We have recently become aware of a spike in fake communications that pretend to be made with approval or consent from the British Council or British Council officials. We would like to warn our customers so that they can take steps to protect themselves from scammers. Scams may take a myriad of forms, in addition to those described below. Scam e-mails often seek to obtain personal information that is later used to commit fraud or theft.
Please try to protect yourself in the following ways:
- Make sure you only trust our verified social media accounts: @britishcouncilqatar on Instagram and British Council Qatar on Facebook.
- Make sure you’re surfing on a secure British Council website.
- Do not trust anyone who tells you they can get you a higher score, they are most likely trying to defraud or scam you.
- Remember that the British Council shares your CD IELTS results in 5-7 days and Paper-based IELTS results in 10-12 days, anyone promising shorter timelines is a fraudster or a scammer- British Council will never contact you to request your personal information. We will also never send you an email or call you claiming we’ve lost your information.
- If you are concerned about the legitimacy of a communication (call, email or SMS) you have received from British Council, contact us directly on +974 44196494 (within the Qatar) or +974 44251885 (on WhatsApp)
- There are individuals who use British Council name in emails and on websites in an attempt to solicit fees from interested job-seekers. These scams can be called placement fees or immigration processing fees. British Council will not charge candidates an up-front fee of any kind. Visit our careers page to learn more about the career opportunities available at British Council.
- The Citizens Advice Bureau provides clear, practical and free advice on many issues, including guidelines on identifying scam e-mails. Find out how you can spot a scam here.
If you feel you have been the victim of a fraud, or suspect fraudulent activity carried out in the name of British Council, please report with details to IELTS.Security@britishcouncil.org
The British Council is not liable for any sort of loss or damage that occurs as a result of fraudulent schemes.