NOTICE
FRAUD / SCAM WARNING TO PROSPECTIVE AND RETURNING DUT STUDENTS
21 January 2025
As the new academic year begins, it is important for prospective students to be aware of the potential for scams
targeting those who are looking to secure their seat at a tertiary institution. Unfortunately, scammers often take
advantage of the excitement and uncertainty that comes with the start of a new academic year, and prospective
students/students need to be vigilant in order to protect themselves.
One such scam that has recently been reported, is the use of fake DUT documents claiming to be sent by DUT
Student Admissions offering applicants a place to study at DUT for the 2025 academic year. Other scams are
persons/companies and social media pages that advertise themselves falsely claiming to be associated with the
Durban University of Technology (DUT). These persons/companies and pages may offer to assist DUT students
with various challenges, such as securing a space to register or fast-tracking the registration process. However,
in reality, these persons/companies are only looking to solicit money fraudulently from students or make money
through online advertising, with no benefit to the students.
To avoid falling victim to scams like these, DUT is warning prospective students and members of the public to
beware of these scams and scammers out there.
There are a few steps that prospective students, members of the public and returning students can take to avoid
such scams:
❖ Prospective students/Students should ensure that the university’s official email matches the emails they are
receiving. Communication from the university will only be sent out via official DUT email addresses and
official DUT social media platforms. If a student receives an email that does not match the university’s official
email, it is likely to be a scam.
❖ Prospective students/Students should ignore emails that ask for personal or financial information. Legitimate
organizations, such as universities, will never ask for sensitive information like this via email. If a student
receives an email asking for personal or financial information, they should contact the university first to verify
the request.
❖ Prospective students/Students should be wary of emails or messages that have poor spelling and grammar.
Scammers often have poor language skills, and this can be a red flag that the message is not legitimate.
❖ Prospective students/Students should be cautious of unsolicited emails or messages that claim to be from
someone who represents the university. These scammers may offer to assist you either to secure you a
space to register or to fast-track your registration. In most cases, these scammers will require payment for
their services, which is not legitimate and should be avoided.
❖ If a prospective students receives emails that are advertising opportunities to get into the university and
require payment, they should contact the university first to verify the offer. Many scammers will try to trick
students into paying for gaining admission into the university.
❖ Prospective students/Students should not send any money for a rental property or student accommodation
advertised online or via emails and SMS’s. They should speak to their university’s student housing
department, who will have knowledge of the legitimate accommodation options available.
❖ Prospective students/Students should be wary of fraudulent emails with malicious links or attachments that
try to convince them to disclose personal information. They should also be careful not to give away any
bank details unless they know and trust the receiver.
❖ Prospective students/Students should protect their personal information, never hand out their PIN numbers
or passwords to anyone, and never email their credit or debit card details to anyone, even the university.
❖ If a prospective student/student receives any messages or emails that look fraudulent, they should contact
the university immediately.
In conclusion, the DUT is warning prospective students and members of the public of the scams currently taking
place. The university will not send any representative(s) to ask money from prospective students. Students
should be vigilant and take the necessary precautions to protect themselves from scams. If you suspect a scam,
do not hesitate to contact the university for assistance.
The DUT strongly encourages all students to pay their fees directly into the DUT bank account as detailed
below and use your student number as a reference:
Bank: Standard Bank
Account Number: 05050 5416
Branch Code: 040126
Reference: Insert your DUT student number
