How to recognise a scam

Anyone can fall victim to fraud, including university students. Scams can be convincing and fraudsters often use pressure or manipulation to obtain money or personal data.

By staying cautious and vigilant, and by taking action to stay safe online, you can help protect yourself and others. If you find yourself a victim of a scam, there is help and support available.

Available support

You can report fraud and seek support by contacting Report Fraud.

If you have been the victim of a scam and require support for your wellbeing or mental health, the University’s Student Support pages can signpost you to relevant services.

How to spot a scam

Scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, which can make them hard to spot. However, there are some key signs to look out for when you are contacted by a potential scammer:

  1. They claim to be acting on behalf of an official organisation

    Scammers may claim to be from the University, Student Finance, UKVI, the police, or another official organisation, either in the UK or overseas.

    They may use an official logo and convincing contact details. You may notice spelling mistakes, inconsistencies or incorrect information, but scammers are increasingly using AI to make their communications more realistic and to reduce easily detected errors. 

  2. They create a false sense of urgency

    Scammers may try to pressure you into acting quickly or sharing personal details.

    They might threaten to cancel your visa, to take legal action or give you limited time to respond.

    You may also be offered a time-limited incentive, such as a cash giveaway or prizes. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

  3. They ask for personal details 

    They may ask you to provide personal details over the phone or by email.

    They may even use personal details they already have about you to make the scam more credible and convince you to share additional information.

What to do if you suspect a scam

You should:

  • end all correspondence
  • do not share or confirm any personal details
  • do not send money
  • do not click on any suspicious links
  • seek advice
  • report the fraud

Types of scams to look out for

These are some of the common scams that target university students. Staying alert and recognising the signs of a scam can help you protect yourself and others.

Students are contacted by fraudsters via social media platforms by agents offering discounted tuition or rent fees.

They will offer to pay for fees on behalf of the student and may even provide a receipt to show the payment has been made.

They will then cancel the payment as soon as the money has been transferred, resulting in financial loss.

This type of scam is usually aimed at international students.

Take action:

  • Only make payments to the University or your College through their approved payment systems.
  • Beware of the promise of discounts and fee reductions.
  • If you are contacted directly and suspect a scam, cancel the call or do not respond.
  • Report the scam and notify your College or Department.

Fraudulent offers of accommodation are posted online, but the room or property advertised is not actually available to rent or does not belong to the scammer.

The listing may appear genuine and include photos of the property.

Students may be asked to pay money upfront without being able to view the property.

Take action:

  • Do not sign up for a room or property unless you can verify it is genuine. If possible, it would be best to see the property in person first.
  • If you have concerns the property listing is not genuine, contact the Accommodation Service for advice
  • Report the fraud and notify your College or Department.

Criminals target individuals online and in person by offering them cash in exchange for receiving money into their bank accounts and then transferring it elsewhere.

Students may unknowingly become money mules transferring stolen money on behalf of these criminals.

Take action:

  • End all contact with anyone offering this service.
  • Report the fraud and notify your College or Department.

Criminals target students claiming to be from an authority, such as the police, and threaten arrest or other criminal action.

They may claim the student has committed a crime and demand money.

These scams can be convincing and frightening. Scammers may use tactics such as contacting a student’s family and friends or claim they are monitoring the student.

These methods are designed to create fear and pressure the student into acting quickly.

Take action:

International students may be contacted by scammers pretending to be from the Home Office. They may ask students to transfer money or share personal details.

Legitimate visa officers will never ask you to send money or provide personal details via phone or email.

Other scammers may offer false promises of employment or fast-track visas and request the transfer of visa fees.

Take action:

  • Check the UKVI website for information about fraud, tricks and scams before trusting the communication.
  • Do not provide or confirm any personal details if contacted in this way.
  • Do not send money.
  • Report the fraud.

Students may be contacted by scammers claiming to be from their bank.

They may report fraudulent activity on the account and advise the student to move their money to a new account provided by the scammer.

A bank will never ask an individual to set up a new account or move money.

Take action:

  • Hang up or end all communication.
  • Call your bank from a different device to verify the call.
  • Report the fraud to your bank and Report Fraud.

Scammers may send a text message or email claiming a parcel is delayed or an additional payment is needed for delivery.

They will request personal details or payment information, or they may ask the receiver to click a link.

Take action:

  • If you suspect a scam and you are not expecting a parcel, do not click on any links or provide personal information.
  • Visit the Royal Mail’s website for more information about parcel scams.
  • Report the fraud

A loan shark is defined as is anyone ‘operating as a loan trade or business without the correct permission from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)’.

Illegal lenders can range from individuals to large networks of fraudsters.

They may offer financial support for fees, living costs or other needs but will then charge extortionate interest and use threats and manipulation to reclaim their loan and more.

Take action:

  • If borrowing money, make sure the lender is legal.
  • Contact Stop Loan Sharks if you think you have borrowed from an illegal lender or want to check a lender is legal.
  • Report the fraud.

Scammers use emails, text messages, fake websites and social media to target individuals to steal sensitive data or personal information.

They may impersonate trusted organisations and even use AI to create realistic communications to deceive victims.

Phishing attempts often encourage victims to click on links or attachments to install malware or they may request sensitive information.

Take action:

  • Verify the email address and URL before clicking on links.
  • Do not share personal information if contacted in this way.
  • Keep your software updated to keep your information secure.
  • Use multifactor authentication for extra security.
  • Report the fraud.