KNUST warns prospective students against admission and housing scammers as fraud schemes surge

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has sounded the alarm over a growing wave of fraudulent schemes targeting prospective students and parents seeking admission and accommodation at the institution. The university's warning comes as scammers increasingly use social media platforms, WhatsApp groups and fake websites to pose as official sources or intermediaries claiming they can secure admission spots and hostel placements.

Rising fraud targeting prospective students

KNUST officials have noted a spike in fraudulent posts and websites falsely representing themselves as authorised channels for admissions and housing services. These scams typically involve individuals or groups claiming to have insider connections or special access to guarantee admission or secure prime accommodation options. Many targets of these schemes are first-time university applicants and their parents, who may be unfamiliar with legitimate university procedures and vulnerable to such deception.

The university has explicitly warned prospective students against paying money to anyone claiming they can guarantee admission or hall placement. Additionally, applicants are urged not to share sensitive information such as admission portal passwords, credentials or personal documents with third parties, regardless of how legitimate they may appear.

How to verify official KNUST channels

To protect themselves, applicants should only rely on information from KNUST's officially designated offices and communication channels. The university emphasises that all legitimate updates on admissions, fees, accommodation and hall bookings come exclusively through these verified sources.

Prospective students and parents can verify official KNUST contacts:

• Official website: knust.edu.gh
• Admissions Office phone lines: 024 013 0946, 020 133 2812, 054 020 6262
• Official WhatsApp: 024 013 0946
• Official Telegram: 050 048 2807

KNUST stressed that applicants must keep their Admissions Portal login details strictly confidential and never share these credentials with anyone throughout the entire admissions process.

Why this matters for Ghana

As one of Ghana's most prestigious and sought-after universities, KNUST attracts thousands of applicants annually, both from within Ghana and internationally. The rise in admission scams reflects a broader problem across Ghanaian tertiary institutions, where fraudsters exploit the anxiety and competitive pressure surrounding university entry. Parents and students often invest significant resources in preparing applications, making them prime targets for financial exploitation.

Beyond the immediate financial loss, such scams can cause emotional distress and derail genuine educational aspirations. The warning is particularly important as it reaches students during critical application periods when competition is intense and desperation to secure spots may lower critical judgment.

For Ghana's education sector, the prevalence of admission fraud undermines institutional credibility and creates mistrust in official channels. It also highlights the need for stronger digital literacy and consumer awareness among students and parents navigating university applications. KNUST's proactive communication about official channels sets an important precedent that other Ghanaian universities could follow to protect vulnerable applicants from exploitation.