Hundreds of young people from Myanmar, refugees in Thailand, have been scammed by an educational agency that promised them studies in Finland. Finnish authorities are investigating the case.

Hundreds of young people from Myanmar, refugees in Thailand due to the civil war, have fallen victim to a scam related to studies in Finland. Finnish authorities are investigating an educational agency that facilitated the enrollment of approximately 350 students in vocational schools between 2022 and 2025. Investigators suspect that many young people were charged exorbitant fees, promising them study places, residence permits, and language exams, but they were left without money and without the possibility of reaching Finland. Most of the students fled Myanmar after the coup in 2021, which led to the collapse of the educational system. In the city of Mae Sot in Thailand, the young people learned about the agency that promised access to studies in Finland, paying around 10,000 euros for courses and necessary documents. However, many applications for residence permits were rejected, and some students could no longer contact the agency for refunds. The Finnish Border Guard is conducting a large-scale investigation, with suspicions of extortion and risks of exploitation for young people. The agency had offices in Myanmar, Thailand, and Finland, promoting courses in various fields. The case raises questions about the protection of vulnerable foreign students.