Tips to avoid scams for students

There’s lots to remember as you start a new year of university, so we’ve tried to keep it simple with our tips for avoiding the scammers: Stop. Think. Tell.

If you spot an unexpected email, call or message, Stop and don’t be pressured into handing over cash, personal details or items.

Think about what’s being asked for, why it would be needed and how they can verify that they are who they say.

And if you’re still not totally sure, Tell someone you trust. Talk to a friend or family member to see what they think before doing anything.

If you’ve shared any money or details, contact your bank immediately and then report it to ActionFraud for more support.

Frequent scams around this time of year include fake emails, messages and calls that:

❌ pretend to be from the Student Loan Company

❌ offer discounts on tuition fees

❌ try to get you to use an alternative method to pay tuition fees

❌ pretend to be HMRC advising that you owe tax on a student loan

We’ve also had reports of calls targeting students that threaten an arrest or the kidnap of family members, remember to resist the urge to immediately comply with their request and take time to verify their claims and contact us for further support if you’re worried.

You can protect yourself against fraud by being cautious about what you share online, only using web addresses that you know are legitimate and avoiding clicking on hyperlinks.