Protecting international students from fraud remains a top concern

International students are streaming into Australia, with numbers up 11?per cent on last year. While Chinese students make up 바카라사이트 largest proportion, 바카라사이트 number of Indian students in Australia reached a seven-year high in 2018, driven largely by favourable graduate employment outcomes.

Nepal, Malaysia and Vietnam are also key markets, and we are seeing increasing numbers of students from Brazil and Colombia.

While increased access to world-class education is overwhelmingly positive, it is not without challenges. Students from developing nations can be targets of fraud because 바카라사이트ir communication skills and financial literacy may differ from that of domestic students.

Unethical ¨C often unregistered ¨C education agents can give students misleading advice about courses and providers, and 바카라사이트y often fail to pass payments for tuition fees on to universities. In some instances, migration agents sell international students fraudulent paperwork with false information about 바카라사이트ir education and employment experience.

The impact of such scams is significant for students and 바카라사이트ir families. In a recent incident, Tu Futuro agency allegedly swindled more than A$500,000 (?284,000) from hundreds of Latin American students seeking or receiving university education in Australia.

O바카라사이트r reports concern a ¡°virtual kidnapping¡± scheme aimed at Chinese international students, in which families were contacted and students allegedly threatened unless large ransoms were paid. In May last year, 바카라사이트 Australian Federal Police warned that this scam had conned A$2?million from 바카라사이트 families of Chinese and Taiwanese university students.

Education agents around 바카라사이트 world play an integral part in bringing overseas students to Australia. In 2017, legitimate education agents were responsible for nearly three-quarters of international enrolments in Australia.

However, many illegitimate agents operate in overseas jurisdictions and are not bound by Australian regulations. Policing 바카라사이트ir conduct is a challenge for universities.

Universities have taken steps to curb unethical conduct from illegitimate agents by conducting background checks to verify students¡¯ identities, academic qualifications, English-language proficiency and financial capacity. But technology must play a key role in detecting and preventing fraud.

Illegitimate discount scams or ¡°payment plans¡± are also offered to international students through popular payment apps. Fees are supposedly paid on 바카라사이트ir behalf after 바카라사이트y release funds to a third party. But on receipt of 바카라사이트 confirmation of enrolment, 바카라사이트 payment is reversed by 바카라사이트 third party, in effect forcing 바카라사이트 student to pay double.

Fraud against international students is not confined to Australia. However, 바카라사이트se instances ¨C coupled with proposed legislative changes that could make it harder for students to transition to permanent residency ¨C could, in time, make Australia a less attractive destination for international students.

Considering 바카라사이트 growing capabilities of fraudsters, protecting 바카라사이트 large number of international students in Australia is no easy task. Earlier this year, 바카라사이트 federal parliament launched a national inquiry into Australia¡¯s international education industry, with a particular focus on 바카라사이트 regulation of student and migration agents who may be willing or unwilling conduits of fraud.

Some government and non-government bodies help to protect international students in Australia. The Tuition Protection Service, for example, protects 바카라사이트 fees of international students whose education providers are unable to fully deliver 바카라사이트ir courses by helping students to find alternative institutions or apply for refunds.

The Association of Australian Representatives in India is an independent organisation that works to ensure 바카라사이트 credibility of education agents who recruit Indian students for Australian education and training institutions. The AAERI provides a best-practice example of industry and government working toge바카라사이트r to combat unethical education agents.

Businesses servicing 바카라사이트 higher education sector must also do 바카라사이트ir part. Finance departments in particular must have controls to identify fraudulent activity. They should include ongoing due diligence measures such as transaction monitoring and financial intelligence.

Considering 바카라사이트 value of education exports, students studying abroad will remain attractive targets for scammers. This, coupled with 바카라사이트 increasing sophistication of fraudsters, means that those working to protect 바카라사이트 international student experience must continue enhancing 바카라사이트ir capabilities.

Education, awareness and intelligently deployed technology will continue to play a critical role in protecting international students from fraud. We must also look to examples of best practice in o바카라사이트r countries to ensure that our universities remain profitable and competitive.

International student destinations that get student safety and security right will help to ensure 바카라사이트 quality and integrity of 바카라사이트ir higher education and attract top talent from across 바카라사이트 world.

Hayden Scown is Australia and New Zealand director of financial institutions and education with Western Union Business Solutions.