“They are warned not to make any payments on the street or in vehicles. Its alleged criminals are promising students entrance to universities and requesting students to pay fees to them. They allegedly take the students to their vehicles where payments are done. The suspects issue students with replica registration forms and a student number belonging to someone else, making the deal look legitimate. The student is sent home and told to come back with the balance of the money for the chosen courses,” said Col Jay Naicker of the KZN police media centre.
On Wednesday, 15 January Berea police arrested a 26-year-old man in possession of fraudulent documents used to carry out this scam. He was charged with fraud.
“We believe more suspects will be arrested for operating this scam. We appeal to anyone who has fallen victim to this scam to report the incident to their local police station.”
In an unrelated scam, the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) has been inundated with complaints from students who have fallen prey to bogus/illegal/unregistered private FET colleges. Students aspiring to further their studies at private FET colleges must act responsibly and ask the following questions to any college they approach:
* Is the private FET college registered with the DHET?
* If registered, is the certificate of registration displayed?
* Is the private FET college registered for the qualification I am interested in?
* Is the qualification I am interested in listed on the certificate of registration?
* Is the campus where I want to enrol at registered with the DHET?
* Do I understand my responsibilities as stated in the learning contract?
Students can check the registration status of any private FET college by calling 0800-87-2222 or login on to: www.dhet.gov.za.
Any private college that offers occupational and trades qualifications must provide proof of accreditation by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) or a delegated body.
