Chinese students - fraud alert

A message from the University Security Manager

Dear students,

Police in Hong Kong and China are issuing a warning to Chinese students to be on their guard against fraudsters claiming to be from a Chinese based company. The bogus company has been contacting students and other Chinese nationals on the pretext of conducting a business questionnaire. The person is then contacted later by someone purporting also to be from the company and claims that a sponsor organisation has nominated them as winner of a competition with prizes up to $150,000. But to claim the win the person is required to send an amount of money by Western Union money transfer to a contact in China. They are also asked to provide personal information including bank account details. Once payment is made nothing further is heard and no payment is received. Any students or members of staff at Monash who are approached in this way are advised not to get involved.

Instances of the scam have already been reported to police at Oakleigh. Victorian Police Fraud Desk, which will be issuing further information on the scam through Chinese community papers in the coming weeks, can be contacted on 9865 2094.