Flinders University is aware of a recent scam offering international students discounted tuition fees.

This is a timely reminder to familiarise yourself with scam warning signs and how to protect yourself from scams. If it seems too good to be true it probably is. Read on for more information.

How the latest scam works
Students are asked to provide the discounted amount of money, along with their student logon and password details, to the scammer. Payments are then made to the University using stolen credit cards which are then disputed by the card holders. These payments are then reversed, leaving the student with the outstanding original tuition fee and without the money they had paid to the scammer. This situation may also impact the student’s enrolment status if the account is outstanding.

How scammers may try and target you

Scams of this nature may be advertised on social media, may be shared with you through a friend or acquaintance, or may be advertised to family in your home country. If you receive an offer for a discount on your tuition fees, it is likely to be a scam.

Warning signs it is likely a scam

• People or organisations offering discounts for your tuition fees.
• People or organisations may provide you with a small discount for other bills (i.e. phone or utility bill) to gain your trust.
• Minimal details are available about the organisation or person involved in the discount.
• No terms or conditions for the payment of your tuition are provided.
• Inflexible payment options are offered (i.e. immediate payments, payments in full or only by electronic funds transfer).
• You are told not to tell your family or the University.

How to protect yourself from scams

• Flinders does not ask you for your bank account information. Do not provide your bank account information to people you don’t know.
• Flinders University does not offer discounts on tuition fees.
• Make tuition payments from your account directly to Flinders University through your Okta dashboard – this is the safest payment method.
• Keep your Okta login details private – do not provide your login details to other people.
• Visit the Scam Watch website to read about common types of scams.

What to do if you think you have targeted by a scam

If you think you may have been caught in a tuition fee scam, please immediately change your login password and advise the University (call 08 8201 5511 or email studentfinance@flinders.edu.au) so they can check your student finance account.