We are aware that a number of students across UK universities have been targeted by fraudsters and have lost large sums of money.
One very serious scam is targeting Chinese students directly– it can involve WeChat and mobile contacts.
Students are contacted on their mobile phone by people claiming to represent their bank, embassy, police or other reputable agency and are told they owe funds immediately or that their family owe money.
A recent scam targeted an Indian student.
They were called by someone introducing themselves as from HMRC (the UK tax collection agency) and the caller then pretended to connect the call directly to a caseworker at the Crown Court in Birmingham (and that number appeared to be the genuine number of the Crown Court).
The student was told that:
They had failed to pay an immigration tax and that there were now four charges against them.
There was an arrest warrant against them and if the student disconnected the call the police would arrest them immediately and all their bank accounts would be frozen.
The student was told that if they made the payment immediately while they are on the call then all the allegations will be withdrawn. The student was scared and made the transfer. And after almost 1 hour the caller disconnected the call. When the student tried to call the Crown Court back and asked to speak to the alleged case officer they were informed that no such officer worked there.
Please remember that the Home Office or UKVI will never a call an international student to request personal details or payments.
Do not make payments or give personal information from people making calls like this.
If you think you may have been targeted or have any concerns please contact us or call 020 7040 7040, or University Security if outside 0900-1700, 020 7040 3172.
Further advice on frauds and scams is available on the UKCISA website and the Government website.
Phishing and scam advice is also available from City’s IT department
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