Action Fraud advice for student safety against scammers

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In 2023, students & young people lost over £143m to fraud, so through checking out these tips, you can make yourself a harder target to help protect your device & data.

Make yourself aware of the top 5 threats to students at University:

Investment Fraud

Criminals will target students looking to make quick-wins with available cash through cryptocurrency or schemes with a promise of high return investment. They are usually easily targeted through social media and online where many investment schemes operate. Stay #ScamSmart with these tips:

• Seek advice: Talk to trusted friends, and family, or seek independent professional advice before making any financial decisions.
• Check the FCA register: Always verify if the company is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). You can also consult the FCA warning list.

For more info, visit: FCA ScamSmart

Job Application Fraud

Students looking for job opportunities can be targeted by fraudulent adverts aimed at stealing personal information or money. Students might be asked for an upfront payment for a fake consultation or extra help finding a job, but the fraudster does not deliver. Stay safe by:

• Avoiding fees: Legitimate employers won’t ask for money upfront.
• Protecting your bank account: Employers should never use your personal bank account for business transactions.
• Verifying employers: Check the legitimacy of any employer through official channels.
• Being cautious with emails: Be wary of job offers from generic email domains like Yahoo or Hotmail.

For more advice, visit: JobsAware

Rental Fraud

Looking for student housing? Rental fraudsters often target students looking for university housing, asking you to pay advance fees for properties that don’t event exist. Follow our tips here:

• Viewing the property: Never agree to rent without seeing the property first.
• Verifying details: Ensure the property has genuine safety certificates and a valid contract before transferring funds.
• Choosing safe payment methods: Avoid bank transfers; use credit or debit cards for better protection.

Online Shopping Scams

Students are prime targets for online shopping scams, with millions lost each year. Often fraudsters will create fake websites or replicate legitimate online stores to trick customers into providing their personal and financial information for a purchase that isn’t real. This can lead to those details being used for criminal activity. Here’s how to stay secure:

• Check shop legitimacy: Research online stores, especially if you haven’t used them before.
• Use credit cards: If possible, pay with a credit card for added protection.
• Provide only the necessary information: When checking out, only fill in the required fields (marked with an asterisk).
• Secure your accounts: Use strong, unique passwords for your shopping and banking accounts.

Ticket Fraud

Fraudsters will use opportunities, like highly in-demand events, to target students by selling fake tickets. Students looking for cheap deals for freshers’ events can also be targets. Protect yourself when buying tickets by:

• Buying from official sources: Purchase tickets directly from the venue’s box office, official promoters, or well-known ticketing sites.
• Using safe payment methods: Avoid bank transfers; opt for credit cards or PayPal instead.
• Using strong passwords: Secure your email and ticket accounts with strong, unique passwords. Consider the ‘three random words’ method and enable 2-step verification (2SV).
• Checking STAR Membership: Ensure the ticket vendor is a member of STAR for added security.

Visit STAR for more information.

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