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Helping you avoid scams is important to us. We encourage you to stay aware and take steps to protect yourself. This page shows you ways to protect yourself from scams and provides some examples of scams targeted at candidates.
The Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) is the primary reliable source of information. We encourage candidates to be vigilant and cautious of any third-party information.
On this page:
According to Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre, scams are:
"A common way that cybercriminals compromise your online accounts. Scammers’ goal is to trick you into paying money or giving away your personal information. They will use email, text messages, phone calls or social media, and often pretend to be a person or organisation you trust."
The only way to apply for an eligibility check or to book an APC exam is via the Candidate Portal on the APC website.
We will never ask you to send us documents via email - they must be uploaded to our Candidate Portal.
🚫 APC will NEVER ask you through email, text message, or via social media to:
We do not offer live chat through social media.
✅ We WILL:
🚫 We will NEVER email you from a free email service such as Hotmail, Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, etc.
✅ Official email communication will only come from:
✅ LinkedIn is the only official social media of the APC.
We are aware of fraudulent emails involving people impersonating APC and other businesses demanding money for services such as document assessments and exam registration fees.
APC does not request payments outside of the Candidate Portal. If you are being asked to make payment for our services or exams outside of the APC Candidate Portal, chances are it's a scam, and you should email us at info@pharmacycouncil.org.au.
APC has encountered scammers claiming to be a consultant, undertaking 'document assessments' and providing fraudulent eligibility letters.
APC is the ONLY organisation to assess documents and provide an eligibility outcome. Remember, we will only accept documents uploaded to the candidate portal - we will never ask for personal documents via email.
The fraudulent email on the right shows:
Be cautious of people who claim to be:
Scam tactics include people claiming to work for a reputable training or tutoring company offering:
We have encountered scammers targeting people in social media groups offering fraudulent services. If you come across this, please contact APC.
Third parties may claim to have live exam questions that can be accessed for a fee. We do not publish our live questions anywhere. Exam question-harvesting violates intellectual property and copyright laws and can lead to legal consequences. If you encounter this, contact us at directly at info@pharmacycouncil.org.au or call +61 2 6188 4288.
Impersonating a migration agent involves someone pretending to be a reputable migration agent, offering support throughout your journey for a cost. If you plan to use a migration agent for assistance throughout your journey, please ensure they are registered with OMARA (Office of Migration Agents Registration Authority) - Search for registered migration agents · OMARA Self-Service Portal
Phishing scams can involve scammers tricking you into giving them personal information. They may send you fraudulent emails or text messages often pretending to be from large organisations you know or trust. They may try to steal your online banking logins, credit card details or passwords.
Immigration scams often play on the victim’s fear of being deported. You may receive a call out of the blue from someone claiming that there is a problem with your visa and that you need to pay money upfront to avoid risking deportation. Contact Department of Home Affairs or Scamwatch if you are concerned.
Remember, APC is the primary source of reliable information. Always refer to the APC website or contact our Candidate Relationship Team.
If you get a suspicious message claiming to be from APC or claiming to aid you with any of our services for a fee, including selling live exam questions:
Contact APC at info@pharmacycouncil.org.au.
Official video from Australian Government ScamWatch
If you have sent money to a scammer or a third party, contact your bank immediately. Unfortunately, APC cannot recover lost funds or intervene in financial transactions.
Stay careful and alert to minimise your chances of becoming a victim.
If you are unsure about being scammed, please contact us directly at info@pharmacycouncil.org.au or call +61 2 6188 4288.
Encountered a scam? If you have encountered a scam and you are resident in Australia, you can report to it at Report a scam with Scamwatch
If you encounter any leaked APC exam answers, contact us at directly at info@pharmacycouncil.org.au or call +61 2 6188 4288. We keep any information provided to us confidential to protect your privacy.