- International Students
- Banking Security
- Identity Theft Prevention
AFP warns international students leaving Australia against selling bank accounts and IDs to criminal networks for quick cash. Learn the risks, consequences, and how to protect yourself from scams targeting students.
AFP Issues Urgent Warning to Departing International Students
The Australian Federal Police has issued a critical warning to international students preparing to leave Australia: never sell your bank accounts or identity documents to criminals, regardless of how tempting the financial offer might seem. This urgent alert comes as authorities observe an alarming increase in criminal syndicates targeting students with offers of quick cash in exchange for their banking details and identification documents.
Detective Superintendent Marie Andersson emphasises the severity of this issue, explaining that these seemingly innocent transactions can have devastating consequences. Once criminals obtain access to student bank accounts and identity documents, they utilise them for laundering proceeds of crime and conducting cyber attacks. Furthermore, these stolen identities enable criminals to deceive victims by creating fake personas that appear trustworthy.
How Criminal Syndicates Target International Students
Criminal organisations employ sophisticated tactics to approach international students, often presenting themselves as legitimate businesses or opportunities. Students may receive phone calls offering discounts on products like mattresses or furniture, with the caller requesting bank account details for delivery purposes. These scammers deliberately avoid providing company names or verifiable information, relying instead on pressure tactics and the promise of free goods or services.
The targeting intensifies during vulnerable periods, particularly towards the end of the academic year when students are completing their degrees and making crucial decisions about their future. Criminals recognise that students preparing to depart Australia within days may view these offers as low-risk opportunities, believing they will escape consequences by leaving the country. However, this assumption proves dangerously incorrect.
Hamza, a 23-year-old student from Saudi Arabia who arrived in Australia in late 2022, has encountered numerous scam attempts throughout his studies. He recounts receiving a suspicious call about discounted mattresses, where the caller refused to identify their company and immediately requested his banking information. His experience highlights the persistence and creativity of these criminal operations.
The Severe Consequences of Selling Your Identity
Students who succumb to these offers face severe legal and immigration consequences that can permanently impact their lives. The AFP is actively tracing scam networks back to student accounts and prosecuting those involved. Participants can face criminal charges for money laundering or fraud, regardless of whether they believed they were simply lending their account temporarily.
Beyond criminal prosecution, students risk visa refusal or cancellation, which can derail their educational and career plans. More seriously, those convicted may face permanent bans from entering or re-entering Australia, eliminating future opportunities for work, study, or immigration. These consequences follow individuals throughout their lives, appearing in background checks and potentially affecting employment prospects globally.
The financial impact can also be devastating. Mishween, a former international student from India, lost ten thousand dollars to a fake Australian Taxation Office scam in 2021. She describes the experience as inhuman and recalls facing closed doors when seeking assistance because of her international student status. Her story illustrates how scammers exploit the vulnerability of international students who may have limited knowledge of Australian systems and fewer support networks.
Protecting Yourself From Identity Theft and Scams
The AFP has provided clear guidance for international students to protect themselves from these criminal operations. First and foremost, never share personal details, banking information, or identity documents with anyone you do not know personally and trust completely. Legitimate organisations will never request your bank account details over unsolicited phone calls or through suspicious channels.
If someone asks to use or borrow your bank account, even temporarily, the answer must always be no. There is no legitimate reason why another person would need access to your personal banking facilities. Similarly, reject any offers that seem too good to be true, particularly those promising quick cash or free products in exchange for your information.
Students should remain particularly vigilant during transition periods, such as when completing studies or preparing to leave Australia. These moments of change create opportunities for scammers who prey on distracted or stressed individuals. Hamza notes that whether arriving or departing, staying aware remains the most effective defence against these threats.
What to Do If You Become a Scam Victim
If you have already fallen victim to a scam or suspect you may have provided information to criminals, immediate action is essential. Stop all communication with the scammer immediately and do not engage with any further requests or threats they may make. Report the incident to the AFP through official channels, and contact your bank to freeze your accounts and prevent further unauthorised access.
International students should also seek support from their educational institution's student services department, which can provide guidance and connect them with appropriate resources. The reality is that recovering from identity theft requires persistence and awareness of your rights, as Mishween learned through her difficult experience. However, early reporting significantly improves the chances of limiting damage and preventing further criminal activity.
Detective Superintendent Andersson stresses that removing international students from the criminal formula is a priority for law enforcement. By understanding these risks and refusing to participate in these schemes, students protect not only themselves but also the broader community from the harm caused by organised crime networks.