Staying Safe from Fraud
Scams and Phishing
Scams and phishing attempts are becoming more common across universities. These messages may appear to come from trusted organizations, university staff or government agencies. Their goal is to trick you into sharing personal information, sending money or clicking on malicious links.
Staying informed can help you recognize suspicious messages and protect your personal information.
Common Scams Targeting Students
Phishing Emails
Phishing emails are designed to look like legitimate messages from universities, banks or other organizations. They may ask you to click a link, log in to a website or provide personal details such as passwords or banking information.
Tuition Scams
Fraudsters may approach students with a discounted tuition offer in exchange for an upfront payment. They keep the money and then use stolen credit cards to pay the tuition. Never use “agents” or third parties to pay your fees, only follow the payment instructions in your official Offer Letter.
Fake Job Offers
Scammers sometimes send messages offering part-time or remote jobs with high pay and little work. These messages may ask you to provide banking information, purchase gift cards or pay fees before starting the job.
Government or Immigration Impersonation
Some scammers claim to represent government agencies. They may say there is a problem with your immigration status, taxes, or identification and demand payment to resolve the issue.
Housing Scams
Fake rental listings may appear online or in social media groups. Scammers often request a deposit before you have seen the property or signed a legitimate agreement. Learn more about housing scams on our housing page.
How to Recognize a Scam
Be cautious if you notice any of the following warning signs.
- Unexpected messages asking for personal or financial information
- Requests to send money using gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency
- Messages that create urgency or threaten negative consequences
- Emails from unfamiliar or suspicious addresses
- Links that lead to websites asking for your login credentials
- Offers that seem unusually generous or too good to be true
Legitimate organizations rarely ask for sensitive information through email or text messages.
Tips to Protect Yourself
You can reduce your risk by following a few simple precautions.
- Do not click links or download attachments from unknown senders
- Verify requests by contacting the organization through its official website
- Use your university email account for official communication
- Never share your passwords or verification codes with anyone
- Don’t share your student portal password with anyone
- Be cautious of requests to move conversations to personal email or messaging apps
Taking a moment to verify a message can prevent fraud or identity theft.
What To Do If You Receive a Suspicious Message
If you believe a message may be a scam, do not respond or provide any information.
You should:
- Avoid clicking links or opening attachments
- Delete the message after reporting it
- Contact the appropriate university office if the message claims to be from UCW
If you believe your personal or financial information has been shared with a scammer, contact your bank immediately and report the incident to the appropriate authorities.
Stay Informed
Scammers constantly change their tactics, so awareness is one of the best ways to stay safe. If you are unsure about a message or request, take time to verify it before taking action.
University Canada West encourages students to stay cautious and report suspicious activity so that the community can remain safe.
Additional fraud prevention resources
Report Cybercrime and Fraud | National Cybercrime and Fraud Reporting System
Fraud Prevention - Vancouver Police Department
