$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
fake study abroad program scam
Fraudulent companies advertise study abroad programs that collect thousands in fees for housing, tuition, and visa assistance but provide no actual program or support upon arrival.
“student scam”
↑ 271%Key indicators
Usually targetsCollege students
Often hitsTech workers and developers
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$960
median reported loss
Typical range$60 – $6.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers create polished websites advertising study abroad experiences in popular destinations, complete with stock photos and fake testimonials from previous participants.
2
Students pay thousands of dollars for tuition, housing, and visa processing, receiving confirmation emails and fake enrollment documents.
3
Upon arrival, students discover the program does not exist — there is no housing, no classes, and the company's phone numbers are disconnected.
What to do first
Only use study abroad programs vetted by your university's international programs office.
Related terms
bogus study abroadstudy abroad fraudfake exchange programStudent-targeted scamsWebsiteRisingCollege studentsInternational studentsTech workers and developersEducators and studentsTravelersUnited StatesUnited KingdomAustraliabogus study abroadstudy abroad fraud
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Olga, 21, a college students, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate student-targeted scams situation while using Website. Scammers create polished websites advertising study abroad experiences in popular destinations, complete with stock photos and fake testimonials from previous participants.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: Students pay thousands of dollars for tuition, housing, and visa processing, receiving confirmation emails and fake enrollment documents.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Upon arrival, students discover the program does not exist — there is no housing, no classes, and the company's phone numbers are disconnected.
The outcome
Olga realized something was wrong when program is not affiliated with any accredited university and cannot provide academic credit documentation. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Only use study abroad programs vetted by your university's international programs office. Olga's experience shows why program is not affiliated with any accredited university and cannot provide academic credit documentation and all fees must be paid upfront with no refund policy or cancellation terms are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Program is not affiliated with any accredited university and cannot provide academic credit documentation
- All fees must be paid upfront with no refund policy or cancellation terms
- Company has no physical office in the destination country and only communicates via email
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Only use study abroad programs vetted by your university's international programs office.
- ✓Verify the program's accreditation and physical address in the destination country before paying.
- ✓Report fake study abroad programs to the FTC and your university's administration.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The FTC received over 1,200 complaints about fraudulent study abroad and educational travel programs in 2023, with average losses exceeding 4,000 USD.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Only use study abroad programs vetted by your university's international programs office.
- ✓Verify the program's accreditation and physical address in the destination country before paying.
- ✓Report fake study abroad programs to the FTC and your university's administration.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The FTC received over 1,200 complaints about fraudulent study abroad and educational travel programs in 2023, with average losses exceeding 4,000 USD.
FTC Consumer Sentinel 2024
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
College students, International students
Geographic concentration
United States, United Kingdom, Australia
Primary channel
Website — Student-targeted scams
Why this group is vulnerable
College students are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The growing number of reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The FTC received over 1,200 complaints about fraudulent study abroad and educational travel programs in 2023, with average losses exceeding 4,000 USD.
Source notes
- FTC Consumer Sentinel 2024
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about fake study abroad program scam
How does the fake study abroad program scam work?+
Scammers create polished websites advertising study abroad experiences in popular destinations, complete with stock photos and fake testimonials from previous participants. Students pay thousands of dollars for tuition, housing, and visa processing, receiving confirmation emails and fake enrollment documents. Upon arrival, students discover the program does not exist — there is no housing, no classes, and the company's phone numbers are disconnected.
What are the warning signs of fake study abroad program scam?+
Program is not affiliated with any accredited university and cannot provide academic credit documentation All fees must be paid upfront with no refund policy or cancellation terms Company has no physical office in the destination country and only communicates via email
What should I do if I encounter fake study abroad program scam?+
Only use study abroad programs vetted by your university's international programs office. Verify the program's accreditation and physical address in the destination country before paying. Report fake study abroad programs to the FTC and your university's administration.
Who is most at risk for fake study abroad program scam?+
This scam primarily targets College students, International students. It is most commonly reported in United States, United Kingdom, Australia and typically appears on Website.
Is fake study abroad program scam on the rise?+
fake study abroad program scam is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US, UK, AU. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.
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