Dear future international students coming to France for your education, it’s sad but significant to warn you that, even though France is such a great country with a rich culture and historical background, it’s dangerous at some aspects. This list of 5 scams can’t cover everything but I will cover the major ones that I or someone I know, have experienced.
- Scammers claiming as “government authorities” sometimes contact or email you and demand banking details or warn you that you have violated immigration regulations.
- Proposals of employment that demand you to buy gift cards or make a purchase on anything online
- Tax forms from a third party seek to reclaim the reimbursement that is legally yours.
- Rental scams such as your security deposit are taken but you are not greeted with the keys to your new home.
- A scammer will hold you on the phone for an extended period of time and won’t let you hang up to return the call. This happens a lot to international students who don’t speak French because they don’t understand the context and the reason of the call.