UPEI recruiter concerned after international student targeted by scam

UPEI's director of recruitment says a local international student nearly lost $5,000 to a scam call that claimed to be from RCMP and threatened him with deportation.

"Fortunately Igot a call from thestudent who was really afraid, and had already taken the money out of his account," said Jerry Wang.

The student went to meet with Wang while he was still on the phone with the caller.

Caller wouldn't give info

"Istartedtalking to the person. He wanted money wired to him and said this would solve the student's immigration problem," Wang said.

"He was pretending to be an RCMPofficer in Charlottetownbut didn't knowtheir address. He was saying the studentwas in violation of immigration law but he couldn't say which regulation. After a couple of minutes Irealized hewasa fraudster."

The man on the line gave up when Wang asked for his phone number or office location.

"The student was really freaked out. Actually he had taken a lot of money [$5,000] out of his account and was on his way as directed by this person to the bank to wire this money," said Wang.

Worried international students being targeted

The UPEIofficial explained to the student that he wasn't in trouble and that the call wasn't from an RCMPofficer.

"The scammers are getting sophisticated," said Wang. "They were playingsiren sounds in the background and he was being authoritative and directinghim what to do. I heard it."

Wang feels the student was victimized because he doesn't speak English well.

"They capitalize oninternational students as they may not know all immigration rules so hearing the word deport is something to be afraid of."

Wang contacted the RCMPand was told to contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. He spoke with colleagues in the international relations and communications departments at UPEI, and plans are underway to provide more information to students about scams.

Late in 2017, the PEI Association for Newcomers to Canada warned about a phone and email scam that was making its way across the country.

The association urgedpeople not to comply with anydemandsfrom callers claiming to be with the Immigration Review Board or RCMP.

Tips to avoid scams

According to advice from the Anti-Fraud Centre, you have the right to checkany caller by requesting written information, a call back number,references and time to think.

It also warns people never to provide confidential personal information, especially banking or credit card details, unless you are certain the company is legitimate.

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