Common Telecom Scams Targeting International Students and Prevention Guide | 留学生常见电信诈骗手法与防范指引

📚 Common Telecom Scams Targeting International Students and Prevention Guide | 留学生常见电信诈骗手法与防范指引

With the increasing number of students studying abroad, international students have become prime targets for sophisticated telecom scams. These scams often exploit students’ unfamiliarity with local laws, language barriers, and emotional vulnerabilities. Understanding common tactics and learning how to protect oneself is crucial for a safe study-abroad experience.

随着留学生数量的增加，国际学生已成为电信诈骗分子的主要目标。这些骗局常利用学生对当地法律的不熟悉、语言障碍和情感弱点。了解常见手法并学会自我保护对于确保留学安全至关重要。

1. Impersonation of Officials (Police, Embassy, Immigration) | 冒充公检法/使领馆工作人员

Scammers frequently pretend to be police officers, embassy staff, or immigration officials. They may call claiming that your visa is invalid, that you are involved in a money laundering case, or that your identity has been stolen. They often use spoofed phone numbers to display genuine government agency contact information on your caller ID. The fraudsters will pressure you to provide personal details, transfer money to a ‘safe account’ for investigation, or demand that you stay on a video call for ‘remote interrogation’ while isolating yourself.

诈骗分子经常冒充警察、使领馆工作人员或移民官员。他们来电声称你的签证失效、涉及洗钱案或身份被盗用。他们经常使用篡改的来电显示，让你手机屏幕上出现真实的政府机构号码。骗子会施压要求你提供个人信息、向”安全账户”转账以供调查，或要求你保持视频通话进行”远程审讯”并切断与外界联系。

Remember: genuine law enforcement or embassy officials will never ask you to transfer money or demand your bank password over the phone. The Chinese embassy provides a 24-hour consular protection hotline that you can call to verify any suspicious contact.

记住：真正的执法人员或使领馆官员绝不会通过电话要求你转账或索要银行密码。中国驻外使领馆设有24小时领事保护热线，你可以随时致电核实任何可疑联系。

2. Virtual Kidnapping Scams | 虚拟绑架诈骗

In a virtual kidnapping scam, criminals coerce you into isolating yourself, taking photos of yourself tied up or appearing distressed, and sending them to your family along with a ransom demand. They instruct you to turn off your phone and not contact anyone, while telling your family that you have been kidnapped. This type of psychological manipulation can be extremely distressing. The scammers may initially claim they are protecting you from a fake threat, or threaten to deport you if you do not comply.

在虚拟绑架骗局中，犯罪分子胁迫你自我隔离，拍摄自己被捆绑或显得痛苦的视频，并发送给你的家人索要赎金。他们要求你关闭手机、不与任何人联系，同时告诉你的家人你已被绑架。这种心理操控极具伤害性。骗子起初可能声称正在保护你免受虚假威胁，或威胁若不配合就将你驱逐出境。

If you receive a call from someone claiming to be kidnapping you, hang up and independently verify your loved one’s safety. Never follow instructions to isolate yourself. Inform your university’s international student office and the police immediately.

如果你接到自称绑架了你亲友的电话，请挂断并独立核实亲友安全。绝不要听从指令进行隔离。立即通知所在大学的国际学生办公室和警方。

3. Scholarship, Grant and Fee Refund Scams | 奖学金、助学金与退费诈骗

Scammers pose as university finance offices, scholarship committees, or government agencies offering a ‘grant’ or ‘tuition refund’ that requires you to pay a ‘processing fee’ or provide your bank account details. They may send convincing emails with official logos, or call saying you have won a scholarship you never applied for. The goal is to steal your money or financial identity.

骗子冒充大学财务处、奖学金委员会或政府机构，提供”补助金”或”学费退费”，但要求你支付”手续费”或提供银行账户信息。他们可能发送带有官方标识的逼真邮件，或致电称你获得了一项你从未申请过的奖学金。其目的是窃取你的钱财或金融身份。

Always verify such offers by contacting your university’s official finance department directly using the number on the university website, not the number provided in the suspicious message. No genuine scholarship requires upfront payment.

务必通过大学网站上的电话直接联系校内官方财务部门核实此类优惠，而不是使用可疑信息中提供的号码。任何真实奖学金都不需要提前支付费用。

4. Rental and Accommodation Fraud | 租房与住宿诈骗

Housing scams are very common for international students looking for off-campus accommodation. Fraudsters advertise attractive properties at below-market rates, often claiming to be out of the country and unable to show the property in person. They ask for a deposit or the first month’s rent to ‘secure’ the listing, and once you pay, they disappear. In some cases, they hijack real listings and impersonate the legitimate landlord. The victim arrives at the address only to find the house is not for rent.

