Money Scams, Tricks and Frauds
You should always be wary about being targeted by fraudsters, especially while studying at university. Unfortunately, some criminals may attempt to target you for purposes of Money Fraud. These attempts can be an introduction in person, via social media or a messaging service. They may claim an opportunity is for a limited time so that you act quickly, with little time to stay safe by investigating further.
If someone contacts you and it seems unusual or unexpected, contact our Payment Security Compliance team at AML@salford.ac.uk who can offer you some advice. Remember - If the person who contacted you are genuine then they won’t mind you checking and then getting back to them.
Safe ways to pay
All students are advised to pay online on the university payments page directly themselves or by international bank transfer using Flywire. You can find further information on our Tuition fees page.
Further fraud information can be found at both: UKCISA for money fraud and UKGOV for Visa Frauds.
Here are some important tips to help keep you and your money safe:
- Only ever use the University recommended payment methods to pay your tuition fees.
- Do not allow anyone other than a close family member or friend to pay tuition fees on your behalf.
- Do not accept offers to help pay your tuition fees from so called ‘Payment Agents’ unless recommended by the university.
- Never share your bank account or debit/credit card details with anyone unless you know and can trust them.
- Never email your credit or debit card details to anyone, not even the University.
- Be wary of offers of easy money. If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.
- Be observant for communications like ads and emails with bad spelling and grammar.
- Don’t allow someone that you do not know or trust to transfer money through your bank account.
- If you receive suspicious texts, do not reply, or click any links.
- Be mindful of the information you share about yourself online.
Types of scams
Tuition fee payment scams
Third Party Payer Scam is a scam that can affect any student. Students are targeted by fraudsters who offer to pay your tuition fees at a discounted exchange rate, sometimes up to 20%. The fraudsters may contact you via 'friends of friends', social media platforms or even on the streets in cities’ and offer these discounted ‘exchange’ rates if you agree immediately.
You will be asked to pay money to the fraudster, who will then pay the University. Sometimes the fraudster even pays the University before you pay them, they then show you the email receipt to prove its paid. This is a method used to lure you into the scam by giving you confidence that the fee is paid.
The fraudsters are in fact using compromised (stolen) debit/credit card details to pay your fees to the University. These payments are then reported as fraudulent by the genuine card holder and recalled by the bank, meaning the money is taken back from the University leaving you in debt with your tuition fees and out of pocket.
Never agree to pay your fees in this way. To be safe you must always pay your fees using University recommended payment methods.
Students are often targeted by fraudsters and the University has a zero-tolerance policy to fraud. If any payment is found to be fraudulent then the applicants' offer of study will be withdrawn and sanctions applied to any currently registered students.
Visa scams
Some scammers target international students. As an international student you may be contacted by telephone where the caller pretends to represent the Home Office, High Commission, Embassy or police and they may already know some of your personal details.
The incoming number may appear to match a genuine number such as the Home Office (020 7035 4848) and they may ask you to verify it on the Home Office website www.gov.uk where the number will appear. They might tell you there is a problem with your visa and that you need to pay a fine and/or give the caller further personal information. Sometimes the caller may already know some of your personal details such as passport number which makes it look like they are genuine.
They may instruct you to pay a fine via bank transfer, Western Union or MoneyGram and that if you do not pay the fine, usually £1200 - £1520 but can be higher, you will be reported to the police and/or the Home Office who will detain or deport you.
The Home Office, UKVI, Police, Embassy or High Commission would never call an international student to request payment. If you receive such a call, you should hang up the phone. Do not speak to these individuals or give information about yourself and do not make any payments. If someone contacts you and it seems unusual or unexpected, contact our Payment Security Compliance team at AML@salford.ac.uk who can offer you some advice.
Money mules
Criminals may ask you to receive money into your bank account and transfer it into another account, keeping some of the cash for yourself. If you let this happen, you’re a money mule. You’re involved in money laundering, which is a crime.
This may be a fraud called ‘Money Laundering’ and is used to fund serious criminal activities. Money Laundering is a criminal offence and may land you in serious trouble with the Police, affect your credit rating and result in your bank accounts being frozen.
Keep yourself safe by:
- Never opening a bank account in your name for someone else.
- Never allowing your bank account to be used to send and receive funds for other people.
- Never sharing your PINs, passwords or passcodes with anyone unless you know and trust them.
- Never allowing anyone to use your bank account if you no longer need it. Always contact the bank to close your account when finished with it.
Read more about this scam on the Money Mule website. The HMRC has issued useful guidance on how you can protect yourself from becoming a money mule and who to contact if you have any concerns.
Employment scams
Not all employers are genuine. Students are looking for ways to make extra cash, which is being exploited by the scammers the most important thing to remember is that, if the offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. If you think a job opportunity doesn’t feel right, be cautious and check with the university.
Be wary if an employer:
- Asks you to invest money. Employers in the UK don’t generally ask for money from an employee.
- Expects you to pay for training or stock before starting work.
- Offers a very high salary
Other employment scam tips:
- Check the company’s details on Companies House to see if they are a genuine company and that the details match up to what you already have.
- Contact the company directly (get the contact details yourself from their website using a Google search) to confirm it is a legitimate job advert.
- Check any links you are sent to ensure they are a genuine company and not fake links.
- Check for spelling mistakes in any correspondence. Professional genuine companies would have correct grammar and spelling.
If you are ever unsure whether a job offer is genuine, call the number on the back of your bank card and speak to your bank’s fraud team, or email the university AML@salford.ac.uk
Student loan and accommodation
Fraudsters target students, especially around loan payment dates, posing as the Student Loan Company (SLC) or accommodation providers. They ask for personal information or for you to pay money. This can be over an email, text message, phone call or on social media.
Messages are often designed to create a sense of urgency such as 'failure to respond in 24 hours will result in your account being closed'. They may also address you as ‘Student' rather than your first and last name.
The Student Loan Company or your accommodation provider will never ask you to confirm your login and password or ask for bank details or personal information by email. Please be vigilant and do not disclose personal information or follow links. Check the government guide to identifying a phishing scam for more information.