{"id":144784,"date":"2023-11-08T06:01:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-08T11:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/interac1.wpengine.com\/?post_type=content&#038;p=144784"},"modified":"2025-07-31T10:22:07","modified_gmt":"2025-07-31T14:22:07","slug":"learn-to-spot-scams-that-target-international-students-in-canada","status":"publish","type":"content","link":"https:\/\/www.interac.ca\/en\/content\/life\/learn-to-spot-scams-that-target-international-students-in-canada\/","title":{"rendered":"Learn to spot scams that target international students in Canada"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>More people than ever are coming to Canada to pursue education opportunities. If you\u2019re an international student, you may be one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/politics\/international-student-cap-immigration-system-integrity-1.6948733\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">900,000 that Canada is expected to accept in 2023<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, students aren\u2019t the only people pursuing opportunities \u2014 so are fraudsters, who are preying on international students, taking advantage of their needs and their relative unfamiliarity with how things work in Canada. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.interac.ca\/content\/news\/interac-survey-shows-more-than-half-of-new-canadian-families-have-been-targeted-by-financial-fraud\/\">According to a recent survey of newcomers by Interac<\/a>, almost three-quarters (73 per cent) of newcomers surveyed would like to know more about how to protect themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While there are organizations that can help you in the fight against fraud (your postsecondary institution, the federal government\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca\/index-eng.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre<\/a>, police forces, and financial entities like Interac), you are your own first line of defence \u2014 against digital fraud, hacking, attempts to steal personal and financial credentials, and other forms of fraud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That means it\u2019s important to empower yourself by being alert to potential scams and aware of how to safeguard against them. At Interac we\u2019re here to help. Not only do we build <a href=\"https:\/\/www.interac.ca\/consumers\/security\/#:~:text=Interac%20debit%20cards%20are%20protected,store%20and%20process%20data%20securely.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">security features into our products and services<\/a> to help people stay secure when transacting in-store and online, we also work to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.interac.ca\/en\/content-tag\/fraud-security\/\">educate Canadians on how to spot, avoid, and report fraud<\/a> so they can make digital transactions with confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-fraud-prevention-resources-to-get-you-started\">Fraud prevention resources to get you started<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This article tells you about scams that impact Canadians without specifically targeting any one group \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.interac.ca\/content\/life\/how-to-spot-8-tricky-trending-digital-scams-in-2023-and-2024\/\">read it to get familiar with the risks<\/a>, like email fraud and phishing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.interac.ca\/content\/life\/how-to-spot-scams-that-target-newcomers-to-canada\/\">This one explains how to spot scams that tend to target newcomers to Canada<\/a> in general, not just students. It also offers general suggestions on avoiding the pitfalls \u2014 for example, it\u2019s important to remember that Canadian immigration officials don\u2019t contact people and threaten to deport them unless they pay a fee, or to confirm personal or financial details.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>And finally, there are also scams that specifically target international students. Keep reading to see some common and recent scams so you can be prepared and empowered to avoid the risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-scams-that-target-international-students-nbsp\">Scams that target international students&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some scams that you\u2019ll want to watch out for as an international student in Canada, according to law-enforcement agencies, colleges and universities, and news reports:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<section id=\"accordion-block_08fecf3c6d886327870e5e25cec11495\" class=\"accordion-content-block\" style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;\">\n    <div class=\"grid-container\">\n        <div class=\"grid-x grid-margin-x align-center\">\n            <div class=\"cell small-12\">\n                            <ul class=\"accordion\" data-accordion data-deep-link=\"false\" data-update-history=\"false\" data-deep-link-smudge=\"false\" data-deep-link-smudge-delay=\"500\" id=\"deeplinked-accordion\" data-allow-all-closed=\"true\">\n                                <li class=\"accordion-item\" data-accordion-item><a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title\"><h6>Fake university acceptance letters<\/h6><\/a> <div id=\"\" class=\"accordion-content\" data-tab-content><p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW256724966 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW256724966 BCX0\">Students from various countries have been targeted by immigration consultants who <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW256724966 BCX0\">scammed<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW256724966 BCX0\"> them by accepting fees in exchange for forged postsecondary acceptance letters. In at least some cases, the students <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW256724966 BCX0\">don\u2019t<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW256724966 BCX0\"> know <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW256724966 BCX0\">they\u2019re<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW256724966 BCX0\"> forged. <\/span><\/span><span class=\"LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW256724966 BCX0\"><span class=\"SCXW256724966 BCX0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW256724966 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW256724966 BCX0\"><strong>What can you do?