Everything you need to know

It's important to know about scams and fraud prevention. Whilst it might not be something that's on your mind, it's always good to know the basics, how to prevent it, and what fraud is most common to students.

Students can be prime targets for fraudsters, especially at the start of the academic year when dealing with tuition fees, loans and looking for accommodation.

Accommodation Fraud

Accommodation fraud happens when a criminal tricks you into paying for a property that doesn't exist or doesn't belong to them. They might advertise on various websites or social media, with attractive prices, convenient locations and professional-looking photos. Due to high demand, they might also create pressure and ask for upfront payments before any viewings to "secure" the property.

To avoid this, make sure:

• Check the contact details and address on the website
• Check the Companies House
• Always view accommodation in person before signing or paying any money
• Look out for copycat sites
• Reverse-image search accommodation photos

Tuition Fraud

Make sure you're only paying tuition fees through the official university channels to protect yourself from scams, never through third-party agents offering discounts. You may also receive high-pressure, urgent calls, messages or emails threatening legal actions or visa issues. Scammers use these tactics to steal funds, so it's important to be wary.

To avoid this:

✅ Use official Methods only: Official university channels do not offer discounts

✅ Protect Personal Data:  Never share bank details or login/personal information with anyone, especially those calling or messaging on social media

✅ Verify with the University:  If you receive what seems to be a suspicious email, message or call, contact the university with their official, public contact number and double-check it's either them or a scam

Purchasing Online Essays/Exam Papers

Due to exam and study stress, it can be tempting to buy essays or exam papers online. But, criminals exploit this. You may end up purchasing things and not receive anything, or they might even threaten to report you to the university unless you pay them more money. 

To avoid this, make sure you:

• Don't use/purchase online essay writing services
• It's unethical, and these services are often advertised by scammers

Romance Fraud

Romance fraud is when a criminal contacts you online through social media or dating apps and builds a fake relationship with you. They manipulate you into believing you're friends or romantically involved, then ask you for money. It usually comes with a false sympathetic story involving a family member or medical emergency.

Sexually Motivated Extortion

Criminals tend to use dating apps or social media to manipulate victims into sharing sexual images or videos, then demand payment and threaten to expose them to friends, family or the public. 

If this happens:

✔️Cut contact immediately and block the user

✔️Do not pay any money, and do not send further images or videos

✔️Save any messages to help track the criminals

✔️Report it to the police

Cyber Kidnaps

Fraudsters might use online accounts and social media platforms to contact your friends/family members, claiming to be holding you hostage and demanding a ransom. Or, in other cases, they might pose as legal officials and tell you you're in trouble with the authorities and ask for payments.

If this happens:

✅ Avoid sharing personal information publicly online

✅ Contact the police in the UK if you feel threatened

✅ Secure your online accounts using strong passwords and two-step verifications

✅ Ask questions only known to the real person to verify legitimacy

What to do if you're a victim of a scam?

Further Support ❤️

Victim Support | ☎️ 0808 178 1641

University Support:

• Spectrum.Life | 0800 031 8227
• Student Counselling Service | 0116 223 1780