Safety Guide for International Students in South Asia

Understand the risks in your destination

South Asia's student population faces three primary threats: financial fraud, petty theft, and violent crime concentrated in specific regions.

Crime statistics vary significantly across South Asian countries. India reports a crime index of 44.3, Bangladesh 61.5, and Afghanistan 78.3. Crime concentrates in certain areas rather than affecting the entire country uniformly. High-risk zones include Kashmir and southern Pakistan, particularly Karachi, plus the tribal areas on Pakistan's Northwest Frontier. The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province (except Chitral district), Balochistan, and Pakistan-Administered Kashmir carry extreme risk of kidnapping, terrorism, and unpredictable security situations. Do not travel to these areas.

Know the top fraud schemes targeting students

Digital arrest scams represent the fastest-growing threat. Scammers impersonate government officials from agencies like the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) or tax authorities. They accuse you of money laundering, threatening arrest unless you transfer money immediately. According to the Lowy Institute , reported cases nearly tripled between 2022 and 2024, with victims losing 19 billion rupees across roughly 120,000 cases in a single year. These scams exploit authority bias and high trust in government institutions, particularly affecting educated professionals.

A concrete example: in November 2024, a 25-year-old IIT Bombay student lost 7.29 lakh rupees after scammers impersonating TRAI officials falsely accused him of money laundering.

Fake internship and job offers charge upfront fees for internships that do not exist. In December 2024, AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education) issued a caution notice about fraudulent edu-tech companies. In January 2025, AICTE issued an alert about fake job appointment letters issued in the name of AICTE and Ministry of Education officials using counterfeit email addresses (typically using .com instead of .gov.in domains).

Scholarship fraud targets students seeking financial aid. An audit by India's Ministry of Minority Affairs found that out of 1,572 institutions reviewed, 830 were fraudulent or inactive, embezzling 144.83 crore rupees meant for students. Approximately 48 percent of institutions reviewed (742 out of 1,572) were legitimate.

Study abroad firm fraud has escalated rapidly in Pakistan. Complaints rose from 400 in 2021 to 1,409 in 2024 across five major cities in Punjab, representing a 20 to 35 percent increase year-over-year.

International admission fraud affects students applying to universities abroad. Roughly 65 percent of applications from India and Bangladesh to international universities were fraudulent, containing either real names with fake details or completely fabricated identities.

Prevention checklist: before you arrive

Complete these steps 4-6 weeks before departure.

• Verify your university's accreditation with the country's education ministry (e.g., India's UGC, Pakistan's Higher Education Commission)
• Check official internship portals only (AICTE internships at https://internship.aicte-india.org ; never click links from emails or Telegram groups)
• Research your university's International Student Office and note their emergency contact numbers
• Register with your country's embassy or consulate in your destination
• Download the relevant emergency app: 112 India in India, Nepal Police app in Nepal, or consular apps from your home country
• Verify scholarship offers directly with the issuing institution, not through intermediaries
• Check if the recruiter or firm is blacklisted on your government's official advisory

Prevention checklist: on arrival

• Meet with your university's International Student Office within the first week
• Register your accommodation address with your embassy or consulate
• Save local emergency numbers in your phone (see section below)
• Locate the campus security office and note their 24/7 contact number
• Identify the nearest police station and hospital emergency ward to your residence
• Photograph your passport, visa, and travel documents; store copies separately from originals
• Do not share your passport with anyone except official government or university personnel
• Avoid displaying cash, jewelry, or expensive electronics in public

Prevention checklist: ongoing safety

• Use ATMs only in well-lit areas during daylight hours
• Travel in groups after dark, especially in unfamiliar areas
• Keep copies of important documents on encrypted cloud storage
• Do not accept jobs or internships requiring upfront payment
• Verify job offers by calling the company directly using a number from their official website (not contact details from the job posting)
• Report suspicious emails claiming to be from your university or government agencies to your International Student Office
• Stay aware of local festivals and public gatherings; large crowds can attract pickpockets and scammers
• Do not travel alone to areas flagged as high-risk on your government's travel advisory

Report an incident immediately

If theft, assault, fraud, or harassment occurs, follow this sequence.

First 24 hours:

• If in immediate danger, dial the emergency number (see table below)
• Contact your university's International Student Office or campus security
• If you have a bank account, freeze cards immediately and contact your bank
• Report the incident to local police in person at the nearest station

File an FIR (First Information Report):

An FIR is a formal, written record of the incident filed with police and is required for insurance claims, visa extensions, or legal proceedings. In all South Asian countries, police must issue you a copy of the FIR within 24 hours of reporting. Request an English translation if you do not read the local language fluently.

