Student safety webpage
Students can be a prime target for fraud and cyber crime. Whether you're banking, browsing, shopping, dating, gaming, or sharing content on social media, it’s crucial to take steps to protect yourself. Follow these steps to secure your personal and financial information.
Top 5 Threats to University Students
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.
General online safety tips
Here’s how you can protect yourself further as you start your new university year:
- Protect your accounts: Use unique passwords for each account. A strong password is key—try using three random words and enable 2-step verification (2SV) for extra security.
- Pay safely: Avoid paying by bank transfer and don’t feel pressured into quick payments. Use a credit card for online purchases whenever possible.
- Beware of unsolicited messages: Fraudsters often use emails, texts, and social media to lure you in. Always double-check before making any purchases or paying upfront fees.
- Report suspicious emails to: [email protected]
- Report suspicious texts or scam calls to 7726 (free of charge)
Have you been a victim to fraud?
If you’ve lost money or shared financial information due to online fraud, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, contact Police Scotland at 101.