Let’s be honest, being a student is hard enough. Money is limited as it is, so you don’t want to lose out on any of it to scammers.
A lot of people only think of old people as getting scammed out of money, but scams are getting smarter and more savvy each year, so it is best to be on the lookout.
What is a scam?
A scam is a fraudulant scheme. They usually entail someone trying to take money or personal information from you.
As of 2006, it is a criminal offence to commit fraud, under the Fraud Act.
Scammers are not just online snakes, they can get to you through the mail or even your phone. So, make sure you are vigilant and don’t get caught up in the notion of ‘it won’t happen to me’.
What to look for
Whilst many scams are now very sophisticated, there are some revealing traits to be on the look out for.
- Being asked for personal information
- Several spelling errors or clunky sentences
- You are being contacted out of the blue by a stranger
- The deal sounds extremely good… too good
- Being told the deal is fleeting
Reporting
There are so many scams going around at this point that it may seem futile to report them. But, the more people that report scams, the more likely they are to be caught and stopped.
The best way to report a scam is through Action Fraud, the National Fraud and Cyber Crime Reporting Centre. You are able to report a scam if you are a victim, reporting on behalf of someone, a business or a witness.
Typical student scams
There are a few scams that are known to target students, so if you can make yourself aware of them, you are less likely to fall victim to them.
Tax refund email
Many students in 2018 reported getting an email claiming that they were eligable for a tax refund. The email address appeared to be legitimate as it had their university name in the second half of the address. Students were asked to click on a link so they can reveal their bank details.
If you receive an email similar to this, forward it to [email protected]
Job applications
Action Fraud was made aware of a scheme in 2017 where people were being asked to complete fake job applications. People are asked to disclose personal information such as address and banking as well as identification documents.
It is hard to distinguish if job applications are scams or not, however you can fully research the company through Google or social media.
Tickets
Millions of pounds are lost every year due to ticket scams. Whether it is for a concert, sporting event or theatre show, it is best to buy your tickets through the official website of the event.
Sometimes people do sell their tickets online through social media, but you need to be very careful about who you send your money and bank details to.
