Safety & Scam Prevention
Protect yourself from common scams targeting Indian students abroad
Important Safety Rule
Never send money to anyone you haven't met in person. No legitimate landlord, employer, or government agency will ask you to pay via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers. When in doubt, ask the NRIStudents community.
Housing & Rental Scams
High Risk
Common Examples
- × Landlord asks for deposit or first month's rent before you've seen the place
- × Listing photos look too perfect or are stolen from real estate websites
- × Landlord is 'out of the country' and can't do an in-person viewing
- × Asking you to wire money via Western Union or cryptocurrency
- × Fake lease agreements with no real address verification
- × Subletting a place the person doesn't actually own
How to Protect Yourself
- NEVER pay money without viewing the place in person (or via live video call)
- Verify landlord identity — ask for ID, check property ownership records
- Use NRIStudents Housing Board where listings are community-verified
- Search the address on Google Maps to confirm it exists
- Read reviews from other students on the NRIStudents platform
- If the price is too good to be true — it's probably a scam
Job & Employment Scams
High Risk
Common Examples
- × 'Pay $200 for training' before starting a job — legitimate employers never charge
- × Vague job descriptions with very high pay for 'easy work from home'
- × Check fraud: They send you a check, ask you to deposit it, then send part back
- × Fake job offers requiring your SIN/SSN before any interview
- × Multi-level marketing (MLM) disguised as sales jobs
- × 'Guaranteed job' agencies that charge upfront fees
How to Protect Yourself
- Never pay money to get a job — legitimate employers pay YOU
- Research the company online before applying
- Don't share your SIN/SSN until you have a signed offer letter
- Be wary of jobs that seem too good to be true
- Check job listings on verified platforms like NRIStudents Jobs Board
- Report suspicious job listings to the platform and local authorities
Phone & Online Scams
High Risk
Common Examples
- × Calls claiming to be CRA/IRS/HMRC threatening arrest for unpaid taxes
- × Fake 'Indian Embassy' or 'Police' calls demanding immediate payment
- × SIM swap scams where someone takes over your phone number
- × Phishing emails that look like they're from your university
- × Fake scholarship or grant emails asking for bank details
- × 'You've won a prize' messages requiring a 'processing fee'
How to Protect Yourself
- Government agencies NEVER call threatening arrest or demanding payment by phone
- Never share OTPs, passwords, or banking details over the phone
- Verify caller identity — hang up and call the official number yourself
- Don't click links in suspicious emails — go directly to the official website
- Enable 2-factor authentication on all important accounts
- Report scam calls to your phone provider and local police
Immigration & Visa Scams
Critical Risk
Common Examples
- × Unlicensed consultants guaranteeing PR approval
- × 'Fast-track visa' services charging exorbitant fees
- × Fake law firms claiming to expedite immigration processes
- × Diploma mills offering degrees that aren't recognized
- × Fake PGWP/OPT processing services
- × Consultants asking for cash payments with no receipts
How to Protect Yourself
- 🇨🇦 Canada: Verify that an immigration consultant is authorized by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) before paying or sharing documents — Search the CICC Public Register
- 🇬🇧 UK: Only use advisers registered with the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA, formerly OISC) — verify on the official adviser register — Search the IAA register
- 🇦🇺 Australia: Only use OMARA-registered migration agents (MARN) — verify on the official register — Search the OMARA register
- 🇺🇸 USA: Only use attorneys licensed by the State Bar
- Check consultant reviews on NRIStudents Services Directory
- Never pay in cash — always get proper receipts and contracts
Financial & Marketplace Scams
Medium Risk
Common Examples
- × Buyer overpays with a check, asks you to refund the 'extra' amount
- × Fake currency exchange services with hidden fees
- × Ponzi schemes targeting students promising high returns
- × Fake online stores selling discounted electronics
- × Someone asking to use your bank account for 'temporary' transfers (money laundering)
How to Protect Yourself
- Only accept cash or verified digital payments (e-Transfer, PayPal) for marketplace sales
- Meet in public places for in-person exchanges
- Never let anyone use your bank account for transfers — this is money laundering
- Use NRIStudents Marketplace for community-verified transactions
- If an investment sounds too good to be true, it is
📞 Emergency Contacts by Country
🇨🇦 Canada
Emergency: 911
Police: Non-emergency varies by city
Report fraud: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: 1-888-495-8501
🇺🇸 USA
Emergency: 911
Police: Non-emergency varies by city
Report fraud: FTC: reportfraud.ftc.gov
🇬🇧 UK
Emergency: 999
Police: Non-emergency: 101
Report fraud: Action Fraud: 0300 123 2040
🇦🇺 Australia
Emergency: 000
Police: Non-emergency: 131 444
Report fraud: Scamwatch: scamwatch.gov.au
🇩🇪 Germany
Emergency: 112
Police: Non-emergency: 110
Report fraud: BSI: bsi.bund.de
🇮🇪 Ireland
Emergency: 999 / 112
Police: Garda: garda.ie
Report fraud: FraudSMART: fraudsmart.ie