Beware Fake “Guaranteed Admission” Letters Demanding Payment

Independent fact-checking organisation Africa Check has flagged letters circulating on social media since 2024 that falsely pose as official communication from South African universities, guaranteeing ‘100% successful admission’ in exchange for a fee, typically R500 or R700.

Legitimate South African universities do not sell guaranteed admission. Application and selection processes are merit- and criteria-based, run directly through each institution’s own official admissions office.

Common warning signs of this and similar scams:
– Any request for payment to ‘guarantee’ or ‘fast-track’ admission or a bursary
– Instructions to send documents to a free email address (Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) instead of an official institutional email
– Requests for your banking details — legitimate bursary funds are paid directly to your institution, never to you personally, and never require you to pay first

If you receive a suspicious letter or message like this, do not pay or respond. Report it to the South African Police Service (SAPS) or the National Consumer Tribunal, and verify any admission or bursary claim directly with the institution or funder’s official website.

Official Source

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