Would-be students from India are lying on their immigration applications, misrepresenting their financial situation in order to get student visas.
A high number of fraudulent applications have been received at Immigration New Zealand's India office from people applying for student visas.
Some people were misrepresenting their financial situation in order to get student visas, the office's November newsletter about the student market said.
Students have to prove they have enough money while studying in order for their visa to be approved.
Indian students who arrived with too little money were at risk of exploitation that could harm the reputation of New Zealand as an education destination for foreign students.
A surge in applications for student visas in October was also noted, as people raced to beat tighter rules on English language testing.