Study abroad scams in Nepal: how to spot fake offers and visas

The most common study abroad scams targeting Nepali students are fake offer letters (and fake CAS, CoE or I-20 documents), fake “visa approved” messages, “job plus study” packages that promise work or PR, and phone calls from people pretending to be immigration officers who demand money. The fix is the same every time: no one can guarantee a visa, governments never take visa fees through personal accounts, gift cards or cash transfers, and every document can be checked against an official source before you pay a single rupee.

Last checked: 20 October 2026. Contact details and portals change; confirm on the official pages listed under Sources.

Study abroad scams in Nepal: key facts

Scam 1: Fake offer letters, CAS, CoE and I-20s

A fake admission document is the most expensive scam because families often pay tuition deposits against it. The letter can look perfect: logo, signature, reference number. What matters is whether the institution itself issued it.

Canada now checks this directly. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) verifies letters of acceptance with the school. In its April 2026 briefing to Parliament, IRCC said it verified over 368,000 letters of acceptance in 2025 and about 4,900 were flagged as “no-match”. IRCC also notes that a no-match is not automatically fraud; many were applicant or school errors. But if your letter is fake, the system will catch it, and IRCC says a person found to have used misrepresentation faces removal and/or a five-year ban.

How to check each type of document yourself:

• Canada letter of acceptance: email the university’s international admissions office from the address on its official website (not the one on the letter) and ask them to confirm your student ID and program. See our Canada study permit guide.
• UK CAS: a CAS comes from a licensed sponsor. Check the university is on the Home Office register first, as explained in our sponsor licence check guide, then confirm the CAS number with the university directly.
• Australia CoE: the CoE is issued by your provider. Contact the provider’s admissions team through its official site. Our CoE explainer shows what a real one contains.
• US I-20: confirm the school is SEVP-certified using the Study in the States school search run by the US Department of Homeland Security, then confirm your I-20 with the school’s designated school official. See our I-20 guide.

Pay tuition deposits only to the university’s own bank account, as listed on its official website or student portal. Never pay a deposit into an agent’s or individual’s personal account.

Scam 2: Fake visa approvals and “inside contacts”

Some scammers say they “know someone at the embassy” or send a screenshot saying your visa is approved, then ask for a final payment. Governments are clear on this. IRCC says only immigration officers in Canada and at Canadian embassies, high commissions and consulates can decide to issue a visa, and that processing fees are the same everywhere in the world. Government fees go to the “Receiver General for Canada” unless an official visa office page says otherwise.

The Australian Government’s visa scam fact sheet says anyone who guarantees a visa or permanent residency is running a scam. It also tells applicants to ask to see their application in ImmiAccount, and to be wary if an agent refuses. Once you hold an Australian visa, you can check its real details yourself on Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO).

Simple rule: your visa decision comes from the government’s own system (your IRCC account, UKVI account, ImmiAccount or the US embassy’s process), not from a WhatsApp message.

Scam 3: “Job + study” and “guaranteed PR” packages

These packages bundle admission with a promised job, a high salary or a pathway to permanent residence, usually for a large upfront fee. IRCC warns people to be careful if the salary for a job “seems too high” and to be wary of anyone offering “special deals” to people who want to immigrate. The Australian fact sheet warns about anyone who guarantees a job after arrival.

Student visas come with work limits and real study requirements. Nobody can sell you a guaranteed outcome. Before you trust any work promise, read our part-time work rules for international students.

Scam 4: Calls from fake “immigration officers”

This one targets students who are already abroad. A caller says there is a problem with your visa or a parcel in your name, that you will be deported or arrested, and that you must pay now. Callers often know your name, school and visa type, which makes it feel real.

• USA: the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says ICE and USCIS “never call out of the blue and demand money” and never accept gift cards, cryptocurrency or wire transfers. It also warns that caller ID can be faked.
• Canada: IRCC staff will never threaten to have you removed from Canada if you do not send money, never contact you through social media, and never use free email services such as Gmail or Yahoo.
• Australia: the Victorian Government’s Study Melbourne service warns about callers posing as consulate staff and fake police in “parcel” scams. Only Home Affairs can grant, refuse or cancel your visa. It also warns that course fees are set by your provider and are not negotiable, so “discount” offers are a scam.
• UK: GOV.UK says you will never be asked to pay for a visa using cash or a money transfer.