<\/strong> <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW256724966 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW256724966 BCX0\">Contact your prospective college or university to verify that your letter is real. Check your letter carefully \u2014 fraudulent ones may <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW256724966 BCX0\">contain<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW256724966 BCX0\"> errors, like incorrect program start dates<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW256724966 BCX0\"> or program information and\/or they may lack essential information like date of acceptance or the applicant\u2019s <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW256724966 BCX0\">identifying<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW256724966 BCX0\"> details<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW256724966 BCX0\">.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW256724966 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW256724966 BCX0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><li class=\"accordion-item\" data-accordion-item><a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title\"><h6>Housing\/rental scams<\/h6><\/a> <div id=\"\" class=\"accordion-content\" data-tab-content><p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW90717476 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW90717476 BCX0\">International students have been lured into sending deposits to secure housing\u202f(sometimes even before they arrive in Canada), but the <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW90717476 BCX0\">supposed property<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW90717476 BCX0\"> owner vanishes \u2014 because <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW90717476 BCX0\">they\u2019re<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW90717476 BCX0\"> not the owner at all.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW90717476 BCX0\"><span class=\"SCXW90717476 BCX0\">\u00a0<\/span><br class=\"SCXW90717476 BCX0\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW90717476 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW90717476 BCX0\">What can you do? <\/span><\/span><\/strong><span class=\"TextRun SCXW90717476 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW90717476 BCX0\">Avoid renting a unit<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW90717476 BCX0\"> without seeing it first or having someone you trust see it<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW90717476 BCX0\">, if possible. And try to meet the <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW90717476 BCX0\">landlord<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW90717476 BCX0\"> face-to-face. Be wary of high-pressure sales tactics, rents that sound too good to be true, or <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW90717476 BCX0\">landlords<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW90717476 BCX0\"> who <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW90717476 BCX0\">don\u2019t<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW90717476 BCX0\"> ask you very many questions about yourself and your income.<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW90717476 BCX0\"> Also: If you use <\/span><\/span><em><span class=\"TextRun SCXW90717476 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW90717476 BCX0\">Interac <\/span><\/span><\/em><span class=\"TextRun SCXW90717476 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW90717476 BCX0\">e-Transfer <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW90717476 BCX0\">to send money, you have an opportunity to check the recipient\u2019s registered name before you confirm the transaction. This gives you a chance to make sure <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW90717476 BCX0\">it\u2019s<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW90717476 BCX0\"> the name <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW90717476 BCX0\">you\u2019re<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW90717476 BCX0\"> expecting.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><li class=\"accordion-item\" data-accordion-item><a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title\"><h6>Deportation threats<\/h6><\/a> <div id=\"\" class=\"accordion-content\" data-tab-content><p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW14194739 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW14194739 BCX0\">Students have been contacted by scammers who claim to be immigration officers, demanding a payment to avoid being deported.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW14194739 BCX0\"><span class=\"SCXW14194739 BCX0\">\u00a0<\/span><br class=\"SCXW14194739 BCX0\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW14194739 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW14194739 BCX0\">What can you do? <\/span><\/span><\/strong><span class=\"TextRun SCXW14194739 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW14194739 BCX0\">Don\u2019t<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW14194739 BCX0\"> respond to the message (or hang up if <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW14194739 BCX0\">it\u2019s<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW14194739 BCX0\"> a phone call), and contact<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW14194739 BCX0\"> Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW14194739 BCX0\">(<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW14194739 BCX0\">IRCC<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW14194739 BCX0\">)<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW14194739 BCX0\"> yourself to see if <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW14194739 BCX0\">there\u2019s<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW14194739 BCX0\"> any issue with your file.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><li class=\"accordion-item\" data-accordion-item><a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title\"><h6>Ghostwriting scams<\/h6><\/a> <div id=\"\" class=\"accordion-content\" data-tab-content><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">International students are susceptible to scams in which a person offers to write class assignments (e.g., essays) in exchange for a fee. After receiving the money, the fraudster either doesn\u2019t produce the work, or sends a plagiarized piece.