#Scamawareness

A concerning escalation in sophisticated fraud schemes specifically targeting university students has emerged globally, with scammers leveraging fake employment opportunities, housing arrangements, and educational offers to exploit young people’s financial resources and personal information. This alarming trend, documented through comprehensive research revealing that nearly half of surveyed youth face high susceptibility to financial fraud, serves as an urgent warning for Thai university students as academic terms commence and internship application seasons approach, particularly as similar deceptive practices are increasingly appearing throughout Southeast Asian educational communities.

A new wave of fraudulent schemes is targeting university students, with scammers relying on fake job offers, housing scams, and too-good-to-be-true opportunities to trick their victims, according to a recent investigative report from the United States. The trend, which has left nearly half of surveyed youth susceptible to financial loss, serves as a wake-up call for Thai university students preparing for term start and internship application season, as such scams are showing up globally, including Southeast Asia (WXYZ).

A growing wave of digital fraud is targeting university students worldwide, with scammers posing as employers, housing agents, and scholarship providers to exploit young people’s finances and personal data. Research shows nearly half of surveyed youths feel highly vulnerable to financial fraud, a warning that Thai universities cannot ignore as term beginnings and internship seasons arrive across Southeast Asia.

For Thai youth, the rise of campus-focused scams comes as digital platforms become central to study, social life, and part-time work. Data indicates students aged 18-24 face the highest risk of fraud, with typical losses surpassing 5,500 baht per incident. In Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and other major education hubs, incidents are increasingly reported in which criminals pretend to be professors seeking research assistants, housing agents advertising desirable rentals, or HR managers offering lucrative internships. These schemes often unfold through familiar channels such as email, social media, and professional networks.