are you being asked to pay a fee to receive the scholarship?
Can you verify the scholarship on the provider's official website?
Is the email domain or sender address suspicious or generic?

Refund-of-overpayment scam

An email claims the uni overcharged you and asks you to 'confirm' your bank login or share an SMS code to receive the refund.

"Student Finance: refund of $1,420 ready. Verify your bank via the secure portal: uni-refunds-au.com"

Red flags to spot

Are you being asked to log in to your bank through a link in an email?
Does the URL not match your university's official domain?
Are you being asked for SMS codes or banking passwords?
Can you verify any overpayment directly through your student portal?

Red flags

🚩Discount on tuition via a third party
🚩Payment to a wallet or personal bank account
🚩Pressure to act before census date

What to do

1Always pay tuition via the official university portal.
2Confirm fees with your institution's student services.
3Report the agent to your university and Scamwatch.

Who's targeted

International students paying high tuition in foreign currencies.
Families paying on behalf of a student from overseas.

Why it works

Genuine discounts on FX and remittance create a believable cover story.
Census-date pressure forces fast decisions.

Common variations

Different shapes of the same scam — recognise the pattern.

1WeChat 'agent' offering 15–25% off via USDT.
2Fake 'university partner wallet' on a slick website.
3Compromised agent email with new payment instructions.

If you've already been scammed

1Contact your university immediately — they may have hardship options.
2Report to your bank, the AFP-led JPC3 and Scamwatch.
3Warn classmates — these scams spread inside student WeChat groups.

Frequently asked

Can a third party legitimately pay my fees?▾

Only via the university's official payment portal listed on its .edu.au site.

Are FX brokers safe?▾

Use ones registered with AUSTRAC and licensed by ASIC — and pay the uni directly, not the broker's wallet.

What if I miss census date?▾

Email your university urgently — many will extend if you can show evidence of scam.

Questions people ask about this scam

How does the education fee scam work?: An agent offers a 20% discount on your university fees if you pay them in crypto or to a personal account. The university never receives the money.
What are the warning signs of a education fee scam?: Watch for: Discount on tuition via a third party; Payment to a wallet or personal bank account; Pressure to act before census date.
How can I tell if this is a scam?: Stop and verify independently. Contact the organisation using details you look up yourself, never the ones in the message, and don't act on urgency. You can also paste the message into the ScamShield AI scam checker for a risk assessment — it gives guidance, not a guarantee.
What should I do if I clicked the link or replied?: Stop all contact, change the password on any account you logged into and turn on two-factor authentication, and watch your accounts for changes you didn't make. Always pay tuition via the official university portal. Confirm fees with your institution's student services. Report the agent to your university and Scamwatch.
What should I do if I already sent money?: Contact your bank immediately and ask about stopping or recalling the payment, keep all evidence, then report the scam. Be wary of anyone who later offers to recover your money for a fee.
Where should Australians report this scam?: Report scams to Scamwatch (National Anti-Scam Centre), report cybercrime to ReportCyber, forward scam texts to 7726, and contact IDCARE if identity details were exposed. Contact your bank first if money is involved.

General scam awareness information. ScamShield AI cannot guarantee that every scam will be detected or that a message is legitimate.

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