Document everything:

• Write down the date, time, location, and description of the incident
• Photograph any visible damage or injuries
• Collect contact details of witnesses (name, phone number, address)
• Keep all emails, messages, or correspondence related to the incident
• Save bank statements or transaction records showing fraudulent charges

Contact your embassy or consulate:

Your home country's embassy can provide legal referrals, assist with visa or travel document issues, and in some cases, help coordinate evacuation. Register with your embassy's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) or equivalent service before arrival.

Emergency numbers and reporting procedures

Reporting procedures by country

India:

File an FIR at the nearest police station in person. Bring your passport, visa, and identification. The 112 India app allows you to file reports remotely and triggers an automatic message with your location and emergency contacts to the State Emergency Control Room. If you are a victim of fraud or cybercrime, you will also file a cybercrime report online via the respective state's cybercrime portal.

Bangladesh:

Report to local police at the nearest station. Request a First Information Report (FIR) in English. The 999 emergency service has multiple reporting channels: call, SMS, mobile app, website, or Facebook messenger. For cybercrime, file a report with the Cyber Police Unit (CID), BTRC (Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission), or NDSC (National Digital Security Centre).

Nepal:

File an FIR at the nearest police station. Request an English translation of the report. For tourism-related incidents, you may also contact the tourist police at 1144. The Nepal Police app enables location reporting for faster response.

Sri Lanka:

Report to police at the nearest station. University of Colombo provides on-campus reporting through the Marshal Office (0112583107 or 0112559906) or the Director of Campus Security (071-3920919). Campus officers are assigned to specific zones with direct contact numbers.

Safety apps and platforms for emergency response

What to do if you are scammed

If defrauded financially:

• Contact your bank immediately to freeze accounts and dispute charges
• Request a chargeback or reversal if funds were transferred via credit card
• File a cybercrime report with the local police (cybercrime units often recover funds faster than general police)
• Document all transactions: bank statements, transaction IDs, timestamps, and recipient details
• Contact the relevant fraud reporting authority (e.g., FTC in the US if the scam originated there)

If you received a fake internship offer:

• Do not pay any money
• Report the fake company or website to AICTE (in India) at https://aicte-india.org
• Report the scam email or website to your university's International Student Office
• Report the website to the country's cyber police unit for removal
• Forward scam emails to the "Report Abuse" function in Gmail/Outlook

If you are a victim of digital arrest scam:

• Hang up immediately; do not follow instructions to transfer money or disable security settings
• Report to local cybercrime police
• Do not be ashamed; victims span all professions and education levels
• Block the phone number and report it to your mobile carrier

University support and reporting channels

Most major universities in South Asia operate an International Student Cell or International Student Office that coordinates accommodation, visa and immigration, cultural integration, and incident reporting. Find your institution's office immediately upon arrival.

Standard university support includes:

• On-campus medical facilities and ambulance services (24/7 in most institutions)
• Online complaint registration systems for grievances or incidents
• Dedicated security personnel and CCTV camera coverage
• Liaison with local police for incident reporting
• Coordination with your home country's embassy if needed

Institutions in India, including IITs and Delhi University, provide Campus Safety Guidelines issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC). These guidelines mandate secure campus boundaries, trained security personnel, and accessible emergency response protocols.

Recovery and next steps after an incident

Recovering from fraud or a crime takes time. Follow this approach:

• File reports with police, your bank, and your embassy (these create a record for insurance and visa purposes)
• Contact your travel insurance provider if you purchased coverage; many policies cover theft and fraud
• Request a police report copy (in English) and photographs of any damage for insurance claims
• If your passport or visa was stolen, apply for a replacement through your embassy's emergency services
• If you were assaulted, seek medical documentation of injuries (hospitals provide this for police and insurance purposes)
• Stay in contact with your International Student Office; they may help negotiate with your institution if you need to defer studies or change accommodation

Do not attempt to recover funds or confront the scammer yourself. This increases the risk of retaliation or further fraud.

Sources

• Lowy Institute: India's Digital Arrest Scams
• Numbeo: Asia Crime Index 2024
• 112 India Emergency Response System
• Bangladesh Police: Emergency Services
• Nepal Emergency Numbers Guide
• University of Colombo: Emergency Contacts
• Gateway International: Campus Safety Guide for International Students
• UGC Guidelines on Safety of Students
• IIT Delhi: Safety