寻找校外住宿的留学生很容易遭遇租房诈骗。诈骗者发布低于市场价的诱人房源，常声称在国外无法亲自带看房。他们要求支付押金或首月房租以”锁定”房源，一旦你付款，他们便消失无踪。有时他们盗用真实房源信息，冒充真正的房东。受害者到达地址后发现房屋根本不出租。

To avoid rental fraud, always view the property in person or arrange a trusted friend to check it. Use reputable letting agents, and never transfer money via untraceable methods like Western Union or cryptocurrency. Do not hand over deposits before signing a tenancy agreement.

为避免租房诈骗，务必亲自看房或安排信任的朋友查看。选择信誉良好的中介，绝不通过西联汇款、加密货币等无法追踪的方式转账。签署租赁合同前不要支付押金。

5. Currency Exchange and Wire Transfer Scams | 换汇与转账诈骗

Facing the need to exchange large sums into local currency or send money home, international students can be lured by offers of ‘best rates’ and ‘no fees’ on social media or WeChat groups. The scammer offers an exchange rate that is suspiciously good and convinces you to wire money first. Once you transfer the funds, they block you and vanish. Alternatively, they may send you a fake bank receipt claiming the payment has been made.

面对将大额款项兑换成当地货币或汇款回家的需求，留学生可能被社交媒体或微信群里”最佳汇率”、”零手续费”的广告所吸引。骗子提供好得可疑的汇率，说服你先汇款。一旦你转账，他们便把你拉黑并消失。或者他们会发给你一张伪造的银行汇款单，声称款项已经汇出。

Only use authorized financial institutions or approved money transfer services for currency exchange. No private individual can consistently offer rates significantly better than the market. In the UK, for instance, you can use the Post Office, banks, or regulated online services like Wise. Be wary of any exchange proposal that asks you to send money first.

换汇应只使用授权金融机构或经批准的汇款服务。没有任何个人能够持续提供远优于市场水平的汇率。例如在英国，你可以使用邮局、银行或受监管的在线服务如Wise。警惕任何要求你先汇款出去的个人换汇提议。

6. Parcel and Customs Scams | 快递与海关诈骗

You may receive a text, email, or automated call claiming that a parcel addressed to you has been intercepted by customs due to illegal contents (such as fake passports or drugs) and that a fee or fine must be paid immediately to avoid legal action. The message often includes a link to a fake payment portal. Scammers may also impersonate delivery companies like DHL, FedEx, or Royal Mail, asking you to update your address or pay a ‘redelivery fee’.

你可能会收到短信、邮件或自动语音电话，声称寄给你的包裹因含有违禁品（如假护照或毒品）被海关扣留，必须立即支付费用或罚款以避免法律诉讼。信息常包含一个虚假付款门户的链接。骗子也可能冒充DHL、FedEx或Royal Mail等快递公司，要求你更新地址或支付”重新派送费”。

Do not click on these links. Track parcels directly via the official delivery company’s website or app using the tracking number. Genuine customs issues are handled formally through official letters in the post, and you can contact the national customs authority directly (like UK Border Force or USCBP) to verify any claims.

不要点击这些链接。通过快递公司官网或官方应用程序使用运单号直接追踪包裹。真正的海关问题会通过正式邮寄信件处理，你可以直接联系国家海关机构（如英国边境署或美国海关及边境保护局）核实任何说法。

7. Phishing Through SMS and Email | 短信与邮件钓鱼诈骗

Phishing attempts are designed to steal your login credentials or install malware on your devices. You might receive an email that looks exactly like it’s from your university IT department, asking you to click a link and log in to verify your account, or from the Home Office warning about an urgent immigration notification. The linked website will mimic the real one, but any information you enter goes straight to the criminals. Phishing messages can also target your online banking or payment apps.

网络钓鱼攻击旨在窃取你的登录凭证或在你的设备上安装恶意软件。你可能收到一封看起来完全像是大学IT部门发来的邮件，要求你点击链接并登录以验证账户；或来自英国内政部的邮件，警告你有紧急移民通知。链接网页会模仿真实网站，但你输入的任何信息都会直接落入犯罪分子手中。钓鱼短信也可能针对你的网上银行或支付应用。

To protect yourself, never click on links in unsolicited messages. Manually type the official website address into your browser. Enable two-factor authentication on all important accounts. Check the sender’s email address carefully; often it will have slight misspellings or a suspicious domain name. Report phishing emails to your university’s IT security team.

为保护自己，绝不要点击未经请求的信息中的链接。在浏览器地址栏手动输入官方网站地址。在所有重要账户上启用双重身份验证。仔细检查发件人电子邮件地址；常常会有轻微拼写错误或可疑域名。向大学的IT安全团队报告钓鱼邮件。

8. Social Media and Romance Scams | 社交媒体与交友诈骗

Scammers create fake profiles on popular social media and dating apps to build trust with students over weeks or months. They may present themselves as successful professionals or fellow students. Once a virtual friendship or romance is established, they will ask for money due to a sudden emergency, medical bills, or a need to buy a plane ticket to visit. They may also pressure you into sharing intimate photos and then use them for blackmail (sextortion).

