Be fraud aware

Each year some students are scammed when trying to rent private accommodation.

How it works

Unfortunately, there are lots of housing scams in the UK. People pose as landlords and ask for large sums of money for accommodation that doesn’t exist, has already been rented out, or has been rented to multiple victims at the same time.

If you lose money in this type of scam it’s not always possible to get it back.

Never transfer money unless you are certain that the situation is authentic. Tips to identify and avoid potential scams can be found on the Action Fraud website. 

Stay safe

If you need to secure accommodation in the UK from overseas, seek the help of the University or ask a friend, contact or relative to check if the property exists and is available.

Don’t be pressured into transferring large sums of money until you or a reliable contact has visited the property with an agent or the landlord.

If you’re viewing a property, always try to take someone with you. If you have to go alone make sure someone knows where you’re going, who you’re meeting and when you’ll be back.

If you think you’ve been scammed, report it to Action Fraud. This is a national fraud reporting initiative where the scam will be looked at and possibly passed on for investigation by the police.

You may be offered money to receive and make payments from your bank account.

How it works

Someone will ask if they can pay money into your bank. They say you can keep some of it, but want most of the money transferred to another account. 

Don’t be fooled by quick cash offers. This is money laundering, a serious crime that can have severe consequences, including prosecution, damage to your credit rating, and having your bank accounts frozen. They’re trying to turn you into a money mule.

The money you’re asked to transfer is often obtained from organised criminal activities.

Be very wary of anyone who asks you to do this, including someone you know.

Stay safe

• Never open a bank account in your name for anyone else, regardless of the promises or incentives they offer.
• Never allow your bank account to be used for sending or receiving funds on behalf of others, even if you know them personally.
• Safeguard your PINs, passwords and passcodes.

Visit the Money Mules website for information about how to avoid money laundering scams.

Download the HMRC advice on how to avoid becoming a money mule.

The ‘Crooks on Campus’ fictional docudrama is based upon the experiences of two students who were exploited as money mules. Watch the trailer and find out more details about this fraud on their website.

You may be targeted by fraudsters posing as the Student Loans Company.

How it works

You may get an email, text message, phone call or direct message on social media. The fraudster will then ask for personal information, or tell you to pay them money.

Be particularly careful if they are trying to create a sense of urgency, such as by threatening to close your account if you don’t respond quickly.

They may call you ‘student’ rather than using your first and last name.

The Student Loans Company will never ask for your login and password, bank information or other personal details in an email.

Stay safe

• Never disclose personal information.
• Do not follow links in suspicious messages.
• If someone claims to be from the Student Loans Company, check their identity with the company before taking any action.

Visit GOV.UK for more information on how to protect yourself from phishing scams.

This scam targets our international students.

How it works

You get a phone call from someone claiming to be from His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

They will falsely say the University has not paid the required tax on your behalf.

They will be aggressive and try to intimidate you. They might threaten to have you deported or thrown off your course if you do not pay them immediately. They may tell you not to talk to anyone about the call, including university staff and friends or family.

They may address you by your name and provide a badge ID number to make them sound genuine.

Stay safe

• Do not pay any money to these callers. 
• HMRC will never call you to ask for money, or ask you to pay any money on behalf of the University.

Visit the HMRC website for help identifying and reporting frauds and scams.

Scammers target Chinese students, who they wrongly claim have broken censorship laws or committed a crime.

How it works

The scam often begins with a phone call from 0843 586 3924, claiming to be from DHL or Royal Mail, regarding a parcel.

The fraudsters may also pose as officers from the Chinese police or law enforcement bodies such as the National Crime Agency.

They will become aggressive and accuse you of breaching China’s censorship laws or committing a crime.

They then demand a payment from you or your family, sometimes vast amounts.

Stay safe

• Be cautious of any unexpected phone calls or messages claiming crimes have been committed in China. Genuine official organisations do not do this. 
• Never give personal information or financial details to unknown callers.
• If someone claims to represent law enforcement agencies, verify their identity.
• Do not do what the scammer tells you to, even if they threaten you with severe consequences.

If you have encountered such a scam or believe you are a victim, it is essential to report it immediately.

You can:

• Call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or visit www.actionfraud.police.uk. This helps to raise awareness and protect other students.
• Contact Victim Support on 0161 200 1950 or greater.manchester@victimsupport.org.uk or visit www.victimsupport.org.uk. They can help if you have been a victim of crime.

The RedZei (or RedThief) phone scam targets Chinese-speaking students and aims to steal personal information.

How it works

The scammers call victims frequently, typically once or twice a month, using a unique UK phone number. Sometimes they impersonate trusted organisations, such as the NHS and the delivery firm DHL.

If you don’t answer the call, they leave an unusual automated voicemail message.

This is part of a trick to get you to give them personal information. If they get your details, they could steal your identity or use them in other crimes.

Stay safe

• Be cautious about any unexpected phone calls, especially from unfamiliar or suspicious numbers.
• Do not respond to voicemail messages that seem unusual or suspicious, and never share personal information over the phone unless you are confident in the caller’s legitimacy.
• If a call seems suspicious, hang up immediately and do not engage further with the caller.

There has been an increase in cyber threats related to the situation in Ukraine. 

How it works

Hackers often exploit news stories to trick people into opening messages, clicking on links, or accessing attachments.

There has been a surge in phishing attempts through email, SMS and social media linked to fundraising, petitions or tragic stories. These messages can be fraudulent and pose serious risks to your cybersecurity.

Stay safe

• Do not open attachments or click on links in messages that appear irrelevant or are from unknown senders.
• Take care with any message that asks you to make an aid donation, sign a petition or provide personal information.
• If you get suspicious messages in your University email, use the report message button in Outlook. It will safely delete the email and notify our IT team.

Purchasing currency through non-regulated markets can lead UK authorities to suspect you of criminal activity, including money laundering.

How it works

Unregulated currency markets lack oversight and supervision from official financial authorities, which can lead to various risks, including potential involvement in illegal activities, money laundering, and financial scams.

Stay safe

To protect yourself and maintain compliance with financial regulations, we strongly advise you to conduct all currency transactions through legitimate and regulated channels.