Warning over foreign education agency

Warning over foreign education agency

JAKARTA (JP): The city police warned yesterday residents who
intend to study overseas to scrutinize institutions offering
education programs abroad.

The warning echoed a U.S. embassy announcement that a local
group was claiming to represent the embassy here.

"We'll be happy to get reports from people who had been
cheated by educational institutions or groups," City Police
spokesman Lt. Col. Iman Haryatna told The Jakarta Post yesterday.

The reports will help police investigate the case, Iman said,
adding that his office had yet to receive a single report on the
scam.

The U.S. embassy statement said the group, which targets
writers and academics wanting to study in the United States,
calls itself the Department of Literature and Culture for
Southeast Asia of the American Embassy, or the Cultural
Department of the embassy.

"It's just puzzling so far. Nobody has been asked for money
yet and we have no idea who is running it," embassy press attache
Craig Stromme was quoted by AFP as saying on Thursday.

Some of those approached to apply for the non-existent
scholarships had already sat preliminary exams and had been
invited back for the next level, Stromme said.

"We think they were going to ask for money later," Stromme
said.

He said the organization, which has offered a return address
close to the embassy, claimed to represent several tertiary
institutions in the United States. He declined to name which
ones.

"I don't want to name the colleges because I don't want to
tarnish their names," he said.

The embassy has warned anyone seeking study opportunities in
the United States to contact the embassy for verification.

Police Spokesman Iman said he hoped for further information
about the alleged scam.

"By doing so, we can instantly start the investigation to find
the group's real address and take the necessary steps," the
officer said. (bsr)