How to Avoid Getting Scammed by Agents Abroad

Don't buy into an illusion. Some education agents are out to sell you a dream that may never come true.

Canada's one of the world's foremost destinations for international students — and fair enough! It's a beautiful country, with plenty of potential for future growth and social development. Plus, Canada's home to some of the world's best universities, and international students will soon be able to work to their heart's desire, as well. Not many countries offer all the advantages that Canada does.

This appeal comes with a price, though. Many prospective international students are eager to come to Canada, and some may enlist the aid of education agents abroad to help make their dreams come true. Unfortunately, some agents may not have your best interests in mind.

How do educational agents work?

Agents are independent contractors who usually have an agreement with one or more schools overseas — in this case, in Canada — and the agent gets paid for each student they send to a partner school. This payment may be a flat fee, or it may be a percentage of your tuition fees. This can mean a pretty good payday if an agent enrols many students in a short period.

What are the advantages of working with an agent?

Some agents are well-informed, dutiful people who can help you understand complex post-secondary structures that may be unfamiliar to you. Agents can share an array of options and work with you to decide what would fit your situation the best. They may even know a thing or two about scholarship opportunities for international students.

What are the risks of working with an agent?

The risk of working with an unscrupulous agent is that they may try to place you with a school that doesn't fit — or that may not even have space for you at all. If an agent is just in it for the money, they may tell you whatever they think you want to hear so that you sign a contract and the agent gets paid.

You could end up at a tiny institution, disconnected and forgotten, working towards a dream that may never be fulfilled.

How can I avoid getting scammed by an education agent?

Information is your best defence against an agent taking advantage of you. Asking questions, and thinking hard about the agent's answers, will help you decide if you're working with the right person. Here are some questions to ask your education agent about studying, working, and living in Canada:

1. What schools would be best for me?

This is an important question. If your agent is working with particular schools, the agent is likely to steer you in that direction, regardless of whether the school would be a good fit.

Be on guard for what are called "career colleges" in Canada. Many career colleges are for-profit institutions, meaning they earn more money by signing up more students. Unlike a more traditional university or college, career colleges are privately-funded, earning all of their income from student fees. Some career colleges may be more interested in enrolling you than educating you.

You can browse the Schools section of StudyinCanada.com to help you learn more about your options. If the school you're interested in has lots of new, updated information, that's a good sign.

2. What program would you recommend for me?

Like the question above, this can help you determine if your agent is trying to direct you towards a particular program or school. If you're interested in biochemistry, but your agent insists you should be studying business administration instead, you should ask why.

3. How many Canadian students attend the recommended institution(s)?

The response to this question can be telling. Most reputable colleges and universities in Canada will have at least a few Canadian students in attendance. If the student body is 100% international students, that could be a signal that the school is a "diploma mill" — a place that prints credentials without asking much from students in return (beyond their tuition fees).

Of course, there are some perfectly legitimate schools that cater specifically to an international audience. If you're not sure, consult the school's website directly, or even reach out to them and ask questions to help you decide if it's a good fit.

4. What's the road to permanent residency?

It's an open secret in the Canadian higher ed community that some agents aren't promoting education — they're promoting permanent residency. PR is a goal of many international students. This is good, because Canada needs skilled, educated newcomers!

Even so, receiving permanent residency in Canada isn't easy. There's a major backlog of applications right now, causing long wait times for pretty much everyone. So if your agent tells you that getting PR is quick and easy, not a problem, barely an inconvenience — you should be skeptical.

Remember: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If an agent is giving you nothing but good news and assurances that everything will be perfect and work out fine, be careful about accepting their word as fact. Sometimes good news is exactly that — good news — but if you're being told everything that you want to hear, with no caveats, then you should be careful.

What's the worst that could happen? I still get to study in Canada, right?

Even if your only goal is to reach Canada, you should still be wary about unscrupulous agents. CBC recently ran a story on this topic, sharing tales from students who were sent to over-booked schools, unable to satisfy the terms of their student visas, and at risk for deportation. Mortgaging the family farm for a dubious dream of success in Canada is a big risk — don't get talked into it by an agent who's focused first on profit.

How do I find a trustworthy agent?

This can be a challenge. Ask the questions above to gauge your potential agent's responses. Be doubtful, ask follow-up questions, and try to press them to explain their answers. If you get a bad feeling, trust it.

Another option is the Canadian University Application Centre, a Canadian-based network of agents in multiple countries, who can offer reliable advice without ulterior motive. They have offices in Africa, Asia, Canada, and South America, but they may be able to help you no matter where you are in the world.

Finally, don't be afraid to check out schools directly. You can browse their program offerings, read their websites, and schedule a chat with an admissions expert to sort out your options. These experts aren't paid a commission or fee, so they have no incentive to distort the facts.

When in doubt, consult multiple sources before signing anything. Trust your instincts if they tell you that something isn't right. If you can, enlist family members to help you: they may have a fresh perspective.

Ultimately, we all want to live the Canadian dream, but getting caught up in a system looking to exploit you for profit is not in your best interests. When you're thinking about your options, be vigilant, be skeptical, be watchful. Ask for details to back up statements. Facts are more powerful than figments.

Best of luck in your journey to Canada. We hope to see you soon.