Many students believe that educational opportunities on social media are a shortcut to success — a scholarship here, an early admission there. In reality, there are many scammers that want to make use of them. In this article, we present you common educational scams, real-world examples, and concrete advice, especially for Turkmen students.
Types of Educational Scams
Here are some of the common scams specifically related to education:
| Scam Type | How it works | Why students fall for it | ||||||
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Scammers send messages or posts promising full or large partial scholarships, often via Instagram, TikTok, or Telegram. They may ask for a “processing fee,” or claim you need to pay to get your documents verified. | This can be an attractive educational opportunity for students. They act without proper checks. | ||||||
| University admission guarantee |
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The pressure to secure admission (especially abroad) can override caution; many don’t realize how to verify whether the offer is genuine. | ||||||
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| Fake Scholarship Appplication Fees | It is real that some universities require application fees, but these fees are always listed on official websites of the universities. There are scam emails pretending to be from universities that you need to pay fees and include fake links to steal your personal information. |
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Real cases and examples
Here are documented cases that show this is not a theoretical threat.
- In Uzbekistan, a person was caught promising admission to the Tashkent State Law University, using fake foreign-language certificates, for a fee of US$ 3,500.
- In Russia, during university admissions, scammers contact applicants who wish to pay for admission (“paid places”) and promise guaranteed enrollment. They ask for early payments, sometimes money for reviewing documents or “fast admission,” before any contract or official paperwork.
Warning Signs to Watch Out For
Here are red flags to help you spot educational scams:
- Requests for money upfront — “processing fee,” “document verification,” “admission reservation” before any official contract or formal admission.
- Offers that seem too good to be true — full scholarships for almost anything, guaranteed entry, no exam or competition required.
- Poor communication / unprofessional messages — lots of spelling mistakes, email from generic domains (like Gmail) rather than official university or scholarship body domains.
- Urgency and pressure — “Offer expires in 24 hours,” “limited seats,” “I need the payment now.”
- Lack of transparency — no contract, no written admission letter backed by a legitimate source, or agent refusing to share verification details.
What to do in order to protect yourself?
- Verify the source and use trustworthy sources
- Check the institution’s official website. If a scholarship or admission offer is genuine, it should be listed there.
- Contact the admissions office directly using contact info from the university’s main website, not what the agent or DM says.
- Check credentials of agents
- If someone claims to be an agent or middleman, ask for proof — licensing, past students’ testimonials, written agreements.
- Don’t pay to people you haven’t met or who cannot provide clear documentation.
- Avoid upfront fees for vague promises
- Legit scholarship applications typically don’t require payments for “verification” or “application processing.”
- If they do, research carefully: is it typical? Are there official sources confirming this fee?
- Ask questions and don’t rush
- Ask for details: What exactly is required? When will you see the official document? What happens if things go wrong?
- Talk to other students, alumni, or educational advisers.
- Keep records
- Save messages, emails, receipts, screenshots. If something later turns out to be a fraud, evidence helps to report or possibly recover losses (if possible).
In conclusion, educational scams are not hypothetical threats — they are real, and they harm students financially, emotionally, and sometimes academically. For Turkmen students eager to study, either at home or abroad, being cautious, informed, and skeptical is not just helpful — it’s essential.
Every year you apply, every scholarship you hope for, every admission you accept depends not only on your merit but also on your vigilance. If an offer seems too easy, too quick, or asks for money before anything official, pause, check, verify.
Your education is a precious investment. Protect it wisely.
At okajak.com and our social media pages we post verified educational opportunities around the world. Follow us, and open your way to new opportunities.
Sources:
https://collegegranthub.com/blog/scholarship-scams/
https://iz.ru/en/node/1921533?utm_
https://ahal.info/en/news/turkmenistan-launches-website-and-app-to-support-university-applicants?utm