The Dunin-Deshpande Innovation Centre at Queen's University (DDQIC) is aware of a situation involving fraudulent activities where an individual has solicited application fees for the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship at Queen's University in Canada. 

The individual, who is not affiliated with Queen's University, DDQIC, or the Mastercard Foundation, has been targeting young people, particularly in Rwanda, via email and WhatsApp. They are requesting personal information and fraudulent application fees. This matter has been reported to the local authorities. 

Queen's University and DDQIC are committed to fostering opportunities for young people through programs such as the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship, which gives African students and recent graduates the opportunity to access training, resources, financial support, and a network of mentors to develop their entrepreneurial skills and start building their own venture. 

The DDQIC and the Mastercard Foundation do not charge any fees for the application to the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship. The public is cautioned to remain vigilant and to report suspicious activities to local law enforcement. More information on various scams targeting international students is available on the Queen's University International Centre website. Additionally, please notify Queen's University of fraudulent activity by contacting us at access.privacy@queensu.ca or (613) 533-6000 ext. 75226.