Australian police warn of scams targeting international students by impersonating investigators - Photo: magnific.com
Police in New South Wales (Australia) are warning about a new wave of scams targeting international students, particularly those of Chinese descent, after recording numerous incidents with total losses exceeding AUD 400,000.
According to authorities, the incidents mainly occurred in the inner city, south and east of Sydney – areas with a large international student population.
A common tactic involves perpetrators calling or texting via WeChat, impersonating Chinese police or investigative agencies. They inform victims that they are suspected of being involved in crime, money laundering, or other serious cases.
The perpetrators then continuously exerted psychological pressure by threatening arrest, issuing an international arrest warrant, and even warning that the family back home would also be affected if they did not cooperate.
According to the police, the perpetrators often ask victims to transfer money to a designated account or send cryptocurrency under the pretext of "assisting with the investigation," "verifying identity," or "avoiding arrest."
Their goal is to create a sense of urgency, causing victims to panic, not have time to verify the information, and immediately comply with the demands.
A reported incident in early May 2026 involved a 22-year-old woman who was contacted via WeChat. The imposter claimed she was involved with a "terrorist organization" and threatened to issue arrest warrants and prosecute her entire family if she did not cooperate.
According to police, the victim subsequently transferred over 400,000 AUD to the scammers.
Matthew Craft, commander of the New South Wales cybercrime unit, said that scam groups are becoming increasingly sophisticated, exploiting fears related to police and the law to pressure victims into transferring money before they can verify the information.
According to authorities, the perpetrators often target international students who have recently arrived in Australia or those unfamiliar with the local legal system, particularly those who use local messaging apps like WeChat.
Police advise people to be wary of calls from individuals claiming to be police officers or foreign police officers, demanding money to "prove innocence," threatening arrest, or requesting money transfers to unfamiliar accounts or cryptocurrency.
People are advised not to transfer money at the request of unknown callers, to verify information through official channels, and to report any suspected fraud to the authorities immediately.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/uc-canh-bao-chieu-gia-danh-canh-sat-lua-du-hoc-sinh-2026051719214427.htm
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