If you get a call like this: hang up, do not call back the number they give you, and contact the agency yourself using the number on its official website. Tell your university’s international student office; they deal with this often.

Red flags checklist

• A guarantee of a visa, a job, a scholarship or PR.
• Payment requested into a personal account, by cash transfer, gift card or crypto.
• Contact through WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger or other social media claiming to be a government office.
• Pressure to pay today, or to keep things secret from your family.
• Fees higher than the official government fee, or “special processing” charges.
• An agent who will not show you your own application account or tells you to lie on a form.
• An agent asking to keep your passport.

Take our free consultancy red flag test to score the agent you are dealing with.

How to report a study abroad scam in Nepal

If the scam happened online, over the phone or on social media, report it to the Nepal Police Cyber Bureau. According to its official website, you can:

• File online through the “Report cyber crime” page on cyberbureau.nepalpolice.gov.np.
• Email cyberbureau@nepalpolice.gov.np.
• Call the Cyber Bureau office on 01-5319044 or 9851286770.
• Visit in person at Nepal Police Headquarters, Cyber Bureau, Bhotahiti, Kathmandu.
• Call 100 for police in an emergency.

If a registered education consultancy was involved, also check its registration status and keep a record of every payment. Our guide on how to check if an education consultancy is registered in Nepal explains where to look. Keep receipts, bank slips, screenshots of chats and the sender’s phone numbers and email addresses. These are what police need.

How to report a scam abroad

• Canada: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, toll-free 1-888-495-8501. IRCC says that outside Canada you should report to your local police.
• UK: Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040 (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). In Scotland, report through 101. GOV.UK asks you to include the suspicious email, the sender’s address and what details you shared.
• Australia: report to Scamwatch, use ReportCyber for internet scams, and call your bank immediately to stop transactions. IDCARE offers free identity support.
• USA: report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Visa fraud can be reported to the State Department through travel.state.gov/reportvisafraud.

Common mistakes Nepali families make

• Trusting a document because it “looks official”. Always confirm with the institution through contact details you found yourself.
• Paying a big amount in cash with no receipt.
• Believing a relative’s friend “has a contact” at an embassy.
• Staying silent out of embarrassment. Reporting quickly gives banks and police the best chance to act, and it warns others.
• Sending a second payment to “release” the first. Scammers often come back for more.

What to do now

1. Write down every payment you have made, to whom, and how.
2. Verify your admission document directly with the university.
3. Check government fees on the official visa website before paying anyone.
4. If something feels wrong, stop paying and report it to the Cyber Bureau in Nepal or the relevant agency abroad.
5. Plan your real costs with our student visa money calculator so inflated “fees” stand out.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my offer letter is fake?
Email the university’s admissions office using the address on its official website and ask them to confirm your name, student ID and program. For the US, also check the school is SEVP-certified on Study in the States. For the UK, check the sponsor register.

Can an agent guarantee my student visa?
No. IRCC says no one can guarantee you a visa to Canada, and the Australian Government says anyone who guarantees a visa or PR is running a scam. Only the immigration authority decides.

Does immigration call students and ask for money?
No. The FTC says ICE and USCIS never call out of the blue demanding money, and IRCC says its staff never threaten removal unless you pay. Hang up and contact the agency through its official website.

Where do I report a visa scam in Nepal?
Report online, phone or social media fraud to the Nepal Police Cyber Bureau through its online report form, by email at cyberbureau@nepalpolice.gov.np, or in person at Bhotahiti, Kathmandu.

What happens if I use a fake document without knowing?
The application can still be refused for misrepresentation. In Canada, IRCC says misrepresentation can lead to removal and/or a five-year ban, so always verify documents before you submit them.

Your next step

Take the consultancy red flag test · Check if a consultancy is registered · Build your free study abroad plan

Sources

• Fraud prevention tip sheet – IRCC
• Fraud and compliance in the International Student Program (CIMM, April 2026) – IRCC
• Report visa and immigration scams – GOV.UK
• Report Fraud – UK police
• Stay visa scam safe fact sheet – Australian Government
• Common scams for international students – Study Melbourne, Victorian Government
• Check visa conditions online (VEVO) – Department of Home Affairs
• Scammers impersonate US immigration officers – FTC
• Reporting U.S. passport or visa fraud – U.S. Department of State
• SEVP-certified school search – Study in the States (DHS)
• Cyber Bureau – Nepal Police

Last checked 20 October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. If you have lost money, contact the police and your bank immediately.