Tuition Fee Fraud

Students have been approached in person and via social media by individuals offering to pay their tuition fees at a reduced rate. These fraudsters are taking money from students and then paying their fees using stolen bank card details. 

Fraudsters have been known to:

• put excessive pressure on you to agree to their payment proposal, for example, sending you lots of messages or saying the discount is only available for a limited amount of time
• offer discounted rates for using their services that seem too good to be true
• ask you or a family member to meet them in person to pay large sums of cash for their services
• recruit a student to advertise their services to you
• contact you on social media platforms or messaging apps, for example: Facebook, Instagram, WeChat, WhatsApp

Your tuition fees should always be paid directly to the University by yourself or a family member, using a University-approved payment method.

Be vigilant of adverts and messages on social media and messaging platforms. We will never contact you via these platforms to ask you to pay your tuition fees.

Remember if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Be aware of University procedure - we will only ask you to pay tuition fees for the current academic year you are registered in.

You will never be asked to pay an additional deposit to secure a place on a course you are already registered on.

If you are unsure if a request to pay tuition fees is legitimate then do not respond to the message and contact the tuition fees team to check.

Do not use any contact details or links on the suspicious message.

Money Mules are recruited, sometimes unknowingly, by criminals to transfer illegally obtained money between bank accounts, often for a payment. Criminals target through social media or gaming chats, or directly, with the promise of “easy money”.  Money muling is a form of money laundering and criminals often target students so be alert to these schemes.

More and more young people are victims of fraud. One of the main enablers of this are money mules – people who let someone else use their bank account to transfer money.

Criminals often recruit students as money mules. Why? Usually to process cash they’ve got their hands on illegally, such as by stealing. In exchange, the money mule gets to keep a cut. It’s a small price to pay to protect the criminal, so any consequences hit the mule instead of them.

An offer of quick cash might seem great at the time. But if you get caught, you could end up with a criminal record for money laundering.

This a serious crime that could land you in prison for up to 14 years.

There’s also likely to be a huge impact on your mental health, family and ability to trust people. So don’t risk your future. Steer clear of unsolicited offers to make easy money while studying. It’s simply not worth it.

Did you know...

6 in 10 money mules are under 30 years old?

Most are recruited between the ages of 17 and 24 – either online, in person, or even through friends and family

How can I protect myself?

• Be suspicious of job adverts that offer the chance to earn quick and easy money. Stick to reputable job sites and remember that if something looks too good to be true, then it probably is.
• Don’t sign up for any opportunity without undertaking some proper research. For example, Google any prospective employer, do they have an online presence? Are the contact details legitimate? Is it based overseas?
• Don’t engage with any online posts offering large sums of money.
• Don’t accept message requests from people you don’t know, and if you receive a message with a link to click from a friend, speak to them in person before you respond.
• Don’t share bank and personal details with anyone that you don’t know or trust – even among friends or family. If someone asks to ‘borrow’ your bank account, say no.
• Always remember that if you aren’t sure about the source of the money, it could have come from criminal activity, and you could unwittingly be laundering money and end up with a criminal conviction.

What should I do?

If you or someone you know has been approached, break off all contact, don’t receive or move any money, and ask for advice from someone you trust. Criminals operate in silence – by talking about it, you are protecting others.

Report it by calling local Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.

Contact the HMRC Fraud Hotline by calling 0800 788 887 or online at Report tax fraud or avoidance to HMRC - GOV.UK. Please quote ref: IFMM24. You do not have to give your name or contact details unless you want to.

Contact the independent charity CrimeStoppers 100% anonymously online at Giving information anonymously | Crimestoppers or by calling 0800 555 111. Please quote ref: IFMM24.

If you think someone you know is already involved, go to the NCA website for advice.

If criminals have already got your personal information report it to Action Fraud National

Fraud & Cyber Crime Reporting Centre on 0300 123 2040

If you are independently looking to accommodation and not using University accommodation, rental fraud could happen when would-be tenants are tricked into paying an upfront fee to rent a property. In reality, the property does not exist, has already been rented out, or has been rented to multiple victims at the same time.

The victim loses the upfront fee they have paid and is not able to rent the property they thought they had secured with the payment. Rental fraudsters often target students looking for university accommodation.

Protect yourself from rental fraud

Always view the property: You, or someone you trust, should view the property in person before you sign any contracts or make payment.  

Overseas students and workers: If you need to secure accommodation in the UK from overseas, seek advice from the employer or university you are coming to. If you are unsure about anything a prospective landlord is asking you to do, speak to a trusted friend or family member, or seek professional independent advice. 

Signs of fraud: Use the information provided in the property listing, such as the address and photos, to look online for what other information you can find about the property you would like to rent. Fraudsters often steal information from legitimate listings to create fake listings of their own. 

Payment: Where possible, avoid bank transfer payments; use credit or debit cards for better protection against fraud.  

If fraud has been committed, report it to Action Fraud.

Fraudsters can pretend to be the University, Police, Home Office or any other Government Agency.  They might contact you by phone or message, saying there’s an urgent issue with your visa, taxes, or a family matter. They’ll try to make you act quickly by asking for money or personal details.

Be cautious of any message asking you to update or verify your personal details, as it may be a scam. Cybercriminals often send fake messages that appear genuine to steal information or trick you into clicking malicious links or downloading harmful files. Stay alert to messages you receive, if in doubt always verify their authenticity through official channels.

To report fraud in the UK, contact Action Fraud.

You can report online - using the official Action Fraud reporting tool. You will be given the option to register or continue as a guest.

You can report by phone - by calling 0300 123 2040 Monday to Friday 8am - 8pm. If you are calling from overseas, please call +44 300 123 2040.

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999 right away

Contact your bank or building society. Dial 159 to get a safe call route to most UK banks or manually dial your bank's fraud team.