Student Scams Abroad: Rental, Job and Visa Fraud Guide

The three student scams that hit international students most after they land are fake rental listings, fake jobs, and calls from people pretending to be immigration officers. Official agencies in the USA, Canada, the UK and Australia all give the same core warning: real officials never phone you demanding money, real landlords let you see the place before you pay, and real employers never ask you to pay to get a job. If it happens, report it to the official fraud service in that country, which we list below.

Last checked: 20 October 2026.

New students are easy targets. You are new to the country, you need a room quickly, you want part-time work, and you are understandably nervous about your visa. Scammers use exactly that. This guide covers student scams in your destination country. For scams that start in Nepal, such as fake offer letters and “guaranteed visa” agents, see our consultancy red flag test.

Student scams and where to report them

If you are in immediate danger, call the emergency number first: 911 in the USA and Canada, 999 in the UK, 000 in Australia.

Rental scams: the most common first-week trap

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) describes how rental scams work: scammers copy real listings and “replace the agent’s contact information with their own”, advertise rent that is “a lot cheaper than most rents in the area”, claim to be out of the country so you cannot see the place, and push you to pay fast. The Victorian Government’s Study Melbourne site gives the same warning for Australia: “Rental scammers may ask you to pay a fee or deposit before inspecting a property.”

• Never pay before you or someone you trust has seen the room and confirmed the person showing it can rent it.
• Search the address with the owner’s name. The FTC says the same address listed under different names suggests a scam.
• Refuse untraceable payment. The FTC warns that wire transfers, gift cards and cryptocurrency are “like sending cash”.
• Do not send passport, visa or bank details to someone you have not met. The FTC notes landlords generally don’t need sensitive details before you agree to rent.
• Use university housing services or listings your international office recommends, especially before you arrive.

For US housing, our off-campus housing guide covers leases and deposits.

Job scams: when “work” costs you money

The FTC is blunt: “Honest employers, including the federal government, will never ask you to pay to get a job.” It also says no real employer will send you a cheque to deposit and then ask you to send part of it back, and “Reshipping goods is never a real job.” Australia’s Scamwatch warns about task-based job scams that arrive on WhatsApp, Telegram or Signal, where a “supervisor” pays a little first and then asks you to top up a crypto account. Its advice: “Never send your own money, you won’t get it back.”

For international students, a fake job carries a second risk: your visa. Work that breaks your hour limit, or that you did not have permission to do, can damage your status even if you were tricked. Before accepting any job, check the rules in our part-time work rules guide, and if you study in the US, our on-campus jobs guide.

• Do not pay recruitment, training or “registration” fees.
• Do not deposit a cheque or receive money for someone else. You may be used to move stolen money.
• Be suspicious of high pay for little work, hiring with no interview, and pressure to decide quickly.
• Never share your SSN, SIN, NI number or TFN until you have a real offer from a verified employer. See our tax ID numbers guide.

Visa and immigration impersonation calls

This scam is frightening because it uses your biggest fear. A caller, sometimes showing an official-looking number, says your visa has a problem, your documents are wrong, or you face arrest or deportation unless you pay now. They often tell you not to tell anyone.

• USA: the FTC says “ICE and USCIS never call out of the blue and demand money” and “never accept payments using gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers”. Caller ID can be faked; hang up and find the agency’s contact details yourself.
• UK: GOV.UK says you will never be asked to pay for a visa using cash or money transfer, and to report visa and immigration scams through Report Fraud.
• Australia: Study Melbourne says callers may pretend to be from a consulate or other authority, and reminds students: “Only the Department of Home Affairs can grant, refuse or cancel your student visa.”
• Canada: IRCC runs a fraud section covering online and telephone scams targeting applicants and newcomers, and how to report immigration fraud.

If you are unsure whether a message about your status is real, contact your university’s international student office. In the US, that is your Designated School Official (DSO).

