The most important warning for prospective students is to be aware of bogus institutions.
The festive season is a time for celebration, but for current students and matrics preparing to start their studies next year, it’s also a time to prepare for the year ahead.
This includes registering with a higher education institution or college, securing accommodation and transport, sourcing textbooks, purchasing educational tech such as laptops, and more.
The student journey has, however, become a lucrative new source of potential victims for scammers, and young people have been warned to be especially alert to potential bad actors these next few months.
“Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, exploiting the trust and urgency often associated with online transactions and the need to secure study placement, accommodation, and so forth.
Students are particularly vulnerable as they may be unfamiliar with common scams or eager to secure deals quickly, amid tough competition for limited space and resources,” said Adrian Garden, acting dean of Academics at The Independent Institute of Education’s Rosebank College.
He said the most important warning for prospective students is to be aware of bogus institutions.
Garden said it was important to ensure that students check the institution they signed up with is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training’s (DHET) private higher education provider register on their website, as well as with the Council on Higher Education (CHE).
Any credible campus must be able to show a certificate to that effect, which details the campus, provider and qualifications, Garden said.
All qualifications must be registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and students should ask for the SAQA NQF identity numbers.
Scammers targeting students also focus on all areas of the value chain, such as offering rooms or other accommodation, transport services, second-hand textbook sales and more.
Garden said prospective students should watch out for listings with unusually low prices or buyers willing to pay more than the asking price.
Students should always trust their gut feelings about an online transaction.
“Scammers often accept the price immediately or offer extra for shipping or courier fees. Sellers may also present fake shipping confirmations, while buyers may provide fake payment notifications, such as SMS alerts.
“Scammers may also often use couriers not linked to reputable companies, claiming they can’t deliver or pay until additional money is sent. If there are any sudden changes to agreed terms, such as payment methods or delivery details, be aware that you may be on the receiving end of a common scam tactic.”
Garden said students are especially vulnerable to scammers due to the urgency and limited time before the new academic year kicks off. They should, however, always err on the side of caution.
“Always do thorough research into the legitimacy of listings. Search the seller’s name, contact details, and product photos online to check for scams.
“Also, verify the product or service, and demand secure payment options on above-board platforms.”
If a handover needs to happen, choose meeting points in safe public areas, he said.
“Don’t let buyers rush or manipulate you into completing a deal ... If something doesn’t feel right, stop the interaction and block the person.”
Cape Times
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