The new student admission period is a particularly trepidating moment for many parents who wish to provide the best for their children. Often, parents go to great lengths to get their children into reputable universities with in-demand majors.
Unfortunately, scammers often use this to their advantage. They offer parents a special way to get into a university. However, the parents of the potential victim must first transfer a considerable amount of money to the scammer’s account.
For more details, see the explanation below. To keep your account balance safe, find out how to avoid this kind of scam.
Signs of University Admission Scam
University admission scams happen almost every year. Usually, this scam starts around May to August. It is the time of high school graduation and preparation for university.
They will target final year high schoolers who plan to continue to pursue higher education. Often times, these scammers gain access to their victims through schools, tutoring institutions, and other communities.
Furthermore, they would also hold meetings with the students’ parents to convince them. There are a number of offers made by the scammers to their victims. The following are the characteristics/signs of the university admission scam often used by scammers.
1. Offering a special admission channel
Some scammers claim to have special admission channels for new students at renowned universities. Such information is often used by these people to deceive their victims. They will tell you that there is a special channel, and you will be accepted as long as you pay a considerable amount of money.
2. Offering additional screening exams
The scammers will also inform you that there will be an additional exam following the official exam. To take this additional exam, victims are required to pay hefty sums of money. However, they promise that the test is just a formality, and they are guaranteed to pass.
3. Offering leaked answers to the university admission test
Another common method of deception is for the scammers to offer ‘leaked answers to the university admission test’ to ensure that the examinees get the required scores to enrol in the university of their choice.
However, the fees to get them are also very expensive. The victim must first pay a certain amount of money to get the leaked answers.
4. Offering insider quotas
It is often the case that the scammers will lure you into new student admissions by securing insider quotas. They claim that in some top universities there are insider quotas such as the rector’s children, lecturer’s children, etc. that can be traded.
The victim only needs to pay a substantial amount of money to take the admission test as usual, with the promise that the victim is guaranteed to pass because he/she has received an insider quota.
5. Special channel of a Scholarship Institution
Scammers often claim that they are working with scholarships institutions. The institution is also listed as a company that works with top universities.
Victims are only asked to provide a certain amount of money to be registered with the institution to be included in the selection of new student admissions.
Tips to Avoid Admission Scams
Indonesian public universities will only conduct a new student admission once a year. The date and place will be determined at the time of the exam.
1. Enrol in the official selection process
There are two official channels for new student admissions that are held simultaneously.
- First, invitation through SNMPTN, PPKB, and Talent Scouting. Only those who have been selected through school grades can take this route.
- Next is written exam that anyone can take. This can be done through SBMPTN and SIMAK UI (specifically for the University of Indonesia admission test). The exam is available all students throughout Indonesia.
2. Refuse if they ask for substantial amounts of money
You need to be suspicious if someone offers to get you into a reputable university or on behalf of an insider. Moreover, if this person asks for a relatively large amount of down payment in advance, you should immediately reject it.
3. Report if you are a victim
If you have already transferred money and turned out to be a victim of fraud, immediately report it to the authorities and if you are a BCA customer, you can also report to Halo BCA at 1500888.
Being more aware will allow you to avoid harmful scams. In addition, get more information about fraud and other crimes at #AwasModus.