Common Campus Scams Targeting New Students During Orientation and How to Avoid Them
By Muntasir • Published Sep 18, 2026 • Updated Sep 20, 2026 • Student Life
Scammers target new students hardest during orientation week, when you are unfamiliar with campus systems and carrying cash for fees, hostel deposits and society dues.
🏠 Never pay a hostel deposit before you view the room or confirm the landlord through your university's accredited accommodation list.
💵 Loan and bursary agencies like NSFAS and HELB never ask for your password or bank PIN by phone, SMS or social media.
📩 Official student clubs collect dues with a receipt through the student union, not through a senior demanding cash in person.
⏱️ Verify any staff member's identity at their office before you send money to a personal mobile money number.
Why Freshers Are A Target
New students are unfamiliar with how their campus works, carry cash for fees and deposits, and want to fit in fast during orientation week. Scammers use the gap between your excitement and your experience to sell fake accommodation, demand fees for services the university already provides free, and steal login details for loan and bursary portals.
Fake Accommodation Deals
Rental fraud spikes around orientation. Fraudsters post hostel beds and rooms that do not exist, or copy a real listing and swap in their own contact details. Some pose as landlords who cannot meet you in person and ask you to wire a deposit before you see the property. Others hijack a legitimate agent's listing and collect deposits for a room that is already taken by someone else.
South African universities have warned students to stick to institution-accredited accommodation providers and avoid paying anything before viewing the room and meeting the landlord face to face. Ask your housing office for its official list of approved hostels before you search anywhere else. Treat any request to pay by mobile money or instant transfer before a viewing as a red flag.
Fake Loan And Bursary Portals
Fraudsters copy the login pages of national student loan and bursary schemes to steal bank details. In Kenya, the Higher Education Loans Board flagged a fake Facebook page in July 2026 that directed students to pay processing fees into unauthorized accounts. In South Africa, NSFAS has repeatedly warned applicants about fake apps and websites built to look like its real portal and collect passwords and banking information.
Type your loan or bursary agency's web address directly into your browser instead of clicking links sent through WhatsApp or social media. No genuine funder calls or texts you to verify your account, and none charges a fee before releasing money you already qualify for.
Society Dues And Registration Help Fees
Some seniors and self-appointed welfare officers charge freshers cash for club membership, course registration, or help finding lecture halls, services your student union and admissions office already provide free. Paying an individual in cash with no receipt for something the university itself handles is the clearest sign of a scam. Confirm any due or fee at the student union office and ask for a receipt before you hand over money.
Fake Staff And Mobile Money Requests
A caller or a stranger at your hostel gate claiming to work for the bursar's office, security, or IT support may ask you to send mobile money to process your admission, unlock your portal, or release a room key. Legitimate university fees go through the official bank account or portal listed on your admission letter, not a personal phone number. If someone pushes you to move the conversation off campus or onto a private call, walk into the actual office and ask in person instead.
Warning Signs To Watch For
| Warning Sign | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Payment demanded before you see the room or service | No genuine landlord or office needs money before you can check what you are paying for |
| Contact only through WhatsApp or a personal number | Real university offices work through official emails, portals, and physical desks |
| Pressure to decide within hours | Urgency stops you from checking with the housing office, student union, or a senior you trust |
| Request for your portal password or bank PIN | No loan, bursary, or admissions office needs your password to help you |
Protect Yourself
Get your university's official accommodation list before you search social media or classifieds.
Never pay a deposit, registration fee, or society due without a receipt from a recognized office.
Type loan and bursary portal addresses directly into your browser rather than clicking links from messages.
Verify a staff member's identity at their office before you send any money.
Report suspicious approaches to campus security or the dean of students so they can warn other freshers.