Beware study and visa broker scams

Visas are granted on requirements, not on money. Remembering that avoids most scams.

The typical tactics

• "I know someone at immigration" — visas are not granted through connections.
• "We'll make the documents for you" — those are false documents, and you are the one punished.
• "Just enrol at this school" — not actually attending is a status violation.
• "Send the money first and we'll proceed" — upfront payment demands are the basic warning sign.
• "We'll provide the job and the visa together" — they take a large fee and disappear.
• "Marry and you get permanent residence" — brokering sham marriages is a crime.

Why it is dangerous

Status obtained with false documents always comes to light eventually. Then follow:

• Cancellation of status
• Criminal prosecution
• Deportation and a long entry ban

You bear the consequences, not the broker — and you don't get the money back.

How to verify

1. Call 1345 first to confirm requirements and procedure. Free, and in your own language.
2. Check the official HiKorea website.
3. For study, ask the school directly.
4. For employment, check with an employment centre or 1350.
5. Never pay without a contract. Keep receipts and messages.

If you have already been defrauded

• Report the fraud to 112 and use the police cyber crime reporting site (ecrm.police.go.kr).
• Keep all transfer records, messages and contracts.
• Consult 1345 and a migrant support organisation to sort out the residence side.
• For study-related cases, tell the school and education authorities too.

Where to go

• 1345 Immigration Contact Centre (free, 20 languages)
• 112 fraud reports · ecrm.police.go.kr
• 1350 Ministry of Employment and Labour (employment matters)
• 1372 Consumer Counselling Centre
• 1577-1366 interpretation

Questions people ask

Aren't there legitimate study agencies? There are. But handling school enrolment and visa applications and creating false documents are entirely different things. Always verify the requirements yourself with 1345.

I've already sent the money. Report to 112 immediately and keep the transfer records. Account suspension is sometimes possible — ask your bank too.

The broker is threatening me. Report to 112. Threats are a separate crime.

I trusted them because they're from my country. Scams exploiting shared nationality are very common. Judge by the facts, not the relationship.

Take care

"Everyone does it this way" is the most dangerous phrase. Something is not legal because others do it. Base every visa decision on 1345's answer. A five-minute call protects years of your life.

Related

immigration-1345 · visa-refusal-appeal · visa-run-myth · online-scam · voice-phishing

Source

Korea Immigration Service, Ministry of Justice www.hikorea.go.kr / As of 2026-08