Eliane Uwase is 20 years old and a 2019 high school graduate. “I’ve always wanted to have a more prestigious education outside of Rwanda,” she said.
One day, while casually scrolling through her phone, she discovered an opportunity to study at an Italian institution on the internet. This university would offer her a full scholarship, covering all of her fees, including her visa and flights. The application expenses of USD2, 000, on the other hand, were a turning point for her. While she struggled to raise the funds, three of her friends paid.
“We were in contact with an Indian man. He was the one that led us through the process and explained some of the details. He’d also be the one to whom we’d transfer money.” “After my friends paid, he began putting pressure on me to pay as well.”
She continued, “But it was taking time. As a result, when my friends pressed him to start the application, he abruptly vanished. We couldn’t seem to find him, and strangely, none of us could recall his complete name, which was probably fraudulent anyhow.”
Unfortunately for Uwase’s friends, they only discovered that this was most likely a phantom university after it was too late.
This is a common occurrence among students seeking for universities in other countries. While there are many good reasons to study abroad, such as enhanced work opportunities, a better understanding of the world, a broader educational experience, and so on, one should pay attention to…
