Students are at a high risk of being scammed, according to NatWest. They report that over one-third of students were targeted by criminals in the last year. With student loans coming in, autumn-time is especially lucrative for fraud attempts. Scams are getting more elaborate and convincing, even able to replicate the hotline numbers of banks. In 2023, young people in Norfolk were scammed out of a reported £845k.  

ActionFraud, the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime, has recently announced their Student Safety campaign, which they hope will help prevent more students from being scammed. Their Deputy Director has said that “young people can be a primary target for fraudsters,” and their campaign hopes to alert students to the “top frauds to look out for.” 

Cybercriminals often use malware or phishing scams, through which they gain access to private information and even bank details. Other attempts can involve fake investments schemes, job fraud, or a major issue amongst students: rental fraud. This can involve a landlord requesting upfront payment to arrange a flat viewing, often due to them living abroad. Once they get the money, they disappear. Online shopping-related fraud is another concern, with fake tickets or non-existent products being advertised.  

ActionFraud warns that scams can take place anywhere online, including “banking, browsing, shopping, dating, gaming, or sharing content on social media.” They are warning students to keep their passwords and software updated, as well as to install anti-virus software. They also suggest checking social media privacy settings to know what is out there for anyone to discover.  

Students are being advised to be sceptical if they are contacted unexpectedly with a too-good-to-be-true offer. Especially when being asked to take action immediately. The Head of NatWest Student Accounts has said: “It is really important that students remain vigilant and are on their guard when they receive an unexpected text message, email or phone call asking for personal details.” Overall, remain vigilant when giving out information, whether over the phone or online. 

For students that have lost money or shared personal information due to fraud, it is recommended that they contact their bank immediately. Students can also report fraudulent activity to ActionFraud, which can advise students of their next steps. Additionally, the Student Life Finance team has resources available to students that have been victims of scams or are struggling financially.