Salman Qureshi enrolled in the MSc Engineering Project Management programme at the University of Manchester in July 2023. Though the finances and scholarship were arranged by the university, he encountered a nightmarish ordeal when it came to booking his flight.

Qureshi, hesitant to book online, asked his brother-in-law to make the reservation. However, the joyous anticipation of his departure turned into a nightmare when, at the airport, he discovered that his ticket was not confirmed, and a transit visa through France was required.

Panic set in as he frantically sought a solution. “The security was not allowing me to go out and discuss with my family. Then a relative arranged a mobile number at the supposed visa office in India. I doubted at first but didn’t want to let go of the chance to travel,” he told Moneycontrol.

The person on the other side of the phone promised to arrange a visa within 10 minutes with a one-time fee of Rs 25,000. The process began by downloading the AnyDesk app on Qureshi’s phone before asking for bank details.

While talking to the “visa person”, the money started to get debited in three simultaneous transactions. Before Qureshi got alarmed and disconnected the AnyDesk app and call, he had already lost Rs 90,000.

Dejected, Qureshi decided to cancel his travel plans, reporting the incident to the police.

Though Qureshi successfully embarked on his trip to the UK later, it serves as a cautionary tale of the perils that unsuspecting students may face in the pursuit of higher education abroad.

With the UK government’s recent decision to tighten immigration rules, cases of students falling to unique scams are on the surge, say overseas education consultants.

NatWest’s 2023 Student Living Index revealed a third of the students in UK universities have been targeted by criminals in 2022. The top location for student scams was Bournemouth, with 44 percent of the students becoming a target. Edinburgh and Oxford were next in the rankings, with 41 percent of students falling victims. The report doesn’t have country-wise figures.

Living under fear amidst sweeping changes, students receive calls from scammers citing policy changes, which were never notified by the government.

Experts commonly report instances where students are contacted by individuals posing as immigration officers. These impostors typically claim that there are discrepancies in the students’ immigration history or missing documents, asserting that failure to address these issues will result in penalties or even apprehension.

Under panic, students offer to pay the ‘penalty’, which can range from 600 to 1,000 euros.

The genuineness of the call is ensured through phone numbers which are spoofed to look official and a replica of government embassies.

The scams even reached the domain of identity cards, with some students falling victim to counterfeit identification schemes, pitched as limited cards for overseas students launched by universities to offer students some relief in the changing immigration policies.

Priya Deshpande (name changed on request), an English Literature student at the University of York, shared her ordeal of obtaining a fake ID card that promised unrestricted access to student discounts.

“I thought I was being clever, saving money on transportation and cultural events with the ID,” Priya admitted. “But when I tried to use it, I was caught and faced legal consequences,” she said.

How to stay clear

The journey for Indian students in the UK is not only about academic excellence but also about resilience and vigilance in the face of scams. The lessons to be learned are clear: education isn’t just about textbooks and lectures, it is also about navigating the real-world challenges that lay in wait for those seeking knowledge far from home.

According to Kunal Mehra, Country Head of overseas education consultant Crimson Education, scammers seek to target individuals who have recently arrived at their international education destination because these students are more likely to be not aware of all the important information concerning housing, the Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), employment and internship rules, and banking guidelines.

Be it during the process of applying or studying, one should seek to be fully aware of the requirements, rules, and deadlines concerning admissions and visas,” he suggested.

Mehra also recommends that students should reach out to the international students’ department of the university they intend to study at before taking any steps based on information from a questionable source.

Scammers often use urgency and pressure to manipulate individuals. Students need to take their time researching and making decisions. Legitimate processes typically do not require rushed actions.

Besides, there are pre-departure briefings to help students prepare for their journey. These briefings are typically organised by the international offices or student services departments of universities.

While specific details may vary from one university to another, some common topics covered in pre-departure briefings include visa and immigration procedures, financial planning, and travel information, among others.