Applying to universities abroad has always been a tedious task for eager foreign students. Now with the conviction of two UK scammers, university applicants and their families have another cautionary tale to consider before mailing off their tuition checks. 

Last month Sanketkumar Patel and Chirag Patel were convicted of several counts of money laundering in a UK court after crafting a scheme to defraud eager foreign students out of thousands of pounds and a brighter education. 

The Patels contrived a scam charging hopeful students between £4,500 –  £6,500 each for enrollment in a business program at Prior Park College in Bath, Somerset that did not exist. Many of these foreign students arrived in the UK only to discover that Prior Park College did not offer any such course, and in some even more unfortunate cases, that their student visas were unverified which resulted in their deportation. 

The BBC reports that the Patels’ illicit profits “were initially laundered through an account in a false name before being transferred to an account of Sanketkumar Patel, of Edenhall Close, Leicester”. 

Local authorities were made aware of the scam and launched an investigation after legitimate directors of Prior Park College made reports of students showing up for nonexistent courses. Sanketkumar Patel and Chirag Patel now face 21 months and 2 years per offense of prison time, respectively, in addition to court-ordered community service, and restitution fees. 

In addition to the foreign students affected, Prior Park College can also be considered a victim of the scheme as its reputation was tarnished. In these kinds of situations, it is vital for universities and similar organizations to consult with a skilled defense attorney that can advise on how to best protect the university’s interests while cooperating with investigators.