Beware of Scams and Frauds!
Scams and Frauds are crimes in which deception is used for personal gain. It is usually to make money or obtain information through deception. With technology improving, fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated. Many types of scams and frauds exist and there are some that will target students in particular.
Phishing
This is when criminals use deceptive emails, text messages, or phone calls to defraud unsuspecting individuals. Don’t assume anyone who emailed you is who they say they are. You should always be cautious if an email asks you to make a payment, log in to an online account or offer a deal. Remember, no bank will email you requesting your password or sensitive information by clicking on a link and visiting a website.
As a student you should always be cautious of emails that mention student loans or any other payments you receive and make sure they are legitimate.
If you are an international student you should also be wary of emails that mention your Find out more about phishing on our DigiKnow page.
Rental Fraud
Finding somewhere safe, convenient and affordable to live may be one of your main concerns. Unfortunately, scammers know how important student accommodation is and could try to take advantage of your need to find a home.
You may be asked to pay a fee in advance without viewing the property. In reality, the property may not exist, may already be rented out or have been rented to multiple victims simultaneously.
To protect yourself from rental fraud only send money to people advertising rental properties online once you are sure the advertiser is genuine.
Parcel Fraud
Criminals posing as police officers or customs officials may contact you by phone or text. They might claim you are under criminal investigation after a parcel addressed to you was stopped in your home country.
This could mean they send images of fake police warrant/ID cards and instruct you not to tell anyone about the ‘investigation’. They may then instruct you to transfer money to a bank account within your home country so it can be checked to ensure it is legal. This money is not returned; instead, more is demanded.
This scam has left students in serious financial difficulties. You should not assume people are who they say they are on a phone call or text, especially if they ask for personal or financial details.
Money Muling
This scheme involves a person agreeing to share their bank details to deposit money into their account, likely from an illegal source.
Funds are then withdrawn and transferred onward – with the account holder retaining a percentage for their compliance.
Students are a target because younger people are less likely to have a criminal history and their clean account is less suspicious to banks.
Transferring criminal money is a crime. It may appear to be a simple way to make money, but if you’re found engaging in such activities it could result in gaining a criminal record.
Ticket Fraud
Criminals often set up fake websites or social media profiles to sell tickets to concert or sports events that are either fraudulent or don’t exist.
When purchasing event tickets, exercise caution and be vigilant for indicators of fraudulent activity. Purchasing tickets from unreliable sites can result in losing out on both the tickets and your money.
Fake Job Scams
Fake job adverts are designed to target job seekers in order to steal their personal information or money.
Always be careful when applying for jobs, especially if the advertiser shares little information or it seems incorrect.
Purchasing/Writing Essays
You may be tempted to use a paper writing service to complete assignments. This is not only unethical but is also a market for scammers and fraudulent activity.
It is not uncommon for students to become victims of extortion, where criminals will threaten to contact the student’s university and inform them of the attempted purchase in return for payment.
Sextortion
Online sextortion is a form of sexual blackmail. It involves criminals targeting you through dating apps, social media, text or email and manipulate you into sharing sexual images/videos that they later use to demand payments under threats of public exposure.
.Find out more about sextortion and the organisations that can provide support.