诈骗者在流行的社交媒体和交友应用上创建虚假账户，花费数周甚至数月与学生建立信任。他们可能将自己塑造成成功人士或是校友。一旦建立起虚拟的友谊或恋情，他们就会以突发急事、医疗账单或需要购买机票探望等理由索要钱财。他们还可能施压要求你分享私密照片，随后用于敲诈勒索（色情勒索）。

Be extremely cautious about online relationships that rapidly become intense and ask for money. Never send intimate images to people you have only met online. If you are a victim of sextortion, stop all communication, do not pay, and report to the police as well as the platform. Campus counselling services can provide emotional support.

对于迅速升温并索要钱财的网恋关系要格外警惕。绝不要向仅在网上认识的人发送私密影像。如果你成为色情勒索的受害者，停止所有联系，不要付款，并向警方及平台举报。校园心理咨询服务能提供情感支持。

9. Part-time Job and Internship Scams | 兼职与实习诈骗

Many international students seek part-time work to support themselves. Scammers post fake job advertisements offering high pay for easy work, such as ‘mystery shopper’, ‘package forwarder’, or ‘payment processing agent’. These roles often involve money laundering, where you are asked to receive stolen funds and send them on, or you are charged an upfront fee for ‘training materials’ or background checks and then never hear back. Other scams ask you to pay for a guaranteed internship placement that does not exist.

很多留学生寻找兼职工作以贴补生活。骗子发布虚假招聘广告，以高薪轻松工作为诱饵，如”神秘顾客”、”包裹转发员”或”支付处理代理”。这些角色通常涉及洗钱，你被要求接收赃款并转出；或者要求你预先支付”培训材料费”或背景调查费用，之后便再无音讯。还有的诈骗让你为根本不存在的保证实习职位付费。

Legitimate employers do not ask you to use your personal bank account to transfer money for the company. Research the company thoroughly, and never pay to get a job. If a job sounds too good to be true, it almost certainly is. For internships, always connect through official university career services.

正规雇主不会要求你使用个人银行账户为公司转移资金。彻底调研公司，绝不付费找工作。如果一份工作听起来好得不像是真的，那它几乎肯定是假的。寻找实习机会，始终通过大学的官方就业服务中心进行联系。

10. Key Prevention Strategies and Emergency Response | 关键防范策略与应急处理

Protecting yourself from telecom scams requires constant vigilance and a set of defensive habits. First, always verify the identity of anyone asking for personal or financial information by contacting the organization directly via its official channels. Second, never rush. Scammers create artificial urgency; take time to think and consult a friend or university advisor. Third, protect your digital footprint: use strong, unique passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and avoid sharing too much personal data on social media.

防范电信诈骗需要时刻保持警惕并养成一套防御习惯。首先，始终通过官方渠道直接联系机构，核实任何索要个人或财务信息的人的身份。其次，永远不要着急。骗子制造人为的紧迫感；花时间思考并咨询朋友或大学顾问。第三，保护你的数字足迹：使用强而独特的密码，启用双重验证，并避免在社交媒体上分享过多个人数据。

If you believe you have been scammed, do not feel embarrassed – scammers are experts at manipulation. Immediately contact your bank to try and stop any recent transfers. Report the crime to the local police (call 101 in the UK, 911 in the US) and to your university’s security and international student support team. Also report it to your home country’s embassy or consulate. Keep all evidence: screenshots of messages, call logs, and transaction records. Many countries have dedicated fraud reporting centres like Action Fraud in the UK (0300 123 2040) or the FTC in the US. There is also the 24/7 Global Emergency Hotline for Chinese citizens abroad: +86-10-12308.

如果你认为自己被骗了，不要感到难堪——骗子是操控人心的大师。立即联系你的银行以尝试停止任何近期的转账。向当地警方报案（英国拨打101，美国拨打911），并向大学的安全部门和国际学生支持团队报告。同时向你本国的大使馆或领事馆报告。保留所有证据：信息截图、通话记录和交易凭证。许多国家设有专门的欺诈举报中心，例如英国的Action Fraud（0300 123 2040）或美国的联邦贸易委员会（FTC）。还有中国外交部全球领事保护与服务应急热线（24小时）：+86-10-12308。

A final powerful rule: If someone on the phone tells you to lie to your family, hide from friends, or transfer money in secrecy, it is a scam. Hang up immediately. Trust your instincts, and never let shame prevent you from seeking help.

最后一条强有力的原则：如果电话里有人让你对家人撒谎、避开朋友或秘密转账，那就是诈骗。立即挂断电话。相信你的直觉，永远不要让羞愧阻止你寻求帮助。

Published by TutorHao | International Student Safety Revision Series | aleveler.com

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