Griffith off-campus accommodation provides Griffith University students with information and support to find suitable accommodation off-campus. The finding accommodation page provides step-by-step information on finding suitable accommodation, how to apply and resources to help settle-in. For property owners, a guide to advertising property to students is now available.
Latest news
Warning students about web-based rental and employment scams
As colleges are aware, international students are often targets for web-based rental schemes in which property rental websites are used to advertise apartments or houses, and request online applications. Further correspondence will provide official looking documentation that leads applicants to believe that all is legitimate. 'Successful' applicants are asked to transfer bond and rent money to the person claiming to be renting the property, with an undertaking that the key will be sent to the applicant via courier or express post – this does not occur and the student has lost their money with little recourse to recover the lost funds. A visit to the property will invariably find someone living there who knows nothing of the situation whatsoever.
Another ongoing scam involves students applying for cleaning jobs and being told that money will be transferred to their account in advance to cover the cost of cleaning materials and their time, and that they should then just turn up to clean an apartment. The employer is always overseas at the time and often taking care of a sick or ailing relative. Students unthinkingly hand over bank and personal details and may then find themselves in the midst of a money-laundering scam. Students should be reminded never to give out personal or banking details on-line.
In light of these ongoing problems faced by international students, it may be useful for colleges to warn their students of these scams.
More information on these scams, and precautions students can take can be found on the ACCC's Scam Watch site.
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At Griffith off-campus accommodation we welcome your feedback. If you have suggestions, please contact the Off-campus accommodation office.
Please note that Griffith University does not endorse the websites listed on this website. The University does not take any responsibility for information provided by these sources that is wrong or misleading.
