SA Global Education

The Laiba Ijaz case and education fraud

A young graduate's death in Islamabad has put fake study abroad offers back in the headlines. Here is what has been reported, the cases that came before it, and the checks that protect students.

13 October 2026 · 6 minute read · SA Global Education

What has been reported

In October 2026, Laiba Ijaz, a gold medallist graduate of the International Islamic University Islamabad, was found dead in Islamabad. Police are treating her death as a suspected suicide, and the formal post-mortem findings were still awaited at the time of the first reports.

According to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and media reports, the family had paid about Rs9.3 million to a man who promised to arrange her admission and a scholarship at a university in the United States, which some reports name as Harvard. Part of the money was paid through her bank account and the rest in cash. The FIA says she was given fabricated admission offer letters, scholarship award letters and fee receipts. She is reported to have discovered that the documents were fake shortly before her death.

Reports say the man was not a registered visa agent and had misrepresented who he was. The FIA registered a case under the Pakistan Penal Code, and by 12 October police and the FIA had reported three arrests. The suspects have been accused and none has been convicted. The investigation is continuing. The Prime Minister and the Interior Minister both took notice of the case.

Our thoughts are with Laiba's family. We do not name the accused here, and we will update this article as the case progresses.

Not an isolated case

Recent months have seen other cases in Pakistan, and similar fraud has hurt students around the world:

  • Sialkot, July 2026. The FIA arrested a man accused of running an agency that promised students admission to a US university and HEC-funded PhD scholarships, allegedly collecting US$10,000 from each victim. The Higher Education Commission confirmed the documents were fake.
  • Islamabad, September 2026. The FIA arrested the head of a consultancy accused of mishandling a UK Student visa application after a family paid £4,000 to the university. The visa was not submitted on time and the student could not travel. The FIA reported recovering Rs1.6 million for the complainant.
  • Canada, 2023 and 2024. An agent in India issued fake college admission letters to hundreds of students who went on to study in Canada. Years later, some faced deportation when the letters were discovered. The agent pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years in prison in May 2024.
  • United Kingdom, 2014. A BBC investigation exposed organised cheating at English language test centres. Tens of thousands of test results were classed as invalid or questionable, and many students lost their right to stay in the UK, including some who had not cheated.

The pattern

These cases differ, but the warning signs repeat:

  • Large payments in cash, or into a personal account, instead of directly to the university.
  • Promises of guaranteed admission, guaranteed scholarships or a special route into a famous university.
  • Documents that the student never checks with the university itself.
  • Someone claiming an official title or government connection to win trust.
  • Pressure to pay quickly and to keep the arrangement private.

How to protect yourself

  • Verify every offer and scholarship directly with the university's admissions office, using contact details from its official website.
  • Pay tuition fees and deposits only to the university, through its official payment channels, in the student's name.
  • Never pay an agent in cash. Reputable agents are usually paid by universities and should be open about any fee.
  • Check whether a counsellor appears on the British Council database of UK knowledge trained counsellors, and whether the university lists the agency as a representative.
  • Remember that top US universities admit students only through their own application process. Nobody can buy or arrange a place.
  • If something feels wrong, stop and ask. A genuine adviser will welcome the questions.

Read our full guide to choosing a study abroad agent, and our commitments on the student rights page.

If you need support

If you or someone you know has lost money to fraud, report it to the FIA in Pakistan or to Report Fraud in the UK. Losing money is never a reason to feel ashamed, and it is not the end of your plans.

If you are struggling or having thoughts of suicide, please talk to someone. In Pakistan, the Umang helpline is free and open 24 hours a day on 0311 7786264. In the UK, Samaritans are available on 116 123. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.

Sources

Questions about your own plans?

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