How to report student scams, country by country

• USA: report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. For rental scams the FTC also suggests your local police, the website where the ad appeared, and your state attorney general.
• Canada: the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre says to contact local police first if you are a victim, then report online at reportcyberandfraud.canada.ca or call 1-888-495-8501 (Monday to Friday, 10 am to 4:45 pm Eastern). You can report even if you did not lose money.
• UK: report to Report Fraud online or on 0300 123 2040 if you live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. In Scotland, report to Police Scotland on 101.
• Australia: report to Scamwatch. If money or information was stolen online, report to police through ReportCyber at cyber.gov.au. Contact your bank immediately and ask it to stop transactions; Scamwatch can refer you to IDCARE for identity support.

If the scam involves someone in Nepal

Some scams cross borders: a fake “agent” in Kathmandu promising a room or job abroad, or a caller who targets your parents at home claiming you are in trouble. Nepal Police’s Cyber Bureau accepts reports online through its “report cyber crime” page. Its official site lists the toll-free number 16600141516, police control 100, email cyberbureau@nepalpolice.gov.np, and its office at Nepal Police Headquarters, Bhotahiti, Kathmandu.

Agree a simple rule with your family before you leave: if anyone calls saying you are in trouble and money is needed urgently, they call you directly on your known number first. No payment until they have spoken to you.

What to do if you have already paid

1. Stop all contact and do not send more money, even if they promise a refund.
2. Call your bank or card provider right away and ask them to stop or reverse the payment.
3. Save everything: screenshots, messages, receipts, phone numbers, account details.
4. Report to the official service for your country (list above) and to your local police if you lost money.
5. Tell your university’s international office. They have seen these scams before and can help with housing or status questions.
6. Change passwords if you shared any login details.

Common mistakes

• Paying a room deposit from Nepal to a stranger on Facebook or WhatsApp.
• Trusting caller ID that shows a government or embassy number.
• Paying “fees” with gift cards, crypto or money transfer.
• Feeling too ashamed to report. Reporting helps police and protects the next student.
• Keeping a scam secret from your family, which makes them easier to target.

What to do next

Save the reporting links for your destination in your phone today. Before you fly, run your agent through our consultancy red flag test, and for US students, read our list of mistakes international students make in the USA.

Frequently asked questions

Does USCIS or ICE call students asking for money?
No. The FTC says ICE and USCIS never call out of the blue and demand money, and never accept gift cards, cryptocurrency or wire transfers. Hang up and contact the agency using details from its official website.

How do I know if a rental listing is a scam?
Warning signs include rent far below the area, an owner who is “abroad” and cannot show you the property, pressure to decide fast, and requests for payment by wire transfer, gift card or crypto before you have seen the place.

Where do I report a scam as an international student in Canada?
Contact local police if you lost money, then report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online at reportcyberandfraud.canada.ca or on 1-888-495-8501.

Is Action Fraud still the place to report scams in the UK?
GOV.UK now directs people to Report Fraud for visa and immigration scams. Report Fraud covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland (0300 123 2040); people in Scotland report to Police Scotland on 101.

Can a fake job affect my student visa?
It can. Working more hours than your visa allows, or doing work you are not permitted to do, is a status problem even if you were misled. Check your work conditions before you accept any job.

Related guides

• Return to Nepal After Study Abroad: Equivalence and Licences
• GRE or GMAT Requirement for US Master's: Fees, Test-Optional
• US University Selection: How Nepali Students Shortlist Schools
• SOP Writing Guide for Nepali Students: Format, Tips, AI Rules
• How to Explain a Study Gap for a Student Visa (Nepal Guide)

Sources

• FTC: Scammers impersonate US immigration officers
• FTC: Rental listing scams
• FTC: Job scams
• Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: Report fraud
• IRCC: Protect yourself from immigration fraud
• GOV.UK: Report visa and immigration scams
• Report Fraud (police reporting service)
• Scamwatch: Report a scam
• Scamwatch: Jobs and employment scams
• Study Melbourne (Victorian Government): Avoiding scams
• Nepal Police Cyber Bureau

Last checked 20 October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. If you are a victim of crime, contact the police.