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Student Scams Warning

Help for scammed students

 

National Fraud Helpline has issued advice to students on how to avoid scams.

The no win, no fee law firm has highlited frauds that are most commonly targeted towards those studying at univeristy and college.

Increasing numbers of university students are being scammed through a combination of rent fraud and fake side-hustle jobs offered on social media sites, according to National Fraud Helpline.

However, the solicitors were keen to emphaise that new rules mean its easier than ever to successfully reclaim scam money from banks.

National Fraud Helpline lawyers say they have seen an increase in rent fraud and fake jobs in the past six months and that students are a regular target for scammers.

The story has been picked up by a variety of university publications including Bubble and Manchester University’s Student News.

Martin Richardson, senior partner at National Fraud Helpline solicitors, said: ‘As the number of frauds in the UK rise, the number of students falling foul to scammers also goes up. Fraudsters target potential victims when there is desperation. In the case of students this desperation is often seen in their desire to get good quality and good value rented accommodation as well as hard-up university and college students needing extra money.

‘With rental fraud, students are often being asked to pay a full year’s lease money in advance in exchange for a discount only to find that the fake landlord disappears.’

‘Students are also targeted with sophisticated fake side-hustle jobs that are often advertised on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook or via WhatsApp. The victim will think they’ve earned money- typically by reviewing products- but the scammer then demands money to be deposited for “wages” to be released. Inevitably, the student never receives any money. Scammers are aware when students have a lump sum through loans, parental money or maintenance grants and this is a time when they seem to push particular scams such a rent fraud.’

There are no accurate national figures for how many students are scammed each year and how much is lost through fraud. However, it is estimated that tens of thousands of students fall victim to scams each year. The fact that students spend a lot of time on social media is also believed to make them more vulnerable to becoming a fraud victim.

New rules introduced by the Payments Systems Regulator from October 7, last year, obliges payment service providers, including banks, to refund victims of fraud unless they have been ‘grossly negligent’.

National Fraud Helpline solicitors says more needs to be done to make students understand that there’s a good chance they can recover money lost to fraud. Mr Richardson said: ‘The students we speak to seem to be particularly ashamed that they have fallen victim to a scam but they really shouldn’t. Fraud is increasingly sophisticated and anyone can fall foul of a fraudster. We know of students not telling friends or family they are fraud victims and instead just taking on additional work to make up the losses. The good news is that if you do lose money through a scam there’s a good chance it can be recovered.’

Learn more: How to avoid student scams.

Have you been scammed? Contact National Fraud Helpline on 0333 0033218 or fill out our  Claim Form.