Phish: OSAP hold and tuition payment demand
Published: October 5, 2026
This phishing attempt impersonates the University of Toronto’s Office of the Bursar, claiming that a student’s tuition is overdue and their OSAP application is on hold. It threatens deregistration, loss of access to university services and reporting to IRCC and OSAP if payment is not made immediately. The email directs students to send a $3,000 Interac e-Transfer to a Gmail address, using urgency, impersonation and legal threats to pressure them into making a fraudulent payment.

Email details
Dear Student,
We are writing to inform you that your tuition payment for the Fall 2025 term remains outstanding. As of October 1, 2026, you have exceeded the original payment deadline of September 30, 2026, and are now within a final grace period extended under exceptional circumstances. This communication serves as an official last opportunity to fulfill your financial obligations and avoid academic and legal consequences.
UNIVERSITY POLICY ON TUITION PAYMENT & REGISTRATION STATUS
Under the University of Toronto’s Financial Registration Policy (Policy Code FIN-04.12):
“Students must demonstrate financial commitment by making a minimum tuition deposit of $3,000–$5,000 by the posted deadline in order to retain enrollment, access university systems, and remain in good standing.”
Failure to meet this requirement legally voids your registration agreement and results in administrative actions as outlined in the Office of the Registrar’s Enforcement Procedures.
CONSEQUENCES OF NON-PAYMENT
If your payment is not received on October 1, 2026, the following actions will be initiated in accordance with university policy and federal compliance regulations:
- Immediate deregistration from all Fall 2025 courses
- Financial and academic holds placed on your student account
- Suspension of access to Quercus, ACORN, UTmail+, and library services
- Loss of full-time student status, which may affect:
- Immigration status (IRCC reporting for international students)
- OSAP and external funding eligibility
- University housing and health insurance eligibility
- Graduation eligibility and transcript requests
The University is legally obligated to report students who fail to meet enrollment criteria, including financial clearance, to appropriate external agencies, including IRCC and provincial aid bodies.
PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS
To fulfill your financial obligations today, you must submit a minimum payment of $3,000 CAD via Interac e-Transfer to the University’s BACPURSE payment account:
Recipient Email: artmelina039@gmail.com
Amount: $3,000 CAD minimum
Memo: Your Student ID Number
Note: This deposit is mandatory, regardless of OSAP or third-party funding status. As per OSAP Policy Directive Section 3.4, students are responsible for all tuition commitments until OSAP is disbursed, which occurs after term commencement and cannot be used to satisfy upfront registration conditions.
CONFIRMATION REQUIRED
Once the transfer is complete, do not send payment receipts to the eTransfer address, as it is not monitored. Instead, reply to this email with:
A copy or screenshot of your eTransfer confirmation.
LEGAL NOTICE & STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY
By enrolling at the University of Toronto, you have entered into a legally binding agreement accepting all terms outlined in the Student Financial Responsibility Statement, which includes:
“Understanding that failure to meet payment obligations may result in deregistration, account referral to collections, reporting to credit agencies, and legal recovery proceedings.”
The University is committed to assisting students in need, but non-response or non-payment will result in enforcement without further notice.
Fall 2026 CLASSES – PLAN AHEAD
If you have not yet initiated payment for FALL 2026, we strongly recommend you begin the process now to avoid repeating this disruption. Early payment ensures secure course registration and compliance with future deadlines.
TODAY IS YOUR FINAL OPPORTUNITY
Please treat this matter with the utmost urgency. If we do not receive your payment or hear from you by end of day October 1, 2026, we will proceed with deactivation and deregistration procedures.
Best regards,
[Same name as the compromised account]
Office of the Bursar
Financial Aid & Awards
University of Toronto
Phishing cues
Report phishing
If you receive a suspicious email, do not open attachments or click on links. Report phishing attempts to security.response@utoronto.ca.
