News Source: U.S. Embassy Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, April 17, 2017/APO/
This is the time of year when U.S. colleges and universities send out acceptance letters to students for the coming academic year. While this is an exciting time for anyone seeking to study in the United States, it is also a time to be wary of scams and fraud.
How You Can Be Deceived
Unscrupulous businesses and individuals may seek to obtain money from you by claiming to represent a university in the U.S. and offer a scholarship.
Beware of Frauds
Often times these scams will ask the recipient to send money for application or visa fees, with the promise that they will receive instructions on how to receive a visa later
Rule of Thumb
If you receive an offer from a university or college but did not apply to that institution, it is most likely not a legitimate offer.
If you still are not sure, you can often check by visiting the website of the university and using the contact information provided there to inquire about the offer.
Never Ever Do This: Never use the contact information provided in an unsolicited offer of acceptance.
For more information on the process of applying for a U.S. student visa click this link: travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/study-exchange/student.html.