How to Spot Student Scams and Stay Safe 

We understand that many of your hours are spent online, whether its studying, working, or in your personal time. As a result, you might think that you can see a fake email or spam phone call from a mile away.  

And while it can be obvious, scammers are always finding new ways to target students, which can be difficult to see. Because of this people are still falling victims to scams, which can lead to financial loss and be very upsetting. 

From phishing scams to tuition fee scams, we tell you how to spot the most common types of scams, and more importantly how to avoid them. For more advice on how to protect yourself from scammers, visit our Be Fraud Aware webpage. 

Six of the most common scams that target students

Tuition Fee Scams 

Fraudsters may contact you and offer to pay your tuition fees with a discount, but they will be using stolen credit cards to make the payment. This will leave you liable to repay the full amount when the card owner requests their money back and could face potential withdrawal from the University. 
 
Never pay your fees through a third party and ensure you are only making the payments via our payment partner, Flywire. If you need help paying your fees or require advice, please contact our Collections and Recovery team via phone 0161 247 1852 or email [email protected]. 

Student Loan Scams 

Fraudsters may contact you and ask for your tuition fees to be redirected or want you to confirm your bank details to pay you your loans. 

Do not follow any links in these messages, and search for the official Student Loans Company contact page to confirm if the request is legitimate. If you need help with your tuition fees or loans, contact our support team via phone 0161 247 1045 or email [email protected]. 

Money Mules 

This is where you let someone else use your bank account, knowingly or unknowingly, to receive stolen money. Around six in ten mules are under 30 and most are recruited between the ages of 17 and 24. 

Money mules usually sign up because they receive a cut of the stolen money. This means they are involved in money laundering, a serious criminal offence with a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison. 

Phishing 

Phishing scams aim to trick you into sharing sensitive information or personal details such as your passwords, bank account details, or to even money.   

They can come in the form of emails, phone calls or text messages from people posing as a trusted company, such as your bank. Scammers may use tactics such as creating fake login pages to popular websites to get your personal information and use it fraudulently.   

Hard Luck / Lost Card  

This happens when someone approaches you in public and claims to have lost their bank card and needs money. They will ask for cash, and in return they will transfer the money into your account. 

They are likely to make this ‘payment’ through a fake banking app, meaning no money has been sent to your account. 

Bank Account at Risk 

This is where you receive a call or text telling you your bank account has been compromised, and for safety reasons your money will need to be moved into a new account. 

Banks will never ask you to move your money. Call up your bank from the number on the official website or call 159 to speak to Stop Scams UK for advice. 

Six tips on how to avoid scams 

1. Can you verify who they are?  

You should always check an email address or phone number to see if it is coming from a legitimate company. Look out for inconsistencies in the sender’s email address or calls from unknown sources.   

If the contact details look suspicious, or you just want to be sure, try Googling it to see if the phone number or email address is linked to a legitimate company.   

2. Be cautious of anyone who uses pressure or urgency  

Scammers will often create a sense of urgency in their emails or over the phone to put the pressure on you. They want you to make an impulsive decision without thinking it through first.  

Give yourself time to step back and think about what they are asking you to do or what they want from you before you take any action.   

3. Don’t click on suspicious links  

Scam emails may include a link to a fake website so that the scammer can steal your personal details.   

Always stop and think before clicking on any link in an email. Try hovering over the link to preview the URL before you click on it. If you feel that it looks suspicious, do not click on it.   

If you do think you have clicked on a suspicious link, you can use your web browser to check the connection is secure.  

4. Never share your personal information  

You should always keep your personal details and financial information confidential. You should only share these details with trusted sources who you have verified.  

If you receive an odd request asking for your bank details, don’t feel rushed into sending these. Always check that the company or offer is legitimate by contacting the company directly first.   

5. Trust your instincts  

If you get the feeling that an offer is too good to be true, the chances are you are right. If you get offers about getting easy access to money or special promotions and discounts, take the time to do your research. Check in with the company directly or get some advice before making any decisions.   

6. Stay up to date  

Scammers are always looking for new ways to target individuals. This is why it is important stay aware of the latest types of scams. Always use reputable sources including government and consumer advice websites as well as protection agencies such Citizens Advice or Ofcom.