Information you need to know about fraud and prevention

Scams and fraud might not be something on your mind constantly, but it's important to be educated and learn how to be aware and how to prevent them from happening to protect your personal information.

Students can be prime targets for scammers, particularly at the start of academic years when handling tuition fees, loans and looking for accommodation.

Let's run through the types of scams to be aware of and how to avoid them:

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 and social media, often using attractive prices, convenient locations, and professional-looking photos, reviews and contact details. Due to high demand, they might also create pressure and ask for upfront fees before any viewings to "secure" the property.

To avoid this, make sure you:

✅ Always view accommodation in person before signing or paying any money

✅ Check website contact details and addresses

✅ Check the Companies House

✅ Look out for clone or copycat sites

✅ Reverse-image search accommodation photos

Purchasing online essays/exam papers

It may be tempting to buy essays or exam papers when the study pressure gets too much, but criminals exploit this. You might pay and not receive anything, or they might threaten to report you to the university unless you give them more money. It's very important to be aware of this.

To avoid this, make sure you:

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

Tuition scams

Protect yourself from tuition scams by paying fees only through official university channels, never through third-party agents offering discounts. Be wary of urgent, high-pressure calls, messages and emails threatening legal actions or visa issues, as scammers use these tactics to steal funds.

Key prevention strategies:

✔️ Use Official Methods only: Official university channels do not offer discounts

✔️ Protect Personal Data:  Do not share bank details, login credentials, or personal information with anyone, especially those calling or messaging on social media

✔️ Verify with the University:  If you get 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.

Romance Fraud

Romance fraud is when a criminal contacts you online through social media, chat rooms or dating apps and builds a false relationship. They manipulate you into believing you're friends or romantically involved, then ask for money, usually supported by a sympathetic but fictional story - such as a medical emergency or delayed wages. 

Sexually motivated extortion

Criminals use dating apps, social media, text or email to manipulate victims into sharing sexual images or videos, then demand payment or 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 such as WeChat and other messaging/social media platforms to contact your friends or family members, claiming to be holding you hostage and demanding a ransom. Or, in other cases, they might post as officials and tell you you're in trouble with the authorities and ask for payments. 

If this happens:

✅ Contact the police in the UK if you're threatened 

✅ Avoid sharing personal information publicly online 

✅ 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:

• Student Hub | 02380 599 599
• SUSU Advice Centre | 02380 592 085
• Student Safety Site

To read more about detecting scams and fraud, check out SUSU Scams Targeting Students.