Unfortunately, all students are vulnerable to frauds and scams, where criminals are seeking out young adults who they think will be easy to extract money from. Do not worry, most students do not experience this, but we want you to be aware, just in case.
Common frauds that students are experiencing today can range from the more recognisable face-to-face fraud to those carried out by someone anonymously online.
Advances in technology enable you to carry out daily tasks more easily, but they can be frequently exploited by fraudsters interested in your personal information and money.
Some of the scams you may face include:
Fraudulent job scams
When applying for new jobs, fraudsters may attempt to trick you through fake job advertisements with the intention of stealing your personal information or money.
Money muling
Money muling is when you provide your bank details so that someone can put illegal money into your account. This can then be moved into another account, allowing the illegal money to be moved around.
Phishing
Phishing is when criminals use deceptive emails, text messages, or phone calls to defraud unsuspecting individuals.
Purchasing essays
Purchasing essays online is illegal and even just looking into purchasing essays online can expose you to scams. Plus, buying your work would lead to an academic misconduct case at York St John University which could affect your visa status.
Rental fraud
This is when you are asked to pay advance fees without viewing a property., This could mean that you are being exposed to rental fraud.
Sextortion
This is where criminals try to manipulate you into sharing explicit images of yourself or try to make you believe that they have nude images of you, using them as leverage to extort money from you.
Ticket fraud
When purchasing tickets for events, such as music concerts or sporting events, make sure you buy them from reputable sources.
Parcel fraud
Be very wary if you receive notifications saying that the police have found a suspicious package addressed to you and need your personal information to investigate. Criminals posing as police officers or Customs officials may contact you by phone or text. They may claim you are under criminal investigation after a parcel addressed to you was stopped in your home country.
These scams are sophisticated and intimidating, often accompanied by fake police credentials. They instruct you to be silent about the -investigation- and they ask you for money transfers to check the parcel-s legality. The scheme carries on, with threats of arrests of your family and requests for more money, leading to severe financial issues for some students.
Do not assume callers are who they claim to be. The police will never demand bank details, passport information, your address details, or ask to monitor your movements over the phone.
If in doubt, or if you feel under threat, then please reach out to the Student Hub.
If you have been affected by parcel fraud, please report it to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or by visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk. If you have shared any bank details, you must report it to your bank immediately.