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">What can you do? <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Follow standard Canadian guidelines for students: All coursework must be your own \u2014 you may not hire someone else to produce it (this is considered cheating), nor should you produce work for anyone else.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><li class=\"accordion-item\" data-accordion-item><a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title\"><h6>Money mule recruiting<\/h6><\/a> <div id=\"\" class=\"accordion-content\" data-tab-content><p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW142747892 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW142747892 BCX0\">A money mule is someone who moves money from one bank account to another on behalf of someone else \u2014 usually for criminal purposes. Criminals enlist the target to accept a large amount of money and then transfer it somewhere else, in exchange for a fee. International students have been <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW142747892 BCX0\">scammed<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW142747892 BCX0\"> into acting as money mules, which leaves them open to criminal charges.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW142747892 BCX0\"><br class=\"SCXW142747892 BCX0\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW142747892 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW142747892 BCX0\">What can you do? <\/span><\/span><\/strong><span class=\"TextRun SCXW142747892 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW142747892 BCX0\">As always, be skeptical when an offer seems too good to be true. <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW142747892 BCX0\">Don\u2019t<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW142747892 BCX0\"> move packages or transfer funds <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW142747892 BCX0\">on behalf of someone else <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW142747892 BCX0\">if a legitimate courier or money transfer service could do it \u2014 if someone is asking <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW142747892 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW142747892 BCX0\">you <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW142747892 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW142747892 BCX0\">to do it instead, their purposes may be criminal.\u202f<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>                <\/ul>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-be-ready-for-fraud-prevention-when-studying-abroad\">How to be ready for fraud prevention when studying abroad<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Part of fraud prevention is being prepared to stop and scrutinize a situation when it doesn\u2019t feel right. Be ready to withhold your trust until and unless you can verify for yourself what\u2019s actually happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Scammers will often try to pose as legitimate organizations \u2014 your college or university, bank, or IRCC. For example, in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.interac.ca\/content\/life\/email-fraud-how-to-recognize-it-and-how-to-protect-yourself\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">phishing attack<\/a>, a fraudster might pose as one of these.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"1024\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.interac.ca\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2023\/11\/INT_FLM_International-Students_01-EN-780x1024.png.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-144785 lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 780px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 780\/1024;aspect-ratio:0.76171875;object-fit:cover;width:350px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.interac.ca\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2023\/11\/INT_FLM_International-Students_01-EN-780x1024.png.webp 780w, https:\/\/www.interac.ca\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2023\/11\/INT_FLM_International-Students_01-EN-229x300.png.webp 229w, https:\/\/www.interac.ca\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2023\/11\/INT_FLM_International-Students_01-EN-768x1008.png.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.interac.ca\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2023\/11\/INT_FLM_International-Students_01-EN.png.webp 1166w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" data-original-sizes=\"(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>When someone tries to commit fraud against you, they sometimes use harsh or threatening language. Financial therapist Aseel El-Baba, with the Canadian not-for-profit economic education organization Conscious Economics, says that can be a big hint that the caller is not legitimate. \u201cThinking about how an encounter makes you feel is a good guide. Genuine Canadian companies and organizations don\u2019t try to make you feel fearful. They don\u2019t pressure you to act quickly, nor do they threaten people,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And if you have questions, many postsecondary institutions provide free advice to international students.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-building-financial-literacy-boosts-your-confidence-and-security-nbsp\">How building financial literacy boosts your confidence \u2014 and security&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Aseel says confidence starts with financial literacy, which can give newcomers the knowledge they need to navigate daily life and money management in Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She notes that Interac products and services can help newcomers stay on track with their budgets and payments. \u201cBuilding healthy money habits like creating a monthly budget and paying for purchases with your own money with <em>Interac <\/em>Debit can help you take charge and build financial confidence,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As for critical payments like rent, learn <a href=\"https:\/\/www.interac.ca\/how-to-use\/interac-e-transfer\/how-to-send-money-with-interac-e-transfer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">how to use <em>Interac <\/em>e-Transfer<\/a> to pay your landlord in near real time (and on time) if that is an accepted payment method. \u201cThat way you know when the money is sent, so you don\u2019t have to worry about it later,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s OK if it takes a while to figure out the cultural differences around money, Aseel says, as attitudes can vary quite a bit around the world. \u201cFor example, Canadians are encouraged to start saving for their retirements as soon as they start working, whereas in other places, home and family needs take precedence. Not only that, but Canadians trust their employers, governments, financial institutions and pension plans with their retirement savings and contributions. That can be something to get used to if you\u2019re from a part of the world where people don\u2019t have that trust in institutions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"765\" height=\"1024\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.interac.ca\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2023\/11\/INT_FLM_International-Students_02-EN-765x1024.png.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-144787 lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 765px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 765\/1024;aspect-ratio:0.7470703125;object-fit:cover;width:350px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.interac.ca\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2023\/11\/INT_FLM_International-Students_02-EN-765x1024.png.webp 765w, https:\/\/www.interac.ca\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2023\/11\/INT_FLM_International-Students_02-EN-224x300.png.webp 224w, https:\/\/www.interac.ca\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2023\/11\/INT_FLM_International-Students_02-EN-768x1028.png.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.interac.ca\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2023\/11\/INT_FLM_International-Students_02-EN-1148x1536.png.webp 1148w, https:\/\/www.interac.ca\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2023\/11\/INT_FLM_International-Students_02-EN.png.webp 1166w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" data-original-sizes=\"(max-width: 765px) 100vw, 765px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>However \u2014 and this is where knowledge of fraud comes in \u2014 there are also situations where Canadians have learned <em>not <\/em>to be trusting. For example, \u201cOffers that seem too good to be true often aren\u2019t,\u201d Aseel says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, if you do encounter fraud, or lose money because of a scam, Aseel says it\u2019s essential not to beat yourself up over it. You\u2019re not alone, for one thing: The Interac survey found that 53 per cent of newcomers to Canada surveyed had encountered fraud, or an immediate family member had.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you didn\u2019t spot a scam the first time around, be proactive and contact the authorities \u2014 and then go easy on yourself for what happened. \u201cSelf-forgiveness and \u2018letting go\u2019 exercises can help you find compassion towards yourself,\u201d Aseel says. \u201cA lot of self-criticism is unhelpful, and moving forward means accepting that you\u2019re vulnerable \u2014 just like everyone else.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-more-resources-for-financial-literacy-in-canada-nbsp\">More resources for financial literacy in Canada&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Interac and Conscious Economics have partnered to offer a free digital learning program tailored to newcomers to help them develop financial literacy in Canada, including how to spot scams and avoid the pitfalls of fraud. The three-part course is available free and online to all newcomers who wish to participate, and it has subtitles available in French, Mandarin, Farsi, Arabic and Punjabi as well as English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The program will be a part of the international student&#8217;s orientation package at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Boost your Canadian financial literacy \u2014 and your confidence.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<section id=\"button-ochre-block_fd5f9c2ca52a6de0d09f69107a4cb30e\" class=\"button-link\">\n    <div class=\"grid-container\">\n        \n                        <div class=\"grid-x grid-padding-x align-center\">\n                        \n            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.consciouseconomics.ca\/mindfulness-money\" class=\"button-ochre\" aria-label=\"Sign up here\">Sign up here<\/a>\n            \n                            <\/div>\n                    \n    <\/div>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>More people than ever are coming to Canada to pursue education opportunities. If you\u2019re an international student, you may be one of the 900,000 that Canada is expected to accept in 2023.&nbsp; Unfortunately, students aren\u2019t the only people pursuing opportunities \u2014 so are fraudsters, who are preying on international students, taking advantage of their needs&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":144791,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"content-tags":[945],"content-category":[192],"spokespeople":[],"in_the_know_post_format":[169],"class_list":["post-144784","content","type-content","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","content-tags-fraud-security","content-category-life","in_the_know_post_format-article"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.2 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Interac | Fraud Prevention for International Students<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Fraud prevention is an important part of financial literacy for international students in Canada. Interac arms people with information and services to help.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.interac.ca\/en\/content\/life\/learn-to-spot-scams-that-target-international-students-in-canada\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Learn to spot scams that target international students in Canada\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"More people than ever are coming to Canada to pursue education opportunities. 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